Free independent contractor agreement template (Word)

A contractor agreement covering services, hourly or fixed fees, invoicing, independent status, ownership of work product, confidentiality and termination.

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Updated 6 October 2026 · Word (.docx) · Free to use and adapt

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What is in the independent contractor agreement

Parties and services
Start date and optional end date
Hourly rate with optional monthly cap, or a fixed fee
Invoicing and expenses
Independent contractor status
Who owns the work product
Confidentiality
Termination and governing law

First page of the free independent contractor agreement template for Word

Read the full template

This is the complete wording. [Labels] are filled in from your answers, and highlighted text only appears when it applies; hover over it to see when.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

This Independent Contractor Agreement (the "Agreement") is made on [Effective date] between [Client name], [Client address] (the "Client"), and [Contractor name], [Contractor address] (the "Contractor").

1. Services

The Contractor will provide the following services (the "Services"): [Services description]. The Services begin on [Start date] and end on [End date] and continue until either party ends this Agreement under section 6.

2. Fees

The Client will pay the Contractor [Hourly rate] per hour for time spent on the Services, up to [Hours cap] hours per month unless the Client agrees otherwise in writing.The Client will pay the Contractor a fixed fee of [Fixed fee] for the Services.

The Contractor will invoice the Client [Invoice frequency]. Invoices are due within [Payment days] days of receipt. The Client will reimburse reasonable, pre-approved expenses supported by receipts.

3. Independent contractor

The Contractor is an independent contractor, not an employee, partner or agent of the Client. The Contractor decides how, when and where to perform the Services, provides their own equipment, and is responsible for their own taxes, insurance and benefits.

4. Intellectual property

All work product created by the Contractor for the Client under this Agreement belongs to the Client once paid for, and the Contractor assigns all rights in it to the Client.The Contractor keeps ownership of their work product and grants the Client a non-exclusive, perpetual licence to use it for the Client's business once paid for.

5. Confidentiality

The Contractor will keep the Client's non-public information confidential and use it only to perform the Services, during this Agreement and for [Confidentiality years] years afterwards.

6. Termination

Either party may end this Agreement with [Notice days] days' written notice. The Client will pay for Services performed up to the end date.

7. Governing law

This Agreement is governed by the laws of [Governing law].

Signatures

[Client name]

By: ____________________________

Name: [Client signatory]

[Contractor name]

Signature: ____________________________

The questions you answer

Clausery turns the template into a short questionnaire. Optional parts only appear when they apply.

Question	Type	Asked when
Effective date	Date	Always
Client name	Short text	Always
Client address	Long text	Always
Contractor name	Short text	Always
Contractor address	Long text	Always
Services description	Long text	Always
Start date	Date	Always
Has end date	Yes / no	Always
End date	Date	If “Has end date” is yes
Fee hourly	Yes / no	Always
Hourly rate	Money	If “Fee hourly” is yes
Has hours cap	Yes / no	If “Fee hourly” is yes
Hours cap	Number	If “Fee hourly” is yes and “Has hours cap” is yes
Fee fixed	Yes / no	Always
Fixed fee	Money	If “Fee fixed” is yes
Invoice frequency	Short text	Always
Payment days	Number	Always
Reimburse expenses	Yes / no	Always
Client owns ip	Yes / no	Always
Confidentiality years	Number	Always
Notice days	Number	Always
Governing law	Short text	Always
Client signatory	Short text	Always

How to use it

Open it
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Answer the questions
Work through the sections. Drafts save as you type, on your device.
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Prefer to start from your own wording? Download the Word file, edit it, keep the {tags}, and upload it to Clausery. See the template syntax.

Questions

Does this decide whether someone is legally a contractor?

No. Classification depends on how the work is actually done under your local law, not on the contract wording alone.

Can the contractor keep ownership of their work?

Yes. One question switches between assignment to the client and a licence to the client.

Is it really free?

Yes. The download is free, and filling it in with the Clausery app is free too, with unlimited documents. Library templates never count towards a plan limit, and no account or card is needed.

Is my information uploaded anywhere?

No. Clausery runs entirely in your browser. Your answers and the finished document are created and stored on your own device.

Is this legal advice?

No. These are general samples. Laws differ between countries and states, so have the wording reviewed for your situation before you rely on it.

Clauses in this template, explained

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This template is a general sample and not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction; have it reviewed before use.