Service Contract Template
Agencies and service businesses delivering a defined scope for a client.
- Scope, deliverables and acceptance
- Milestone payment schedule table
- Revisions and client responsibilities
- IP, confidentiality and liability cap
Format, sample & clauses
Service Contract Format with Sample Clauses
The standard service contract format in order, a filled-in sample you can copy, what to write in each clause, and free Word and PDF templates with no email required.
4.8/5 on G2 · Trusted by 1,850+ agencies & freelancers in 40+ countries · Updated October 2026What is a service contract format?
A service contract format is the standard order of clauses in an agreement for services: the parties, scope, deliverables, fees and payment terms, ownership, confidentiality, termination, liability and signatures.
Agencies, freelancers and consultants use a service contract (also called a service agreement) to agree what will be delivered, when, for how much, and what happens if plans change. The format below works for most service work. Treat it as a starting point, not legal advice, and have a local lawyer review high-value agreements.
- Usually 2 to 4 pages, signed before work starts
- Scope and payments are the clauses clients read first
- Attach the scope of work instead of rewriting it
- Free Word and PDF templates, no email required
- General information, not legal advice
Service Contract Format at a Glance
A service contract follows this order. Clauses 3 and 14 are optional for small jobs; the rest belong in almost every service agreement.
- 1. Title, contract number and effective date
- 2. Parties: legal names, addresses and contact details (plus GSTINs in India)
- 3. Background: one or two lines on why the parties are contracting (optional)
- 4. Scope of services, with what is out of scope
- 5. Deliverables and acceptance
- 6. Timeline and milestones
- 7. Fees, payment schedule, taxes and late payment
- 8. Client responsibilities: inputs, access and approvals
- 9. Change requests
- 10. Intellectual property and portfolio rights
- 11. Confidentiality
- 12. Independent contractor status
- 13. Limitation of liability
- 14. Term and termination, including force majeure
- 15. Governing law, disputes, entire agreement and notices
- 16. Signatures of both parties, with names, titles and dates
Short on time? The free contract maker drafts every clause from a short description of the job.
Download the Service Contract Template
Both templates follow the format above. Need a different kind of contract? See all six in the contract template in Word collection.
Agency Retainer Contract Template
Agencies selling ongoing monthly work such as content, ads or support.
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Sample Service Contract (Filled In)
A complete service contract between two fictional companies for a website redesign. Copy it and replace the details with yours.
Website redesign service contract
Use when: A fixed-fee project paid in milestones, with revisions and client inputs spelled out.
SERVICE CONTRACT Contract No.: CT-2026-015 · Date: 10/20/2026 · Effective date: 10/26/2026
This service contract is between Brightline Studio LLC, 214 Market Street, Suite 5, Austin, TX 78701, USA ("Service Provider") and GreenLeaf Organics Inc., 77 Cedar Lane, Portland, OR 97205, USA ("Client").
1. Scope of Services The Service Provider will redesign the Client's marketing website: a discovery workshop, UX wireframes and UI design for 8 pages, development on the Client's CMS, QA, launch and one training session, as described in proposal PR-2026-009 dated 10/12/2026. Copywriting and photography are out of scope.
2. Deliverables and Acceptance Deliverables are the approved designs, the live website and a 30-minute recorded training session. The Client has 5 business days after each delivery to approve it or list the changes needed. If the Client does not respond in that time, the deliverable is treated as approved.
3. Fees and Payment The total fee is USD 6,000.00, excluding any applicable sales tax, paid in three milestones: - Signing (40%): USD 2,400.00, due 10/26/2026 - Design approval (30%): USD 1,800.00, due 11/23/2026 - Launch (30%): USD 1,800.00, due 12/18/2026 Invoices are due within 14 days. Late payments may incur interest of 1.5% per month, and the Service Provider may pause work until overdue invoices are paid.
4. Revisions Each design deliverable includes 2 rounds of revisions. Further revisions are billed at USD 95.00 per hour.
5. Client Responsibilities The Client will supply page copy, product photos and CMS access by 11/02/2026 and name one person to give consolidated feedback. Delays in these inputs move the timeline by the same amount.
6. Intellectual Property Ownership of the final deliverables passes to the Client once all fees are paid. The Service Provider keeps its pre-existing tools and code and grants the Client a licence to use any that are built into the website. The Service Provider may show the finished site in its portfolio after launch.
7. Confidentiality Each party will keep the other party's confidential information private and use it only to perform this contract, for 2 years after it ends.
8. Term and Termination Either party may end this contract with 14 days' written notice. The Client pays for all work completed up to the termination date.
9. Limitation of Liability Neither party is liable for indirect losses. Each party's total liability is limited to the fees paid or payable under this contract.
10. General This contract is governed by the laws of the State of Texas. It is the whole agreement between the parties, and any change must be in writing and signed by both.
Signed for Brightline Studio LLC: Maya Torres, Managing Director, 10/20/2026 Signed for GreenLeaf Organics Inc.: Daniel Price, Head of Marketing, 10/21/2026
Clause by Clause: What to Write
Copy-ready wording for each clause. Replace the bracketed parts with your own details.
Scope of services
The Service Provider will provide the services described in the attached scope of work dated [date]. Anything not listed there is out of scope and will be quoted separately.
Deliverables and acceptance
The Client has [5] business days after each delivery to approve it or list the changes needed. If the Client does not respond in that time, the deliverable is treated as approved.
Fees and payment
The total fee is [currency and amount], excluding applicable taxes, payable [40]% on signing, [30]% on [milestone] and [30]% on completion. Invoices are due within [14] days.
Late payment
Late payments may incur interest of [1.5]% per month, and the Service Provider may pause work until overdue invoices are paid.
Revisions
Each deliverable includes [2] rounds of revisions. Further revisions are billed at [rate] per hour.
Client responsibilities
The Client will provide content, access and feedback on time. Delays caused by late input move the timeline by the same amount.
Change requests
Any change to scope, timeline or fees must be requested in writing and approved by both parties before work on it starts.
Intellectual property
Ownership of the final deliverables passes to the Client once all fees are paid. The Service Provider keeps its pre-existing tools and may show the work in its portfolio after launch.
Confidentiality
Each party will keep the other party's confidential information private and use it only to perform this agreement, for [2] years after it ends.
Term and termination
Either party may end this agreement with [14] days' written notice. The Client pays for all work completed up to the termination date.
Limitation of liability
Neither party is liable for indirect losses. Each party's total liability is limited to the fees paid or payable under this agreement.
Governing law
This agreement is governed by the laws of [state or country], and the courts of [city] have jurisdiction over any dispute.
Service Contract Formats by Industry
The core format stays the same. These are the clauses to add for each kind of service business.
Marketing and creative agencies
Add approval rounds per asset, ad spend paid by the client, and who owns campaign accounts. See the digital marketing agency contract.
Web and software development
Add milestones with acceptance criteria, hosting and handover, and a warranty period for bug fixes after launch.
Consulting and professional services
Add the hourly or retainer rate, approved expenses and a non-solicitation clause. See the consulting contract template.
IT support and maintenance
Add service levels: response times, support hours and what counts as urgent. See the app maintenance agreement.
Freelancers
Add a non-refundable deposit, a kill fee and portfolio rights. See the freelance contract template.
Service Agreement Format in India
Add both parties' GSTINs to the parties clause if you are registered, and state whether fees are inclusive or exclusive of GST. Most professional services are taxed at 18%. If the client may deduct TDS from payments, say how it will be handled so the invoices reconcile.
Stamp duty on a service agreement depends on the state, so check the current schedule for your state or use e-stamping. Electronic signatures are generally recognised under the Information Technology Act, 2000, although some document types are excluded. This is general information, not legal advice.
Tips for a Service Contract Clients Sign Quickly
- Write what is out of scope as clearly as what is in scope. Most disputes start with an assumed extra.
- Tie payments to milestones the client can see, such as design approval or launch, not to dates alone.
- Name the revision count. "Unlimited revisions" turns a fixed fee into an hourly job you are not paid for.
- Set a notice period and say that work done so far is paid for, so ending early is not a dispute.
- Send a PDF for signature and keep the signed copy with the client record, so the whole team can find it.
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Service Contract Format FAQs
What is the format of a service contract?
Title and date, parties, scope of services, deliverables and acceptance, timeline, fees and payment, client responsibilities, change requests, intellectual property, confidentiality, liability, termination, governing law and signatures, in that order.
What should be included in a service contract?
At minimum: who the parties are, what will be delivered, the price and when it is paid, who owns the work, how either side can end the agreement, and signatures from both parties.
What is the difference between a service contract and a service agreement?
In practice the terms are used interchangeably. Both describe the services, fees and terms agreed between a provider and a client.
Is a service agreement legally binding in India?
A service agreement can be binding in India when it has the usual elements of a valid contract, such as free consent, lawful purpose and consideration. Stamping and other formalities can affect how it is treated, so get legal advice for important agreements.
What is the difference between a service agreement and an employment contract?
A service agreement is with an independent business or freelancer who controls how the work is done and handles their own taxes. An employment contract is with an employee, who works under the employer's direction and is covered by employment law.
Can I sign a service contract electronically?
Yes, in most countries electronic signatures are accepted for service contracts, with some exceptions for specific document types. Tools like Taskip e-signatures record who signed and when.