Professional Service Agreement

A professional service agreement is necessary to protect both your work and your client. It is a contract that states what services you are performing along with your client’s responsibilities during the job. Many different items should be listed specifically in the professional service agreement.

As an independent contractor, home business owner or small business owner, it is imperative to have a professional service agreement with any clients you have. There are certain items that should always be included in the professional service agreement.

The very first part of the agreement should be the specific services that you and your business will be supplying to the client. The next part should be the client's duties for this contract meaning what the client needs to provide you with in order to do your job for them. The most important part of the agreement, the fee schedule, comes next. This portion should detail all payments that are owed to you and when they are due. This part should also list any necessary reimbursements for money spent out of your pocket to perform the job. It is also important to mention if there is a need for any form of insurance to be maintained during the job.

Depending on the service you are providing, there are other items that should be included. If confidentiality is important, a specific set of guidelines should be listed in the agreement. The agreement should also state rights regarding copyrights, patents and/or trademarks. Whether or not there is a warranty on your work and what the warranty is for, should be included. Another important inclusion for the agreement is reasons for termination of services on both your side and the clients as well as any dispute resolution procedures.

A professional service agreement is a necessity when performing work for someone else. It serves as a contract between you and your client. By having this agreement, you are protecting your work as well as your client.