Consulting Agreement
Professional consulting services agreement
Complexity
StandardEstimated Time
~12 minutes
Best For
Freelancers and independent contractors, Small businesses and agencies
Good fit for:
- ✓Short-term expert advice or strategy work
- ✓Specialized professional services
- ✓Project-based consulting engagements
Not recommended for:
- ✗Long-term employment relationships (use Employment Agreement)
- ✗Subcontracting work (use Subcontractor Agreement)
Key Clauses
Important clauses included in this template and what they mean for you.
Both sides promise to keep shared business information private.
You keep ownership but grant the client permission to use your work.
Either side can end this contract with proper notice.
You can't work with their competitors for a period after this ends.
Neither side can try to hire the other's team members for a while.
If you cause a legal problem, you cover the costs. Same for them.
Caps how much either side can owe if something goes wrong.
Sets rules for how to handle disagreements before going to court.
Decides which state's laws apply if there's a dispute.
Common Mistakes
Watch out for these pitfalls when using this template.
Why it matters:
WARNING: This limits your future work opportunities. Consider carefully before agreeing. California, North Dakota, and Oklahoma ban these clauses entirely. If you do agree, negotiate a shorter time period or narrower geographic scope. Only accept if the pay justifies the restriction.
How to avoid it:
Carefully review state restrictions and negotiate terms to align with your situation.
| State | Clause | Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| CA | Non-Compete | unenforceable |
| ND | Non-Compete | unenforceable |
| OK | Non-Compete | unenforceable |
Always verify current state laws before executing agreements. State laws change frequently, and some clauses may be unenforceable in certain jurisdictions.