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Consulting Agreement
Free consulting agreement template for an independent consultant engagement — scope, fees, and IP terms.
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This free consulting agreement covers 1. Services, 2. Term, 3. Fees, 4. Independent Contractor Status, 5. Intellectual Property with 11 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for founders, freelancers, and small business owners formalizing a business decision or agreement without paying a lawyer to draft it from scratch. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Consulting Agreement
Client: [Client Name] Consultant: [Consultant Name] Effective Date: [Date]
1. Services
The Consultant will provide the following services (the "Services"): [Describe scope of work specifically].
2. Term
This Agreement begins on [Start Date] and continues until [End Date / "the Services are complete"], unless terminated earlier under Section 6.
3. Fees
Client will pay Consultant [Rate — hourly/fixed/retainer], invoiced [Frequency], due within [Number] days of invoice.
4. Independent Contractor Status
The Consultant is an independent contractor, not an employee. The Consultant is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and benefits.
5. Intellectual Property
[Choose one: "All work product created under this Agreement belongs to Client upon full payment." OR "Consultant retains ownership of pre-existing tools/methods used to deliver the Services."]
6. Termination
Either party may terminate this Agreement with [Notice Period] written notice. Client will pay for Services performed up to the termination date.
7. Confidentiality
Both parties agree to keep the other's confidential information private during and after the engagement.
8. Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of [State/Country].
Client: ______________________ Date: ____________ Consultant: ______________________ Date: ____________
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Worker-classification rules (contractor vs. employee) vary by jurisdiction — consult a licensed attorney if you're unsure which applies.*
Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.
What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 8 standard sections: 1. Services, 2. Term, 3. Fees, 4. Independent Contractor Status, 5. Intellectual Property, 6. Termination, …
- 11 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Early-stage businesses
Getting the basics documented before things get more complex.
FAQ
Is this consulting agreement template really free?
Yes — this Consulting Agreement template on docstoc is free to view, edit online, and download as a PDF with no account or signup required.
What does this consulting agreement cover?
This business template includes 1. Services, 2. Term, 3. Fees, 4. Independent Contractor Status. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a general-purpose starting structure, not advice for your specific situation. Business agreements can hinge on details — state of formation, industry-specific regulation, how a dispute would actually play out — that a template can't account for. Have a business attorney review anything that involves real money or real risk before you rely on it.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 11 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free business and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
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Legality
Templates are drafted for general use, not a substitute for legal advice — check the note on each page for specifics.
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