Free Independent Contractor Agreement
Hire a freelancer or 1099 contractor the right way. Define the scope, payment, and IP ownership below, download for free, and sign online.
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INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT
This Independent Contractor Agreement (the "Agreement") is made effective as of [effectiveDate] by and between [clientName] ("Client") and [contractorName] ("Contractor").
1. SERVICES. Contractor agrees to perform the following services (the "Services"): [services].
2. COMPENSATION. Client shall pay Contractor [compensation] for the Services, payable in accordance with the terms set forth herein.
3. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS. Contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee of Client. Contractor is responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes arising from the compensation paid under this Agreement.
4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. All work product created by Contractor in the course of performing the Services shall be the sole and exclusive property of Client upon full payment.
5. CONFIDENTIALITY. Contractor shall keep confidential all non-public information of Client obtained in connection with the Services.
6. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of [governingState].
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.
CLIENT: [clientName]
Signature: ______________________ Date: __________
CONTRACTOR: [contractorName]
Signature: ______________________ Date: __________
This template is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.
What's inside this agreement
This independent contractor agreement sets out the services, compensation, independent-contractor (1099) status, intellectual-property ownership, and confidentiality. Clearly stating contractor status and IP assignment protects you against worker-misclassification risk and ensures your business owns the work product it pays for.
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Contractor agreement questions
Why does contractor status matter?
Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor can trigger back taxes and penalties. This agreement documents the independent-contractor relationship, though the actual working arrangement must also support it.
Who owns the work the contractor creates?
This template assigns all work product to the client upon full payment. Without an explicit assignment, a contractor may retain rights to what they create, so this clause is important.
Can I use this for a 1099 freelancer?
Yes. This is designed for US 1099 independent contractors and freelancers. The contractor remains responsible for their own taxes as stated in the agreement.