Service Agreement

What is This Agreement?

A Service Agreement is a legally binding contract between a service provider and a client that outlines the scope of services, compensation, timelines, deliverables, intellectual property rights, and termination conditions. It protects both parties by establishing clear expectations and legal recourse.

When to Use

• ✓Providing professional services to clients
• ✓Hiring consultants or agencies
• ✓Establishing ongoing service relationships
• ✓Defining project scope and deliverables
• ✓Setting payment terms and schedules
• ✓Protecting intellectual property created during engagement

Who Uses This?

• ✓Small business owners hiring service providers
• ✓Agencies contracting with clients
• ✓Consultants formalizing engagements
• ✓SaaS companies with enterprise clients
• ✓Marketing agencies with corporate clients

Browse all contract templates on our Contracts for Doing Business in the US guide.

What Happens If Misused or Missing?

• ✗Without agreement: scope disputes, payment conflicts, unclear deliverable ownership
• ✗Missing payment terms: cash flow disputes, collection difficulties
• ✗No termination clause: parties trapped in unfavorable arrangements
• ✗Vague scope: scope creep without compensation