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Independent Contractor Agreement

This Independent Contractor Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between the Client and the Contractor named below as of the Effective Date.

Client Information

Name
Address
Email

Contractor Information

Name
Address
Email

Effective Date		End Date
Services
Compensation
Payment Terms

Terms

1. Services

The Contractor will perform the services described above in a professional manner. The Contractor decides how, when and where to perform the work and provides their own tools and equipment, subject to the deadlines agreed above.

2. Payment

The Client will pay the Contractor as stated above after receiving the Contractor’s invoice. Expenses are the Contractor’s responsibility unless the Client approves them in writing in advance.

3. Independent Contractor Status

The Contractor is an independent contractor, not an employee, partner or agent of the Client. The Contractor is not eligible for employee benefits and is responsible for their own income taxes, self-employment taxes, insurance and licenses. The Client will issue IRS Form 1099-NEC where required.

4. Confidentiality

The Contractor will keep confidential any non-public information of the Client learned while performing the services and will use it only to perform this Agreement.

5. Work Product

Upon full payment, the Contractor assigns to the Client all rights in the deliverables created specifically for the Client under this Agreement, except the Contractor’s pre-existing materials and general know-how.

6. Termination

Either party may end this Agreement with 14 days’ written notice, or immediately if the other party materially breaches it. The Client will pay for services performed through the termination date.

7. General

This Agreement is the entire agreement between the parties and may be changed only in writing signed by both. It is governed by the laws of the State of __________.

By signing below, the parties agree to the terms of this Agreement.

Client

Signature
Printed Name
Title
Date

Contractor

Signature
Printed Name
Title
Date

※ Calling someone a contractor does not make them one — the IRS and state agencies look at the actual working relationship, and some states use stricter tests. This template is provided for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws vary by state; consider having an attorney review it before signing.

How to fill out an Independent Contractor Agreement

Independent Contractor Agreement template preview — Free Independent Contractor Agreement template

An independent contractor agreement is a contract between a business and a self-employed person or company hired to perform specific services. It sets out the work, payment, deadlines and ownership of work product, and states that the contractor is not an employee.

How to fill it out

Enter the client's and contractor's names, addresses and emails.
Fill in the effective date and end date.
Describe the services, deliverables and deadlines as specifically as you can.
Write the compensation (hourly rate, fixed fee or per project) and the payment terms.
Review the terms — contractor status, confidentiality, work product and termination — and edit them to fit.
Both parties sign and date the agreement and keep a copy.

Tips

The label on the contract does not decide worker status. The IRS and state agencies look at how much control the business actually has over the work; some states, such as California, use a stricter ABC test.
Collect a Form W-9 from the contractor before the first payment so you can file Form 1099-NEC if required.
Spell out deliverables and deadlines rather than hours and schedules — controlling when and how someone works points toward employment.
If the contractor will create software, designs or content, make sure the work product clause covers who owns it.

Independent Contractor Agreement example

Client Information

Name: Acme Supply Co.
Address: 123 Main St, Springfield, IL 62701
Email: [email protected]

Contractor Information

Name: Alex Rivera (Rivera Web Studio)
Address: 88 Pine St, Peoria, IL 61602
Email: [email protected]

End Date: December 31, 2026
Services: Redesign and build the company website (up to 8 pages) on the client’s existing hosting. Deliverables: design mockups by Oct 30, working site by Dec 1, two rounds of revisions, and a 1-hour training session.
Compensation: Fixed fee of $6,000, paid 50% on signing and 50% on launch
Payment Terms: Payment due within 15 days of each invoice

Client

Printed Name: Jane Smith
Title: Owner
Date: October 13, 2026

Contractor

Printed Name: Alex Rivera
Title: Owner, Rivera Web Studio
Date: October 13, 2026

All names, companies and contact details are fictional. Click “Fill sample” above to put this example into the empty fields; click again to remove the parts you did not change.

FAQ

What is the difference between an employee and an independent contractor?

Employees work under the employer's direction and control, and the employer withholds taxes and provides benefits. Independent contractors run their own business, control how they do the work and pay their own taxes.

Do I need to issue a 1099 to a contractor?

Generally, a business must file Form 1099-NEC for each non-employee it paid at least the reporting threshold for services in a year. The threshold was $600 through 2025 and rises to $2,000 for payments made in 2026 and later. Check the current IRS instructions for the threshold and exceptions.

Who owns the work a contractor creates?

Without a written agreement, the contractor often keeps copyright in what they create. This template assigns the deliverables to the client once they are paid in full.

Related templates

↑ Fill out the Independent Contractor Agreement