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Cost Plus Contract
Free cost-plus contract template — a construction or service client pays the contractor's actual costs plus an agreed fee or markup.
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This free cost plus contract covers 1. Structure, 2. Reimbursable Costs, 3. Guaranteed Maximum Price (if applicable), 4. Documentation and Transparency, 5. Client's Audit Right with 5 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.
Cost Plus Contract
Client/Owner: [Name] · Contractor: [Name] · Project: [Description] · Date: [Date]
1. Structure
Client will reimburse Contractor for actual, documented costs of the project (labor, materials, subcontractors, equipment), plus a fee of: [ ] [%] markup on costs [ ] a fixed fee of [Amount].
2. Reimbursable Costs
Reimbursable costs include: [labor at documented rates, materials at cost with receipts, permit fees, subcontractor invoices]. Excluded: [Contractor's general overhead not specific to this project, unless separately agreed].
3. Guaranteed Maximum Price (if applicable)
[ ] This contract includes a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of [Amount] — costs above this amount are Contractor's responsibility unless caused by a Client-approved change order. [ ] No GMP — Client bears the full risk of cost overruns.
4. Documentation and Transparency
Contractor will provide Client with detailed, itemized invoices supported by receipts/timesheets for all reimbursable costs, [Frequency].
5. Client's Audit Right
Client may audit Contractor's project-related books and records upon reasonable notice, to verify costs billed.
6. Change Orders
Any change to scope must be documented in a written change order before the change is performed.
Client/Owner: ______________________ Date: ____________ Contractor: ______________________ Date: ____________
*A cost-plus contract without a Guaranteed Maximum Price (Section 3) puts essentially all cost-overrun risk on the client — most owners who choose this structure for its flexibility still negotiate a GMP to cap their downside, rather than accepting open-ended cost exposure.*
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
- 6 standard sections: 1. Structure, 2. Reimbursable Costs, 3. Guaranteed Maximum Price (if applicable), 4. Documentation and Transparency, 5. Client's Audit Right, 6. Change Orders
- 5 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 cost plus contract template really free?
Yes, completely free — view, edit, and download this cost plus contract as a PDF without creating an account.
What does this cost plus contract cover?
This business template includes 1. Structure, 2. Reimbursable Costs, 3. Guaranteed Maximum Price (if applicable), 4. Documentation and Transparency. 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 5 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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Templates are drafted for general use, not a substitute for legal advice — check the note on each page for specifics.
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