If you are an individual consultant or a consulting company that works on a project basis with clients, you should work through a formal agreement that defines your scope of work, iterations, deliverables and timeline.
The same applies to businesses hiring consultants as well. If you are hiring a consultant, please detail his or her service scope, payment terms and work schedule through forming consulting contracts. This will ensure both parties work smoothly in the arrangement business without problems.
These days, consultants and clients can find a suitable and professional consulting contract template online easily for their business needs.
What Is A Consulting Contract?
A consulting contract is a legally binding, formal agreement entered into between a consultant(company) and a client(company) with regards to the consulting services desired.
It provides details for both parties about consulting scope, deliverables desired, expectations of both parties in terms of information and shared resources, payment terms, schedule and glitches etc.
A consultancy company or consultant can be employed by a client company for a short term or long-term depending on the consulting needs and deliverables to be produced.
Sometimes, the need for consulting requirement is on-going whereas in some cases, it may only need periodic review such as weekly or monthly after the work package is delivered to the satisfaction of the client.
When Is a Consulting Contract Needed?
Whenever there is a need for a professional service, there should be a formal contract being set up. The same can be said about the consulting service industry and consulting business too.
Since the scope of work in a consulting project varies widely, a formal contract always proves to be useful when a client desires timely and professional services and the consultant expects smooth reimbursement of dues for his or her services rendered.
Irrespective of the size of the consulting project at hand, a formal contract can help get the work completed in time and within the budget. The consulting contract not only acts as a bridge between the two parties but also works as a dashboard that helps both parties know the exact requirements, schedule of delivery of the services desired, status of the work to be done and in progress, payment sought, paid and due.
What Does A Consulting Contract Cover?
A consulting contract briefly covers the following sections:
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- Description of services to be provided by the consultant(s) to the client company and from the client company to the consultant:
These include all the services covered under the discussed and agreed meeting points and also service limitations(services that are not covered under the contract) by the consultant.
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- Payment details, phases and release terms:
The payment details section covers the total fee, payment break-up upon phased completion and approval of deliverables by the client, deviations, number of revisions and additional details. It can also cover provision for miscellaneous expenditures based on cost-break down of individual work packages and subsequent costs.
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- Dispute resolution and cancellations:
As part of any formal work agreement, the possibility of dispute is always there. A consulting contract like ours is designed to protect the interests of both parties fairly as agreed upon during the signing stage. If you work through the contract as a consultant or as a client, it protects you from legal trouble if it may arise during the project, after completion and even at a later date.
The limited liability clause such as “data not available”, “ambiguous responses from survey participants”, “un-cooperative staff members”, “privacy policy” and so on protects either party from unforeseen situations if they arise and offer a peaceful solution to the problems that may arise due to disparity, unavoidable circumstances, natural calamities and so on.
The consulting agreement should detail how either party can terminate the contract partially, fully or postpone it to a later date pending favorable circumstances. Focus on all those circumstances that may lead to termination of the agreement from either or both parties. Also payment terms on termination clauses of contract need to be specified.
The consulting contract also details the start timing and end timing of the projects with due dates and details of deliverables. Scope of deviations such as “delay in delivery due to sickness or injuries of personal nature, floods, power outage, damage to office premises” and so on should be clearly defined along with revised timeframes.
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- Any expenses that are related to the completion of the project:
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Being a consultant or a client, you should put your boundaries for service and expectations in writing. Don’t know where to reach a legally binding consultancy contract? Feel free to use our consulting contract template to save yourself from wasting time.
Such as commutation expenses, access to research databases, purchases of data, hiring experts and so on. This helps in reconciliation of all expenses at a later date and provides scope for budget adjustments or enhancements.
Besides the must have clauses, you can also personalize your contract in accordance with your individual consulting requirements. Our consulting contract templates are flexible and can be used for multiple consulting clauses for different departments of a single business, or for different types of consulting services availed from the consultant.
DOCUMENT PREVIEW
CONSULTING AGREEMENT
I. THE PARTIES. This Consulting Agreement ("Agreement") is made effective as of ____________________, 20____, by and between:
Consultant: ____________________ with a mailing address of ________________________________________ ("Consultant"), and
Client: ____________________ with a mailing address of ________________________________________ ("Client").
II. SERVICES. Consultant agrees to provide the following Services: ________________
___________________________________________________________ ("Services").
III. TERM. The Services shall commence on ____________________, 20____, and end: (check one)
☐ - On the date of ____________________, 20____.
☐ - At completion of the Services performed.
☐ - Upon either party may terminate this Agreement with ____ days’ notice.
☐ - Other. _______________________________________________________.
IV. COMPENSATION. In consideration for the Services provided, the Consultant is to be paid in the following manner: (check all that apply)
☐ - Per Hour. $____ /hour.
☐ - Per Job. $__________ for the completion of the Services.
☐ - Commission. ____% commission based on ____________________.
☐ - Other. _______________________________________________________.
V. PAYMENT METHOD. Consultant shall be paid, in accordance with section IV, in the following manner: (check one)
☐ - On a ☐ weekly ☐ monthly ☐ quarterly basis beginning on ______________________, 20____.
☐ - At completion of the Services performed.
☐ - Upon the Client receiving an Invoice from the Consultant.
☐ - Other. _______________________________________________________.
VI. RETAINER. The Client is: (check one)
☐ - Required to pay a Retainer. The Client is required to pay a Retainer in the amount of $__________ to the Consultant as an advance on future Services to be provided ("Retainer"). The Retainer is: (check one)
☐ - Refundable.
☐ - Non-Refundable.
☐ - Not required to pay a Retainer. The Client is not required to pay a Retainer before the Consultant is able to provide Services.
VII. CONTINGENCY. As part of the Consultant’s Pay: (check one)
☐ - There SHALL be a contingency-fee arrangement in accordance with: (check applicable)
☐ - ____% of _______________________________________________.
☐ - flat fee of $__________ for the following: _______________________
__________________________________________________________.
☐ - There SHALL NOT be a contingency-fee arrangement as part of this Agreement.
VIII. EXPENSES. The Consultant shall be: (check one)
☐ - Responsible for ALL expenses. The Consultant shall be responsible for all expenses related to providing the Services under this Agreement. This includes, but is not limited to, supplies, equipment, operating costs, business costs, employment costs, taxes, Social Security contributions and/or payments, disability insurance, unemployment taxes, and any other cost that may or may not be in connection with the Services provided by the Consultant including out-of-pocket expenses. The Client agrees to pay the Consultant within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of any expense directly associated with the Services. Upon request by the Client, the Consultant may have to show receipt(s) or proof(s) of purchase for said expense.
☐ - Responsible for ONLY the following expenses: _____________________
________________________________________________________________.
The Client agrees to pay the Consultant within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of any expense directly associated with the Services. Upon request by the Client, the Consultant may have to show receipt(s) or proof(s) of purchase for said expense.
☐ - Responsible for NO expenses. The Client is not required to pay or be responsible for any expense in connection with the Services provided.
IX. DISPUTES. If any dispute arises under this Agreement, the Consultant and the Client shall negotiate in good faith to settle such dispute. If the parties cannot resolve such disputes themselves, then either party may submit the dispute to mediation by a mediator approved by both parties. If the parties cannot agree with any mediator or if either party does not wish to abide by any decision of the mediator, they shall submit the dispute to arbitration by any mutually acceptable arbitrator, or the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The costs of the arbitration proceeding shall be borne according to the decision of the arbitrator, who may apportion costs equally or in accordance with any finding of fault or lack of good faith of either party. If either party does not wish to abide by any decision of the arbitrator, they shall submit the dispute to litigation. The jurisdiction for any dispute shall be administered in the County of ____________________, State of ____________________.
X. LEGAL NOTICE. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered when delivered in-person or deposited in the United States Postal Service via Certified Mail with return receipt. If different from the mailing address in Section I, enter below:
Client's Address: ____________________________________________
Consultant's Address: ____________________________________________
XI. RETURN OF RECORDS. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Consultant shall deliver all records, notes, and data of any nature that are in the Consultant's possession or under the Consultant's control and that are of the Client's property or relate to Client's business.
XII. WAIVER OF CONRACTUAL RIGHT. The failure of either party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or limitation of that party's right to subsequently enforce and compel strict compliance with every provision of this Agreement.
XIII. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS. The Consultant, under the code of the Internal Revenue (IRS), is an independent contractor and neither the Consultant's employees or contract personnel are, or shall be deemed, the Client's employees. In its capacity as an independent contractor, the Consultant agrees and represents:
a.) Consultant has the right to perform Services for others during the term of this Agreement;
b.) Consultant has the sole right to control and direct the means, manner, and method by which the Services required under this Agreement will be performed; Consultant shall select the routes taken, starting and ending times, days of work, and order the work that performed;
c.) Consultant has the right to hire assistant(s) as subcontractors or to use employees to provide the Services under this Agreement.
d.) Neither Consultant nor the Consultant's employees or personnel shall be required to wear any uniforms provided by the Client;
e.) The Services required by this Agreement shall be performed by the Consultant, Consultant's employees or personnel, and the Client will not hire, supervise, or pay assistants to help the Consultant;
f.) Neither the Consultant nor the Consultant's employees or personnel shall receive any training from the Client for the professional skills necessary to perform the Services required by this Agreement; and
g.) Neither the Consultant nor Consultant's employees or personnel shall be required by the Client to devote full-time to the performance of the Services required by this Agreement.
XIV. STATE AND FEDERAL LICENSES. The Consultant represents and warrants that all employees and personnel associated shall comply with federal, state, and local laws requiring any required licenses, permits, and certificates necessary to perform the Services under this Agreement.
XV. PAYMENT OF TAXES. Under this Agreement, the Client shall not be responsible for:
a.) Withholding FICA, Medicare, Social Security, or any other Federal or State withholding taxes from the Consultant's payments to employees or personnel or make payments on behalf of the Consultant;
b.) Making Federal and/or State unemployment compensation contributions on the Consultant's behalf; and
c.) Making payments of taxes incurred while performing the Services under this Agreement, including all applicable income taxes and, if the Consultant is not a business entity, all applicable self-employment taxes. Upon demand, the Consultant shall provide the Client with proof that such payments have been made.
XVI. EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for the following:
a.) Employee Benefits. The Consultant understands and agrees that they are solely responsible and shall be liable to all benefits that are provided to their employees, including, but not limited to, retirement plans, health insurance, vacation time-off, sick pay, personal leave, or any other benefit provided.
b.) Unemployment Compensation. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for the unemployment compensation payments on behalf of their employees and personnel. The Consultant shall not be entitled to unemployment compensation with the Services performed under this Agreement.
c.) Workers’ Compensation. The Consultant shall be responsible for providing all workers' compensation insurance on behalf of their employees. If the Consultant hires employees to perform any work under this Agreement, the Consultant agrees to grant workers' compensation coverage to the extent required by law. Upon request by the Client, the Consultant must provide certificates proving workers' compensation insurance at any time during the performance of the Services.
XVII. INDEMNIFICATION. Consultant shall release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Client and its officers, agents, and employees from all suits, actions, or claims of any character, name, or description including reasonable Consultant fees, brought on account of any injuries or damage, or loss (real or alleged) received or sustained by any person, persons, or property, arising out of services provided under this Agreement or Consultant's failure to perform or comply with any requirements of this Agreement including, but not limited to any claims for personal injury, property damage, or infringement of copyright, patent, or other proprietary rights. Client reserves the right to retain whatever funds which would be due to the Consultant under this Agreement until such suits, action or actions, claim or claims for injuries or damages as aforesaid shall have been settled and satisfactory evidence to that effect furnished.
XVIII. CONFIDENTIALITY & PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. The Consultant acknowledges that it will be necessary for the Client to disclose certain confidential and proprietary information to the Consultant in order for the Consultant to perform their duties under this Agreement. The Consultant acknowledges that disclosure to a third (3rd) party or misuse of this proprietary or confidential information would irreparably
harm the Client. Accordingly, the Consultant will not disclose or use, either during or after the term of this Agreement, any proprietary or confidential information of the Client without the Client's prior written permission except to the extent necessary to perform the Services on the Client's behalf.
Proprietary or confidential information includes, but is not limited to:
a.) The written, printed, graphic, or electronically recorded materials furnished by Client for Consultant to use;
b.) Any written or tangible information stamped "confidential," "proprietary," or with a similar legend, or any information that Client makes reasonable efforts to maintain the secrecy of, business or marketing plans or strategies, customer lists, operating procedures, trade secrets, design formulas, know-how and processes, computer programs and inventories, discoveries and improvements of any kind, sales projections, and pricing information; and
c.) Information belonging to customers and suppliers of the Client about whom the Consultant gained knowledge as a result of the Consultant‘s Services to the Client.
Upon termination of the Consultant's Services to the Client, or at the Client's request, the Consultant shall deliver all materials to the Client in the Consultant's possession relating to the Client's business. The Consultant acknowledges any breach or threatened breach of confidentiality under this Agreement will result in irreparable harm to the Client for which damages would be an inadequate remedy. Therefore, the Client shall be entitled to equitable relief, including an injunction, in the event of such breach or threatened breach of confidentiality. Such equitable relief shall be in addition to the Client's rights and remedies otherwise available at law.
Furthermore, proprietary information, under this Agreement, shall include:
a.) The product of all work performed under this Agreement ("Work Product"), including without limitation all notes, reports, documentation, drawings, computer programs, inventions, creations, works, devices, models, works-in-progress and deliverables, will be the sole property of the Client, and Consultant hereby assigns to the Client all right, title, and interest therein, including, but not limited to, all audiovisual, literary, moral rights and other copyrights, patent rights, trade secret rights, and other proprietary rights therein. Consultant retains no right to use the Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of the Client's ownership in the Work Product;
b.) Consultant hereby assigns to the Client all right, title, and interest in any and all photographic images and videos or audio recordings made by the Client during Consultant's work for them, including, but not limited to, any royalties, proceeds, or other benefits derived from such photographs or recordings; and
c.) The Client will be entitled to use the Consultant's name and/or likeness in advertising and other materials.
XIX. ASSIGNMENT AND DELEGATION. The Consultant may assign rights and may delegate duties under this Agreement to other individuals or entities acting as a subcontractor ("Subcontractor"). The Consultant recognizes that they shall be liable for
all work performed by the Subcontractor and shall hold the Client harmless of any liability in connection with their performed work.
The Consultant shall be responsible for any confidential or proprietary information that is shared with the Subcontractor in accordance with this section. If any such information is shared by the Subcontractor to third (3rd) parties, the Consultant shall be made liable.
XX. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed under the laws in the State of ____________________.
XXI. SEVERABILITY. This Agreement shall remain in effect in the event a section or provision is unenforceable or invalid. All remaining sections and provisions shall be deemed legally binding unless a court administers that any such provision or section is invalid or unenforceable, thus, limiting the effect of another provision or section. In such case, the affected provision or section shall be enforced as so limited.
XXII. ADDITIONAL TERMS & CONDITIONS. _________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
XXIII. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, along with any attachments or addendums, represents the entire agreement between the parties. Therefore, this Agreement supersedes any prior agreements, promises, conditions, or understandings between the Client and Consultant. This Agreement may be modified or amended if the amendment is made in writing and is signed by both parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the dates written hereunder.
Consultant's Signature: ___________________________ Date: _________________
Print Name: ___________________________
Client's Signature: ___________________________ Date: _________________
Print Name ___________________________
