Free template · Ops
Freelance Service Agreement Template
A plain-English contract template for Indian freelancers covering scope, payment, IP, cancellation and liability. Fill in the blanks, sign, and start work.
What this is
A six-page contract template in plain English for freelancers and solo consultants in India. It covers scope, payment, intellectual property, confidentiality, cancellation and liability. Fill in the bracketed fields, get it signed, and both sides start the work knowing where the boundaries are.
Note: This is a template, not legal advice. Have a lawyer review it before using it for high-value engagements.
What is inside
Section 1: Parties & engagement
- Your details and the client’s details
- Engagement start date and term (project-based or ongoing retainer)
- Point of contact on each side
Section 2: Scope of work
- Description of deliverables
- What’s included and what’s explicitly excluded
- Revision limits and process
Section 3: Payment terms
- Fee structure (fixed, retainer, or hourly)
- Payment schedule (advance + milestones, or monthly)
- Late payment penalty (1.5%/month standard)
- GST handling
- TDS acknowledgement
Section 4: Intellectual property
- Work product transfers to client upon full payment
- You retain right to show in portfolio (unless NDA)
- Pre-existing tools/frameworks remain yours
- Third-party licenses are client’s responsibility
Section 5: Confidentiality
- Both parties keep business information confidential
- Survives termination for 2 years
- Exceptions: public information, legal requirements
Section 6: Cancellation & termination
- Notice period (15 or 30 days)
- Work completed up to termination is billable
- Handover obligations
- No refund on advance after kickoff
Section 7: Liability
- Liability limited to fees paid in last 3 months
- No liability for indirect/consequential damages
- Force majeure clause
Section 8: Signatures
- Signature blocks for both parties
- Date and place
How to use it
- Download the PDF to use as a reference.
- Copy it into Google Docs or Word for editing.
- Fill in all the bracketed fields: your details, the client’s details, scope and fees.
- Review it with your CA or lawyer for high-value contracts.
- Get it signed. Digital signatures (DocuSign, Digilocker) are legally valid in India under the IT Act 2000.
Version history
| Version | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | June 2026 | Added GST/TDS clauses, digital signature note, portfolio rights |
| 1.0 | November 2025 | Initial release |
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