Consulting Agreement

Overview

This Consulting Agreement template is designed to help startups and businesses engage independent contractors confidently and clearly. Whether you're hiring a marketing consultant, a developer, or a fractional CFO, this agreement helps establish clear expectations around scope, payment, intellectual property, confidentiality, and liability — while preserving the consultant’s independent contractor status.

It’s fully editable, modular, and includes key provisions common in startup-friendly contracts — including IP assignment, mutual confidentiality, and optional arbitration.

Users will need to tailor this Agreement to the laws of the states where they are operating..

What’s Included

• Fully editable Word and PDF versions

• Clear terms covering:

  • Scope of services & deliverables

  • Payment structure (flat fee, hourly, milestone)

  • IP ownership & work-for-hire language

  • Confidentiality & non-solicitation

  • Indemnification and limitations of liability

  • Dispute resolution (with optional arbitration provision)

• Attorney Notes explaining key clauses and customization options

Who It’s For

• Founders hiring contractors instead of employees

• Companies working with designers, engineers, marketers, advisors, or specialists

• Teams that want to preserve IP ownership and protect sensitive information

• Businesses looking to stay compliant with IRS and California labor laws for contractor relationships

Why It Matters

Independent contractor arrangements are common — but misclassification can be costly. This agreement helps draw a clear line between employee and contractor, while protecting your business’s confidential information, ownership rights, and contractual expectations. It’s a foundational tool for hiring flexibly but safely.

🧠 Founder Tip

If you're hiring someone on a project basis but asking them to build core intellectual property or access sensitive materials, this is the agreement you want in place before they begin.