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Between:


FIRST_NAME
LAST_NAME
Corporation Corp.
‍ Acme LLC.
Client

FIRST_NAME
LAST_NAME
Corporation Corp.

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.

Free Simple Contract Template

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“I upped my rates and won more clients

Date: March 8th 2023


Between:

Coach:

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client:

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.

This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC, a California limited liability company (the "Coach").

The Contract is dated January 23, 2023.

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Coach to develop a coaching relationship between the Client and Coach in order to cultivate the Client's personal, professional, or business goals and create a plan to achieve those goals through stimulating and creative interactions with the ultimate result of maximizing the Client's personal or professional potential.

1.2 Schedule. The Coach will begin work on February 1, 2023 and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Coach at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 4, Term and Termination.

The Coach and Client will meet by video conference, 4 days per month for 2 hours.

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Coach an hourly rate of $150. Of this, the Client will pay the Coach $500.00 (USD) before work begins.

1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Coach's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.

1.5 Invoices. The Coach will invoice the Client in accordance with the milestones in Section 1.3. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within 15 days of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of 1.0% per month on the outstanding amount.

1.6 Support. The Coach will not be available by telephone, or email in between scheduled sessions.

2.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

- A coaching relationship is a partnership between two or more individuals or entities, like a teacher-student or coach-athlete relationship. Both the Client and Coach must uphold their obligations for the relationship to be successful.

- The Coach agrees to maintain the ethics and standards of behavior established by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

- The Client acknowledges and agrees that coaching is a comprehensive process that may explore different areas of the Client's life, including work, finances, health, and relationships.

- The Client is responsible for implementing the insights and techniques learned from the Coach.

3. REPRESENTATIONS.

3.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.

3.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.

3.3 Coach Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Coach promises that it owns the work product, that the Coach is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Coach uses employees or subcontractors, the Coach also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Coach giving the Coach any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Coach's background IP and work product.

3.4 Coach Will Comply With Laws. The Coach promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.

3.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Coach promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights, that the Coach has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Coach has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

3.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Coach with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights.

4. TERM AND TERMINATION

This Contract is ongoing until it expires or the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 9.4. The Coach must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice unless the notice says otherwise.

If either party ends this Contract before the Contract automatically ends, the Client will pay the Contractor for the work done up until when the Contract ends. The following sections don't end even after the Contract ends: 3 (Representations); 6 (Confidential Information); 7 (Limitation of Liability); 8 (Indemnity); and 9 (General).

3. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

The Client is hiring the Coach as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:

- The Coach will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.

- The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Coach is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.

- The Client will not provide the Coach with any training.

- The Client and the Coach do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.

- The Coach cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.

- The Coach is not entitled to the Client's benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).

- The Coach is responsible for its own taxes.

- The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Coach or any of the Coach's employees or subcontractors.

6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

6.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Coach must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.

6.2 The Client's Confidential Information. While working for the Client, the Coach may come across, or be given, Client information that is confidential. This is information like customer lists, business strategies, research & development notes, statistics about a website, and other information that is private. The Coach promises to treat this information as if it is the Coach's own confidential information. The Coach may use this information to do its job under this Contract, but not for anything else. For example, if the Client lets the Coach use a customer list to send out a newsletter, the Coach cannot use those email addresses for any other purpose. The one exception to this is if the Client gives the Coach written permission to use the information for another purpose, the Coach may use the information for that purpose, as well. When this Contract ends, the Coach must give back or destroy all confidential information, and confirm that it has done so. The Coach promises that it will not share confidential information with a third party, unless the Client gives the Coach written permission first. The Coach must continue to follow these obligations, even after the Contract ends. The Coach's responsibilities only stop if the Coach can show any of the following: (i) that the information was already public when the Coach came across it; (ii) the information became public after the Coach came across it, but not because of anything the Coach did or didn't do; (iii) the Coach already knew the information when the Coach came across it and the Coach didn't have any obligation to keep it secret; (iv) a third party provided the Coach with the information without requiring that the Coach keep it a secret; or (v) the Coach created the information on its own, without using anything belonging to the Client.

6.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It's possible the Client and the Coach each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Coach each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Coach is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.

8. INDEMNITY.

8.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Coach or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Coach did, then the Coach may promise to come to the Client's defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.

8.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Coach agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Coach has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Coach of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Coach of the promises it is making in Section 3 (Representations).

8.3 Coach Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Coach (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.

9. GENERAL.

9.1 Assignment​. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Coach. Neither the Client nor the Coach can assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the other's written permission.

9.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.

9.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Coach must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.

9.4. Noticies.

(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party's address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.

(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.

9.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that's the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.

9.6 Signatures. The Client and the Coach must sign this document using Bonsai's e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.

9.7 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this document shall be governed by the laws of the United States of America.

9.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties' final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.

THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.

Coach

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.
Table of contents


Simple Contract Template
Use this template for free here

What is a Simple Contract?

A simple contract is a document that a freelancer or independent contractor can use to outline a working agreement between themselves and a client. It describes the obligations and responsibilities of each party, such as which services are being provided and their total cost. 

A simple contract is also sometimes called a: 

  • Service agreement
  • Independent contractor agreement
  • Freelance agreement
  • Contract agreement 

Who Should Use a Simple Contract?


Any freelancer or independent contractor who provides their services to clients in exchange for payment should use a contract. Contracts are recommended for any and all freelancers, regardless of whether you’re a: 

  • Graphic designer
  • Web designer
  • Digital marketer
  • Photographer or videographer
  • Writer or editor
  • Software developer
  • Wedding planner
  • Event planner

No matter if you’re hired for a simple, one-off project or ongoing services, it’s recommended you create a legally binding agreement to protect yourself in the event of a dispute or nonpayment.  

When to Use a Simple Contract


The best time to create a contract is at the beginning of a relationship with a new client before any work has been done but after you’ve already agreed on services and pricing. 

Make sure to discuss the client’s needs, expectations, and more before creating your contract. The more you know about their project, the more accurately you can price and the more relevant your contract will be. 

Once the agreement has been reviewed and signed by all parties involved, you can then proceed with the work you’ve been hired to do. 

What to Include in a Simple Contract


Each contract that you provide to a client should include a few essential elements, such as: 

1. Contact details

This includes the names and addresses of each person involved, such as you and your client. Because a contract is a legally binding document, it needs to clearly identify who each party is. 

2. Service description

Each contract needs to outline the specifics of the services you are being hired to do. For example, if you’re a writer, this section should address: 

  • What type of content you will be writing
  • The minimum and maximum wordcounts
  • How many rounds of edits are included
  • Whether the topics or briefs will be provided by the client
  • Which format the content will be delivered in
  • What the due dates are

Remember to describe exactly what you will be providing to the client based on the services you offer and the industry you work in. Being specific in your contract helps to avoid misunderstandings and clarifies expectations. 

3. Payment details

Contracts are the ideal place to outline and specify payment-related information, such as: 

  • Payment terms, like due dates, late payment fees, and more
  • Whether a deposit is required
  • The payment methods you accept
  • Your hourly or monthly rate, or the total payment amount for the project as a whole
  • The currency payment will be made in
  • A payment schedule 

Remember to discuss each of these elements before creating your contract so that you know you and your client are on the same page. 

4. Intellectual property rights

Even a basic contract should address who retains the rights to any intellectual property such as written content, photos, code, and more. While you may assume that anything you create belongs to you, your client may not feel the same way. 

Having a legal contract in place will clearly define who owns any intellectual property created for the working relationship you have with a client. 

5. Indemnity agreements

In a freelance contract, an indemnity clause typically outlines your agreement as the service provider and the client’s not to hold the other financially responsible for any liabilities, losses, damages, or expenses in the event that a third-party claim or breach of contract.

Essentially, you’re agreeing not to hold each other responsible for any unexpected financial or legal issues that may arise. 

6. Termination information

Typically, contracts don’t last forever. Each contract that you create needs to address how and when it will end. For example, some contracts end on a specific date while others end upon the completion of a specific task. 

You will also need to determine how a contract can be terminated, such as by either party providing 30 days' written notice to the other. 

You may want to address how to handle circumstances in which a contract may be subject to early termination, like a violation that results in a breach of contract. 

7. Signatures

Lastly, every contract needs to include a place for each party to sign. It’s important to note that you don’t have a legally binding contract until two or more parties have signed the written document. 

Once you have the client’s signature, make sure to add your own and provide a copy of the signed and dated contract to each party involved. 

READ MORE: How to write a contract in 12 easy steps

Why Should I Use a Simple Contract?


As a freelancer, contracts are one of the most important tools you can use to guide and outline the relationships you have with clients. Using a contract will help you to: 

1. Look more professional

Using legitimate contracts gives you a professional edge and sets you apart from other freelancers who don’t. Clients want to know they’re working with someone who takes the work seriously. 

The more that you angle your freelance services as a small business by using professional contracts and documents, the more likely you are to attract and sign bigger, better clients. 

2. Have legal protection

While you don’t go into a new freelance relationship expecting it to go sideways, it can happen. A signed contract offers you legal protections in the event of a dispute or refusal to pay. It’s hard for a client to argue with the terms outlined in an agreement they reviewed and signed. 

For example, a contract can help you to prove: 

  • How much a client agreed to pay you
  • Who owns the rights to intellectual property
  • Which services you agreed to provide
  • That you were acting as a contractor and not an employee
  • Whether the client was responsible for covering specific expenses

3. Communicate clearly about responsibilities and obligations

What better way to outline and describe the roles and responsibilities of each party in a freelance relationship than with a contract? Since contracts include a variety of elements meant to describe the obligations of each party in the working relationship, they’re an ideal way to ensure you and your clients are on the same page. 

Before actually signing a contract, you will have spoken to or met with the client at least once to discuss their needs and goals as well as your services and pricing. Continue this conversation all the way through your contract to keep things clear and upfront so you both know exactly what to expect in the future. 

A good contract also outlines specifics, like when and how it will end, who pays for what, and a clear payment schedule, making it hard to miss any important information. 

4. Prove you have an agreement

Proof of a signed contract can come in handy in a variety of situations. For example, you may need one to obtain financing for a mortgage, a business or personal loan, or vehicle, or for tax purposes. 

As a freelancer, you don’t have the same job security as a regular employee, which can impact how banks and other financial institutions consider your income. Signed contracts are proof that you have ongoing income, helping you to demonstrate that your small business is thriving and financially stable. 

5. Record reference material

Sometimes, the longer a relationship with a client goes on, the hazier the details about your initial agreement get. When was the end date again? And did the client agree to pay for your ticket to fly out to their head office?

A written contract is the perfect way to provide you with reference material down the road. If ever you’re unsure of what you or the client agreed to at the beginning of your relationship, simply find and review your contract. 

For example, you can use it to jog your memory when it comes to: 

  • The rate of any services provided
  • When your contract is supposed to end and whether it’s renewable
  • Penalties surrounding late payments

6. Save time

Using contract templates keeps you from having to start from scratch each time you bring on a new client. Contracts are a lot of work, and it’s not always easy to know which elements you should and shouldn’t include. 

Save your small business time and money by using a contract generator like Bonsai so that you can have a contract ready to sign in minutes, not hours. 

Sign up now to get started. 

How to Create a Simple Contract


You have three options when it comes to creating a contract. You can write one yourself, hire a lawyer, or use a contract template from Bonsai. 

Making your own contract

While you can make a contract on your own, it’s not recommended. Each clause, term, and condition, needs to be worded a certain way to ensure that it’s legally binding and fair to both parties. Contracts that don’t follow contract law will be thrown out, regardless of whether they’ve been signed or not. 

Unless you’re well-versed in contract law, you’re likely to accidentally invalidate your entire agreement with a simple mistake. 

Hiring a lawyer

Your next option is to hire a lawyer, but this will be pricey. This option is really only necessary if your contract is particularly complicated or unique. For example, if a basic template doesn’t include the right elements or you need to add a very specific clause related to confidential information or a background check. 

Making a simple contract with Bonsai

For most freelancers and their clients, using contract templates is the best option. With Bonsai, you can create a free simple contract in just a few clicks. 

Each of our contract templates:

  • Is drafted by an experienced lawyer
  • Adheres to the governing law of the contract
  • Includes all the necessary elements to make a valid freelance contract
  • Can be customized to include your logo and brand colors

Plus, it’s free when you create an account. Sign up now to make your first contract in minutes. Once you’re done, easily share it with clients, collect digital signatures, and get to work. 

As an added bonus, Bonsai offers a host of other freelance services, which help you to track your working time, send invoices, and receive payments. 

Simple Contract FAQs


Are verbal agreements binding?

Verbal agreements are binding, but only if you can prove that they were made, which is exceedingly difficult. Unless you have a record of the conversation you had with a client that includes their agreeance to the terms described, it’s nearly impossible to prove the existence of a verbal contract. 

In business agreements especially, you should always have a written, signed contract to refer back to in the event of a dispute or misunderstanding. 

What if the client doesn’t sign my contract?

In order for a contract to be legally binding, it must be signed by both you and your client. Don’t start any work until your client has agreed to your contract in writing. You can’t hold them to anything in the agreement without a signature, including payment specifics. 

If a client refuses to sign because of a specific clause or element in the contract, find out what it is and consider whether it can be revised. If so, simply make the adjustment and send it again. If not, however, you may need to continue negotiations with your client. 

Who should be in a freelance contract?

A freelance contract should include at least two parties: the service provider (freelancer or independent contractor) and the client. In some cases, there may be more than one freelancer or client, in which case the contract should include all relevant parties. 

Anyone whose name is listed in the contract needs to sign the document before it will be legally binding. 

When should I update a freelance contract?

It’s good practice to review your freelance projects either: 

  • On a yearly basis
  • At the beginning of a new project

If you have ongoing contracts, give them a once over each year to ensure they’re still relevant and up-to-date. Small changes may need to be made, like the format in which you provide deliverables, or larger ones, like renegotiating your rate. 

For new projects with existing clients, sign a new contract or update your existing one to reflect any new work or responsibilities.

Keeping your contracts relevant ensures that still offer you legal protection and that they accurately reflect your relationship with a client. 

Related Documents

  • Contracts: Looking for a specific contract? We have agreements specific to many different industries, including software development, modeling, social media, and more. 
  • Invoices: Already signed a contract and ready to send your first invoice? We’ve got you covered. Choose an invoice, send it digitally, and get paid, all with Bonsai. 
  • Quotes: Want to send a quote before you move forward with a contract? Take a look at our customizable quotes to find one that works for you. 
  • Proposals: Looking to send a project proposal to a potential client instead? Find one for your industry and get started.

Examples of simple contract templates

Simple Contract Template
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Simple Contract Template Sample
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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about this template.

What makes a good contract?

A good contract contains all legal aspects. It should also be understandable and unambiguous.

What are the most important clauses in a contract?

The important clauses are indemnification, copyright, termination, warranties and disclaimers, and privacy. Good thing Bonsai's free template has these all covered for you.

Is there a simple contract template in Word?

Microsoft word has a simple contract available. However, if your's looking for a lawyer curated contract template that suits your needs, download from Bonsai now. It is easy to edit and save with reminders feature for you to utilize.