Business contract generator with a clause library and payment schedule
This free business contract generator drafts a service agreement, a freelance contract or a vendor supply agreement from a clause library. Describe the work, set the timeline and the fees — fixed milestones, an hourly rate or a monthly retainer — and the tool builds a numbered contract with a payment schedule, GST or VAT, ownership of the work, confidentiality, warranties, a liability cap, termination, and governing law and disputes.
Each clause has a plain-English note, optional clauses switch on and off with the numbering and cross-references updating, and any wording can be edited. Export a PDF or an editable Word file with signature and witness blocks and an optional guide page. Everything stays in your browser. This is a template, not legal advice.
How to use the Business Contract Generator
- Choose the type — service agreement, freelance contract or vendor agreement — and the effective date.
- Enter the client (or buyer) and the provider: legal names, legal form, registration numbers, addresses and signatories.
- List the services or goods, the start and completion dates and the fees: milestones with due dates, an hourly rate, or a retainer.
- Set tax, payment days, ownership of the work, the liability cap and the notice and cure periods.
- Pick the governing law and courts or arbitration, review the clause list and its notes, and edit anything you need.
- Download the PDF or Word file for signature.
Business Contract Generator features
Payment schedule that adds up
Milestones with due dates and fees, totals, GST or VAT and the total in words, checked for missing fees and impossible dates.
Clause library with toggles
Definitions, acceptance, changes, indemnity, insurance, non-solicitation, data protection and more; numbering and cross-references renumber themselves.
IP that actually transfers
Assignment on payment (worldwide and for the full term in India, work-for-hire wording in the US) or a licence, with the provider’s background IP protected.
Three legal systems
India (GST, TDS, MSME payment terms, arbitration under the 1996 Act), any US state, or English, Scottish or Northern Irish law.
Ready to sign
Signature blocks for companies, LLPs, firms or individuals, two witnesses and space for Indian stamp paper.
Clauses every business contract needs
- Scope — exactly what is delivered, to what standard, by when; most disputes start with vague scope.
- Fees and payment — amounts, invoicing trigger, payment days, tax and late interest.
- Intellectual property — who owns the work, and when ownership passes.
- Confidentiality, warranties and liability — what each side promises and the most it can owe.
- Termination — how either side can leave, and what is paid and handed over.
- Governing law and disputes — which law, which courts or which arbitration seat.
Worked example
The sample service agreement has three milestones: ₹1,50,000 for design, ₹2,00,000 for build and testing and ₹1,00,000 for launch — ₹4,50,000 in all, or “Four lakh fifty thousand rupees only”. GST at 18% adds ₹81,000, so invoices total ₹5,31,000; check rates with the GST calculator and deductions with the TDS calculator. Switching off the acceptance clause renumbers the contract, and the survival clause changes from “clauses 7, 8, 9, 11 and 15” to “clauses 6, 7, 8, 10 and 14” automatically.
Legal notes (as of October 2026)
- India: a freelancer owns the copyright in their work unless it is assigned in writing (Copyright Act, 1957, s.18–19), and an assignment that is silent on duration or territory is read as five years and India only (s.19(5)–(6)). Micro and small enterprises must be paid within 45 days at most (MSMED Act, 2006, s.15). TDS on fees is under section 393 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. Stamp duty is set by each state; e-signatures are valid under the Information Technology Act, 2000; arbitration needs a named seat.
- United States: a contractor’s work is “made for hire” only in limited categories agreed in writing (17 U.S.C. § 101), so assign the rights too. New York State’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act (from 28 August 2024) requires a written contract and timely payment for freelancers earning $800 or more over 120 days. California applies the ABC test to contractor status.
- United Kingdom: liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence cannot be excluded (Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, s.2(1)); copyright passes only by a signed written assignment (CDPA 1988, s.90(3)); late payment carries statutory interest at 8% over base rate; medium and large clients decide IR35 status.
Common mistakes
- Paying for work without a written IP assignment — the client may end up with only an implied licence.
- Milestones without acceptance criteria or review periods, so “done” is never agreed.
- Calling someone a contractor while controlling them like an employee; the label does not decide status.
Business Contract Generator FAQ
How do I write a business contract?
Identify the parties, define the scope, set fees and payment terms, decide who owns the work, add confidentiality, warranties, a liability cap and termination, choose the governing law and sign. This business contract generator assembles those clauses with the numbers and dates filled in.
What is the difference between a service agreement and a freelance contract?
Both are contracts for services. A freelance contract is usually with an individual and stresses independent-contractor status and IP assignment; a service agreement is often between companies and includes fuller acceptance and liability terms.
Should GST be included in the contract price?
State whether fees include or exclude GST. This template quotes fees before GST and adds it at the rate in force on the tax invoice — 18% for most services.
Who owns the work a freelancer creates?
Unless there is a written assignment, generally the freelancer. Choose “Client owns it once paid” to assign it on payment, or a licence if the freelancer keeps it.
Do I need to stamp a contract in India?
Yes, under the stamp law of the state where it is signed. An unstamped contract is not void, but it cannot be used as evidence until the duty and a penalty are paid.
Is this contract template legal advice?
No. It is a starting point with explanations; ask a lawyer to review contracts with high value or unusual risks. For confidentiality before a deal, use the NDA generator.