Consulting agreement template
Scope, fees, expenses, confidentiality and independent-contractor status in two pages. The agreement for advisory work, workshops and retainers.
How consulting agreements differ
Consulting is sold as expertise and time rather than a fixed artefact, so the agreement has to be precise about what's in the engagement and what triggers extra fees, and it needs a confidentiality clause with teeth because you'll see the client's internal numbers.
EngagementProvider will deliver: [two] 90-minute discovery workshops; a written assessment of the current [process]; prioritised recommendations with a 90-day plan; one follow-up session 30 days after delivery. Implementation support is available under a separate agreement.
Fees and expensesFees are [amount], invoiced [50]% on signing and [50]% on delivery of the recommendations, net 30. Pre-approved travel and expenses are billed at cost. Work beyond the engagement is billed at [$200] per hour.
ConfidentialityProvider keeps Client's non-public information confidential during and after the engagement and uses it only for this work. Client keeps Provider's methods, templates and pricing confidential.
Independent contractorProvider is an independent contractor, not an employee, sets their own hours and methods, and is responsible for their own taxes and insurance. Nothing here creates a partnership or agency.
TerminationEither party may end the engagement with 14 days' written notice. Client pays for work completed and non-cancellable expenses to that date.
The Consultant template fills the engagement and fees for you.Paperwork fills the proposal, contract, invoice, SOW, NDA and change order from one form, and your client signs from a link. $19 once. Try the free demo first.
Retainers
For ongoing advisory work, replace the fees clause with: "A monthly retainer of [amount] covers up to [8] hours of advisory time, invoiced on the first of each month, due on receipt. Unused hours don't roll over. Additional hours are billed at [$200]/hour."
Deliverables keep consulting billable
Even advisory work should name something the client receives: a written assessment, a plan, a workshop deck. It makes the invoice self-explanatory and the value obvious to whoever approves it.
Liability
Cap your liability at the fees paid, and state that recommendations are advice and that implementation decisions remain the client's. Both are standard and both are accepted without discussion by nearly every client.
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