First hire · Template 04 of 40

Independent Contractor Agreement

Use it when engaging a freelancer or consultant who is genuinely self-employed.

Not sure it is the right one? Read Employee, worker or contractor? Picking the right contract.

  • About 10 pages
  • 24 drafting notes in the margin
  • 17 clauses
  • Word (.docx)
  • England and Wales
  • Updated November 2026

What is in it

  1. Definitions and interpretation
  2. Engagement
  3. Independence and method of work
  4. Substitution
  5. Fees and invoicing
  6. Expenses
  7. Status and tax
  8. Term and termination
  9. Obligations on termination or expiry
  10. Reporting and cooperation
  11. Data protection
  12. Intellectual property
  13. Confidentiality
  14. Conflicts and non-solicitation
  15. Insurance and liability
  16. Publicity
  17. General

Plus a schedule of the commercial details and signature blocks where the document needs them.

Read the opening

The first part of the template, as it reads in Word. Blanks are shown as lines; the drafting notes sit in the margin of the file.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

This Independent Contractor Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made effective as of ____________________ (the “Effective Date”), by and between:

____________________ LTD, a company registered in England and Wales (registration number ____________), whose registered office is at ______________________________________________, e-mail ____________________ (the “Company”),

and

____________________, an individual / a company (delete as appropriate) whose address is ______________________________________________, e-mail ____________________ (the “Contractor”).

(the Company and the Contractor are together the “Parties” and each a “Party”.)

The Parties agree as follows:

Background and scope

(A) The Company carries on the business described in Schedule 1 (the “Business”).

(B) The Contractor carries on an independent business and has agreed to provide the services described in Schedule 1 or in any Work Order (the “Services”) to the Company.

How it works

  1. Pay by card. The download starts at once and the link keeps working.
  2. Open the Word file. Fill in the blanks, pick the options marked with boxes, read each note in the margin.
  3. Delete the notes and the notice box, then sign. Or send it to us for a fixed-fee check first.

Word template

£39 Instant download

One-off. No account needed. No VAT to add. Stripe emails a receipt you can use as an invoice.

Or fill it in online (platform plan)
  • Drafted by a solicitor for England and Wales
  • Drafting notes explain every choice
  • Instant download, link works again later
  • Last updated November 2026
  • £50 off a fixed-fee review once filled in (from £99)

Part of a pack

Hiring pack, £79

5 documents for taking on your first people.

See the pack

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All 40 documents, with the index and guide.