Service Agreements & Contracts

Free Freelance Contract Template (PDF)

A freelance or consulting services agreement is a contract for independent work that goes further than a basic service agreement — it covers deliverables and timeline, intellectual property, confidentiality, and how either side can end the engagement.

When to use it

Use this for freelance or independent consulting work with real scope — multiple deliverables, a project timeline, or anything involving intellectual property or confidential information, where a one-page service agreement wouldn't cover enough ground.

What's typically included

• Scope of services
• Deliverables and timeline
• Compensation
• Intellectual property
• Confidentiality
• Independent contractor status
• Termination
• Limitation of liability
• Governing law

How to fill it in

• The rate and start date are the two custom blanks — fill them in once and they appear everywhere the agreement refers to them.
• Be specific in the scope-of-services section; a freelance engagement without a clear scope is the most common source of disputes over what was actually owed.
• Read the intellectual property section carefully before sending — it decides whether work product created under this agreement belongs to the client or stays with the freelancer, and that default matters more than people expect.

This template is a general starting point, not legal advice — customize it and have it reviewed for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Does this make the freelancer an employee?

No — the agreement explicitly establishes independent contractor status, meaning the freelancer handles their own taxes and isn't entitled to employee benefits. If the actual working relationship looks more like employment (set hours, close supervision), that mismatch can create legal risk regardless of what the contract says.

Is an electronically signed freelance agreement legally binding?

Yes, under the U.S. ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, as long as both parties consented to sign electronically.

Who owns the work once it's delivered?

That's set by the intellectual property section — read it and edit it to reflect what you actually intend, since "who owns the work" is one of the most consequential defaults in any freelance contract.