A Copywriter usually reaches for a Service Agreement when for a defined project with a clear start, deliverables and end. This free template does one job well: it defines the scope, timeline, payment and ownership for a one-off project. It is written for how copywriters actually work — around website copy, a sales page or a batch of articles, the familiar headache of rewrites requested because the brief changed after work began, and getting paid on 50% to reserve the slot and 50% on delivery of the first full draft. Use a Service Agreement rather than something looser, because for open-ended ongoing work — use a retainer instead. Edit any line to fit your rates and terms, then send it for e-signature in a couple of minutes — no account for your client, and it is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
SERVICE AGREEMENT — COPYWRITER
1. PARTIES
This Service Agreement ("Agreement") is made on ____________ between ____________ ("Client") and ____________ (the "Provider"), a Copywriter. Together they are the "Parties".
2. SCOPE OF WORK
The Provider will deliver finished written copy in the agreed word count and format for website copy, a sales page or a batch of articles. The agreed scope is: ____________. Anything not listed here is out of scope and is quoted separately before work begins.
3. TIMELINE
The Provider will start on ____________ and aim to deliver by ____________. Timelines assume the Client supplies everything needed on time; Client delays move the delivery date by the same amount.
4. FEES & PAYMENT
The fee is $____________. Payment terms: 50% to reserve the slot and 50% on delivery of the first full draft. Invoices are due within ____________ days. Late payments may pause work and accrue interest at ____________% per month.
5. REVISIONS
The fee includes ____________ rounds of revisions. Additional rounds, or changes such as extra rounds of edits or added pages beyond the quoted word count, are billed separately.
6. OWNERSHIP & IP
On full payment, the Client owns the final delivered finished written copy in the agreed word count and format. The Provider keeps ownership of tools, templates and any copyright assigning to the client on payment, and whether the writer may cite the work as a sample until paid, and may show the work in a portfolio unless agreed otherwise.
7. TERMINATION
Either Party may end this Agreement with ____________ days' written notice. On termination, work delivered to date is invoiced and the kill fee applies if cancelled mid-draft, and the Client pays for all work completed to that point.
8. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
9. WORD COUNT & SCOPE
The fee covers up to ____________ words on the agreed brief. Added pages or a changed brief are quoted separately.
10. REVISION ROUNDS
The fee includes ____________ rounds of revisions on the agreed scope. Extra rounds are billed at $____________ each.
11. BYLINE & PORTFOLIO
Unless agreed otherwise, the Client owns the copy on payment and the writer may reference the project as a sample without revealing confidential details.
12. KILL FEE
If the Client cancels mid-project, a kill fee of ____________% of the total, plus payment for work delivered, is due.
SIGNATURES
Signed by the Parties on the date first written above. Both Parties keep a copy. An electronic signature is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
Client: ______________________ Date: __________
Provider: ____________________ Date: __________This Service Agreement ("Agreement") is made on ____________ between ____________ ("Client") and ____________ (the "Provider"), a Copywriter. Together they are the "Parties".
The Provider will deliver finished written copy in the agreed word count and format for website copy, a sales page or a batch of articles. The agreed scope is: ____________. Anything not listed here is out of scope and is quoted separately before work begins.
The Provider will start on ____________ and aim to deliver by ____________. Timelines assume the Client supplies everything needed on time; Client delays move the delivery date by the same amount.
The fee is $____________. Payment terms: 50% to reserve the slot and 50% on delivery of the first full draft. Invoices are due within ____________ days. Late payments may pause work and accrue interest at ____________% per month.
The fee includes ____________ rounds of revisions. Additional rounds, or changes such as extra rounds of edits or added pages beyond the quoted word count, are billed separately.
On full payment, the Client owns the final delivered finished written copy in the agreed word count and format. The Provider keeps ownership of tools, templates and any copyright assigning to the client on payment, and whether the writer may cite the work as a sample until paid, and may show the work in a portfolio unless agreed otherwise.
Either Party may end this Agreement with ____________ days' written notice. On termination, work delivered to date is invoiced and the kill fee applies if cancelled mid-draft, and the Client pays for all work completed to that point.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
The fee covers up to ____________ words on the agreed brief. Added pages or a changed brief are quoted separately.
The fee includes ____________ rounds of revisions on the agreed scope. Extra rounds are billed at $____________ each.
Unless agreed otherwise, the Client owns the copy on payment and the writer may reference the project as a sample without revealing confidential details.
If the Client cancels mid-project, a kill fee of ____________% of the total, plus payment for work delivered, is due.
Signed by the Parties on the date first written above. Both Parties keep a copy. An electronic signature is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
If the agreement does not name exactly what finished written copy in the agreed word count and format is included, rewrites requested because the brief changed after work began follows. List the deliverables line by line.
Without a revision limit, extra rounds of edits or added pages beyond the quoted word count quietly becomes unpaid work. Fix the number of rounds in writing.
Say that copyright assigning to the client on payment, and whether the writer may cite the work as a sample only pass on full payment, or a Copywriter loses all leverage once the files are out.
Use it for website copy, a sales page or a batch of articles — a defined job with a clear end. For continuing month-to-month work, a retainer fits better.
Yes. It fixes your fee and terms, which for copywriters is usually 50% to reserve the slot and 50% on delivery of the first full draft.
Yes. Once you and your client sign it — including with an electronic signature — this Service Agreement is a binding contract under the ESIGN Act, eIDAS and similar laws in most countries.
Point them back to the scope. Extra work such as extra rounds of edits or added pages beyond the quoted word count is quoted separately — that is exactly what the written terms are for.
Yes. Paste it into Signr, drop the signature fields on, and send a link. Your client signs from any device with no account, and you both get a sealed, court-ready copy.
Paste the template into Signr, drop signature fields on, and send. Your client signs from any device, no account needed, and you both get a sealed, court-ready copy.
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