Why do I need a Consultancy Services Agreement?
A simple, well-designed agreement with your clients is essential to avoid scope creep (no more disagreements over additional work you hadn’t factored into your fee), clearly agree your fee and payment terms so that you get paid on time, establish clear and realistic delivery timeframes, protect your intellectual property, limit your liability and look professional. By discussing these issues upfront with your clients, you’ll reduce the potential for misunderstandings or disputes relating to your consultancy services, encouraging long-term client relationships.
Who is this Consultancy Services Agreement for?
Consultants, coaches, advisors, course providers – anyone who provides professional or consulting services that involve advice, teaching or coaching to another business or person. If you are providing creative services (such as digital design, interior design, spatial design or other creative services) use our Creative Services Agreement instead. If you are providing any other type of services use our Services Agreement instead.
What does this Consultancy Services Agreement cover?
The Consultancy Services Agreement is easy to understand, without legalese and fair to both sides, to reduce negotiation time and start the relationship positively. As a consulting contract, it covers all the key terms of your relationship with your client and has lots of options to choose from to customise it to your unique business model.
It includes the scope of services (and what happens if the client wants to change this), deliverables (ie, the items you will provide), any deadlines for those deliverables, client responsibilities, your fee (how it is calculated and when it is due), intellectual property and licensing rights in the final work. It also contains a limitation on your liability, a ‘no-poaching’ provision and optional exclusivity.
How long will it take to create my document?
Around 10-15 minutes – do it over a coffee! During the Q&A you can save your progress to come back later, or repeat the Q&A to change an answer or produce a new version of a document.
What information do I need to complete the Q&A?
- The name and contact details of the client
- The start and end date for the services (or you can opt for an open-ended agreement until cancelled, or until the deliverables are delivered)
- The deliverables and any key dates for delivery
- Fee (fixed fee or based on a daily/hourly rate)
- Payment terms – upfront deposit? Payment on key deliverables? Full payment before starting or on completion? Weekly/fortnightly/monthly invoicing?
What if I need help?
We’d love to help. Just contact us at hello@onyourterms.co.nz and we can either help over email or jump on a call.
Your document will be downloadable in MS Word, so you can make changes if you like (and add branding). Also, our legal partner, Luminate Legal, can provide legal advice for a fixed price if you’d like it.
What do I do once my document is created?
The agreement is ready to sign as soon as you have downloaded it. Both parties must sign it to ensure it’s legally enforceable, and this should be done before you start work. If you need help with how to sign the agreement, read our helpful blog here.
Other helpful information:
- To add additional services (to the same client) to your Consultancy Services Agreement, you can purchase our Additional Consultancy Services Proposal – a one pager of key terms specific to the additional services (eg, scope, deliverables, fee and IP), which incorporates the base terms of this Consultancy Services Agreement.
- Read our helpful blogs: How to limit legal risk in your consultancy business, How to Protect Your Brand, Empowering Creatives: How to Protect Your Copyright, Do I really need T&Cs?
- You may also find these bundles or documents useful for your business: Consultancy Services Essentials Bundle, Individual Employment Agreement, Independent Contractor Agreement, Term Sheet for Project.
- Check out our FAQs here
If you’re not satisfied with your purchase of this product for any reason, let us know why within 10 days of your purchase and we’ll work with you to make sure you’re happy, including giving you a full refund if necessary.
Disclaimer: On Your Terms was created to provide fast, easy and affordable access to legal information and documentation. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. The information and documents we provide are of a general nature, designed for common situations, and may not be suitable for your needs or circumstances. If you need legal advice, we have a network of specialist law firm partners able to help you here.