Service Agreement Template
A professional service agreement template for agencies, consultants, and freelancers. Covers scope of services, deliverables, payment terms, intellectual property, and liability protections.
Parties & Scope of Services
Identify the parties and define exactly what services will be provided
This Service Agreement ("Agreement") is made on [Date] between:
Provider: [Company Name], [Address]
Client: [Client Name], [Address]
Services: The Provider agrees to deliver the following:
1. [Service description with deliverable]
2. [Service description with deliverable]
3. [Service description with deliverable]
Exclusions: This Agreement does not include [explicitly excluded services]. Additional services may be requested via a Change Order.
Payment Terms & Timeline
Define fees, payment schedule, and project milestones
Total Fee: $[Amount]
Payment Schedule:
• [50%] deposit upon signing — $[Amount]
• [25%] at milestone delivery — $[Amount]
• [25%] upon project completion — $[Amount]
Late Payment: Invoices unpaid after [14/30] days incur a [1.5%] monthly late fee. Work may be paused until overdue balances are resolved.
Project Timeline: Start date [Date] · Estimated completion [Date]
IP, Liability & Termination
Protect both parties with clear ownership, liability limits, and exit terms
Intellectual Property: Upon full payment, all deliverables become the property of the Client. Provider retains the right to use general methodologies and non-confidential work for portfolio purposes.
Limitation of Liability: Provider's total liability under this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid by Client. Neither party shall be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
Termination: Either party may terminate with [30] days written notice. Client shall pay for all services rendered through the termination date. Provider shall deliver all completed work upon termination.
How to Use This Template
Define scope precisely
Be specific about what is included and what is excluded. Ambiguous scope is the number one cause of service disputes. If in doubt, write it out.
Set clear payment terms
Specify the total fee, payment milestones, accepted methods, and late payment penalties. Never start work without a signed agreement and deposit.
Address IP ownership
State clearly who owns the deliverables and when ownership transfers. Most disputes arise from unclear IP terms, especially in creative and tech services.
Include an exit strategy
Define how either party can end the agreement, what notice is required, and how partial work is handled. Clean exits prevent messy endings.
Customize in Dewx
Inside Dewx, tell Dew: "Draft a service agreement for [Client] covering [services] for $[amount]." Dew generates a complete agreement using your clause library, tracks payment milestones, sends automated invoice reminders, and stores the signed contract in your central document repository.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a service agreement and a contract?
They are functionally the same. A service agreement is a type of contract that specifically governs the provision of services. It defines scope, deliverables, payment, timelines, and liability. Some businesses use "agreement" for ongoing relationships and "contract" for one-time projects, but legally they carry the same weight.
What clauses must a service agreement include?
Essential clauses include: scope of services, payment terms, deliverable timeline, intellectual property ownership, confidentiality, limitation of liability, termination conditions, dispute resolution, and governing law. Omitting any of these creates risk for both parties.
Should freelancers use service agreements?
Absolutely. A service agreement protects freelancers from scope creep, late payments, and disputes. It sets clear expectations about what is and is not included. Even for small projects, having a signed agreement is far better than relying on verbal commitments or email threads.
How does Dewx help manage service agreements?
Dewx OPS Hub stores all your agreements in one place, tracks key dates like renewals and milestones, and sends automated reminders. Dew can draft service agreements based on your client details and past templates, ensuring consistency across all your contracts.
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