How to Write a Service Agreement

A service agreement is the written deal between you and a client: what you will do, when, and for how much. It is the document that stops "that's not what we agreed on" arguments later. You do not need a lawyer to write a solid one for ordinary freelance or small-business work — you need clear scope, clear money, and a signature before the work starts.

Our free service agreement template already has the standard clauses. Use this guide to fill them in properly.

1. Describe the services in plain language

This is the most important paragraph in the whole document. Write what you will deliver as if a stranger had to judge the job later: number of pages, number of revisions, platforms, meetings, and what is notincluded. Vague scope ("marketing support") is how projects double in size without extra pay.

2. Set the fee, expenses, and payment timing

State the total fee or the hourly/retainer rate, when invoices go out, and when they are due. If the client will reimburse expenses (travel, software, stock photos), say so and whether those need pre-approval. Add a short invoice-dispute window so disagreements do not stall payment indefinitely.

3. Say who owns the work

By default, in many places the creator owns copyright until they assign it. Clients usually expect to own the finished deliverables once they have paid. Write that down: the client owns the final work after full payment; you keep pre-existing tools, templates, and know-how. If you want a portfolio right to show the work, include that too.

4. Cover change requests and termination

Extra work should require a written change request and a revised fee or timeline. Either side should be able to end the agreement with notice, with payment due for work already done. Without those two clauses, a small job easily becomes an unpaid second project.

5. Add the protective clauses, then sign

Confidentiality, a reasonable limit on liability, and how disputes will be handled (negotiation, then the courts of a named place) belong in almost every service agreement. Then both parties sign. A service agreement becomes binding when there is an offer, acceptance, and an exchange of value — the work and the payment. More in what makes a contract legally binding.

When to use a different document

• Hiring a freelancer as a 1099 / self-employed worker? Use an independent contractor agreement so classification and taxes are explicit.
• Putting someone on payroll? Use an employment contract.

Fill the template, download the PDF, and send it for signature before you start the work. The client does not need an account — they sign from the email link.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction; consult a qualified lawyer for important agreements.