Consulting Agreement
This agreement is made on 18 October 2026 between:
- Client: name, of Client: address ("the Client"); and
- Consultant: your name or business, of Consultant: address ("the Consultant").
1. The services
The Consultant will provide the following services to the Client (the "Services"):
The services you will provide
The Consultant will perform the Services with the skill and care expected of a competent professional in the same field, and will keep the Client informed of progress. The Client will provide, on time, the information, access and decisions that the Consultant reasonably needs. Where a deadline depends on something the Client must provide, it moves back by the time the Client takes to provide it.
Either party may propose changes to the Services. A change applies only once both parties have agreed it in writing, together with any change to the fees and timing.
2. Start and end
This agreement starts on Start date and continues until the Services are complete, unless it ends earlier under section 10.
3. Fees
How the fee is charged
The fee is Fee or rate. Unless that amount says otherwise, it does not include VAT, GST or sales tax, which the Consultant will add to invoices where the law requires it.
Where the fee depends on the time spent, the Consultant will keep accurate records of that time and send them with each invoice. Any estimate of the time needed is a guide, not a promise, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.
4. Expenses
Expenses
5. Invoices and payment
The Consultant will invoice When the Consultant invoices. The Client will pay each correct invoice within Time the Client has to pay an invoice of receiving it, to the bank account shown on the invoice.
If the Client disagrees with part of an invoice, it will tell the Consultant in writing within 10 days of receiving it, with its reasons, and pay the rest on time. The parties will try in good faith to settle the disputed part quickly.
If an undisputed amount is more than 14 days overdue, the Consultant may, after giving the Client 7 days' written notice, pause the Services until it is paid, and may claim any interest or compensation for late payment that the governing law allows. Deadlines move back by the length of any pause.
6. Independent consultant
The Consultant is an independent contractor, not an employee, partner or agent of the Client, and has no authority to make commitments on the Client's behalf. The Consultant decides how, when and where to perform the Services, while meeting the agreed deadlines and the Client's reasonable rules for working on its premises or systems.
The Consultant will perform the Services personally or through its own staff, and will not subcontract them without the Client's written consent. The Consultant is responsible for its own taxes, social security contributions, insurance and equipment. The Consultant may work for others during this agreement, but will tell the Client promptly about any conflict of interest that arises.
7. Confidentiality
Each party will keep confidential any non-public information it receives from the other in connection with this agreement, use it only for this agreement, and share it only with people who need it for this agreement and are bound to keep it confidential. This does not apply to information that is or becomes public through no fault of the party that received it, that it already lawfully had, or that the law requires it to disclose. These duties continue for 3 years after this agreement ends, and for trade secrets for as long as they remain secret.
If the Consultant handles personal data for the Client, both parties will comply with the data protection law that applies and sign any additional terms that law requires.
8. Who owns the work
The reports, documents and other materials that the Consultant makes for the Client under this agreement (the "Work Product") belong to Who owns the work
The Consultant keeps all rights in the methods, tools, templates and know-how that it had before this agreement or develops separately from it, and may go on using its general skills and experience. Where any of these form part of the Work Product, the Client may use them as part of the Work Product, permanently and at no further charge. The Client keeps all rights in the materials it gives the Consultant.
9. Liability
Neither party is liable to the other for indirect or consequential loss, or for loss of profit, revenue, business or goodwill, arising from this agreement.
Each party's total liability to the other arising from this agreement, whether in contract, negligence or otherwise, is limited to the total fees paid and payable under it.
These limits do not apply to the Client's duty to pay the fees, to a breach of section 7, to liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, to fraud, or to any other liability that the law does not allow to be limited.
10. Ending the agreement
Either party may end this agreement at any time by giving the other at least Notice to end the agreement of written notice.
Either party may end it at once, by written notice, if the other:
- seriously breaches it and, where the breach can be put right, does not do so within 14 days of being asked to in writing; or
- becomes insolvent, or stops or threatens to stop carrying on business.
When the agreement ends, for any reason:
- the Client will pay for the Services performed up to the end date and for approved expenses already incurred; for a fixed fee, this is the part of the fee that fairly reflects the work done;
- the Consultant will hand over the Work Product completed up to the end date, and section 8 applies to it once it is paid for; and
- each party will return or delete the other's confidential information, except copies that the law requires it to keep.
Sections 7, 8, 9 and 12 continue after the agreement ends.
11. General
- Neither party is responsible for a delay or failure caused by events beyond its reasonable control, as long as it tells the other promptly and does what it reasonably can to limit the effect.
- Neither party may transfer this agreement to someone else without the other's written consent, which will not be unreasonably refused.
- Notices under this agreement must be in writing, and may be sent by email to the address each party last gave the other.
- This agreement is the whole agreement between the parties about the Services. It may be changed only in writing signed by both parties. If any part of it cannot be enforced, the rest stays in effect.
- It may be signed in separate copies and electronically, and together they form one agreement.
12. Governing law and disputes
This agreement is governed by the laws of Country or state whose law applies. The parties will first try to settle any dispute by discussing it in good faith. If they cannot settle it within 30 days, either party may take it to the courts of Country or state whose law applies, which have jurisdiction.
Signatures
For the Client: Client: name
Name and role: ______________
Signature: ______________
Date: ______________
For the Consultant: Consultant: your name or business
Name and role: ______________
Signature: ______________
Date: ______________