Free independent contractor agreement template. Covers contractor status, scope, payment, tax obligations, insurance requirements, and work product ownership.
This Independent Contractor Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into on [Date] between [Company Name] ("Company") and [Contractor Name] ("Contractor"). The Contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee. The Contractor shall have no authority to bind the Company or represent the Company to third parties. The Contractor is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and benefits.
The Contractor shall perform the services described in Exhibit A. The Contractor shall determine their own methods, schedule, and location for performing the Services, provided that all deadlines and milestones are met. The Contractor may engage assistants or subcontractors at their own expense, subject to the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement.
The Company shall pay the Contractor [hourly rate/project fee/daily rate] as detailed in Exhibit B. The Contractor shall submit detailed invoices [weekly/bi-weekly/monthly]. Payment shall be made within [15/30] days. The Company shall not withhold taxes; the Contractor is solely responsible for all tax obligations and shall provide a completed [W-9/tax form] before the first payment.
The Contractor shall maintain, at their own expense: (a) general liability insurance with minimum coverage of [Amount]; (b) professional liability insurance if applicable; (c) workers' compensation insurance if required by law. The Contractor shall provide certificates of insurance upon request. The Contractor shall indemnify the Company against claims arising from the Contractor's performance.
All work product created under this Agreement shall be considered work-for-hire and shall be the sole property of the Company. To the extent any work product does not qualify as work-for-hire, the Contractor assigns all rights to the Company. The Contractor waives any moral rights in the work product to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Either party may terminate this Agreement with [14] days' written notice. The Company may terminate immediately for cause, including breach, misconduct, or failure to meet performance standards. Upon termination, the Contractor shall return all Company materials and deliver completed work. The Company shall pay for Services satisfactorily rendered through the termination date.
Signature — Party A
Signature — Party B
Step 1: Choose your contractor agreement template. Log in to ContractClaw Sign and select the Independent Contractor Agreement template from your dashboard. This template explicitly establishes a contractor (not employee) relationship and covers scope, payment, tax obligations, insurance, and work product ownership.
Step 2: Customize the contractor terms. Fill in the Company name and the Contractor's full legal name or business entity name. Clearly state that the Contractor is an independent contractor responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and benefits. Attach an Exhibit A describing the services in detail — deliverables, milestones, deadlines, and quality standards. Specify whether the Contractor determines their own schedule, methods, and work location. Note whether subcontracting is permitted.
Step 3: Set compensation and tax details. Enter the payment structure in Exhibit B — hourly rate, daily rate, or fixed project fee. Set the invoice submission frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) and payment terms (Net 15 or Net 30). Clearly state that the Company will not withhold taxes and that the Contractor bears sole responsibility for all tax obligations. Require a completed W-9 (or equivalent tax form for your jurisdiction) before the first payment is issued.
Step 4: Configure insurance and IP provisions. Specify the minimum insurance coverage the Contractor must maintain — general liability, professional liability, and workers' compensation if required by law. Request certificates of insurance before work begins. Define the work product and IP assignment: all work created under the agreement is work-for-hire and belongs to the Company, with the Contractor waiving moral rights.
Step 5: Add signers. Enter the Company's authorized representative (name, title, email) and the Contractor's legal name and email. If the Contractor operates through a business entity, ensure the signer has authority to bind that entity.
Step 6: Send for signature. Click Send — both parties receive the contractor agreement via email and WhatsApp with secure OTP verification. The Contractor reviews the scope, pay terms, tax responsibilities, insurance requirements, and IP assignment before signing from any device.
Step 7: Track and download. Monitor signing progress in your ContractClaw Sign dashboard. Once both parties sign, the agreement is sealed with a SHA-256 hash, RFC 3161 timestamp, and QR verification code. Download the executed PDF anytime — keep it on file for tax reporting, insurance audits, and contractor classification compliance.
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View templateDisclaimer: This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified legal professional before using this document for any binding agreement. ContractClaw Sign is not a law firm and does not provide legal services.
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