Simple contract template
A plain-language agreement for services between two parties.
This simple contract template is a services agreement between two parties: one does the work, the other pays for it. It is the document people mean when they search for a contract for services template in Canada, and it is built to be filled, signed and downloaded as a PDF in a few minutes.
Opens a fillable version in your browser. Free, no account, nothing uploaded.
Fields in this form
- Effective date
- Party A (provider)
- Party B (client)
- Scope of work
- Timeline
- Payment terms
- Termination terms
- Party A signature
- Party B signature
About the service contract
A contract sets out what each side agrees to do. A simple service contract covers the work, the timeline, the payment terms, and how either side can end it.
This fillable template gives you a clear starting point you can complete, sign, and keep as a PDF.
When you need it
- Hiring a freelancer or agreeing to do work for a client.
- You want the scope and payment terms in writing.
- A handshake deal needs to be made official.
Where it stands legally
In Canada and the United States a contract does not need a special form to be binding. What it needs is an offer, acceptance, something of value exchanged (the work and the payment), and parties who intend to be bound and are able to contract. A signed written document is the clearest evidence of all four, which is why a template beats a handshake even for small jobs.
A services contract is not an employment contract. If the person doing the work is treated like an employee (set hours, supervised, using your tools, no risk of loss), tax and employment law may treat them as one no matter what the document says. The Canada Revenue Agency's guide RC4110 explains the factors it uses. For that situation, see the independent contractor agreement on this site.
Some contracts need more than a template: anything involving land, a guarantee of someone else's debt, or a long term often has extra formal requirements, and consumer contracts in many provinces and states must include specific cancellation wording. Those are cases for a lawyer.
Courts read a contract as written. Vague scope, missing dates and unclear payment terms are the usual reasons a dispute cannot be settled by pointing at the document.
General information, not legal advice. Rules differ by province, state and city, and they change. Confirm the current rule where the document will be used.
What each field means and how to fill it
| Field | What it means | How to fill it |
|---|---|---|
| Effective date | When the agreement starts to apply. | Usually the signing date. If work started earlier, say the agreement covers work from that earlier date. |
| Party A (provider) | Who does the work. | Legal name of the person or company, plus address. A sole proprietor signs in their own name. |
| Party B (client) | Who pays for the work. | Legal name and address. For a company, name the company, and have someone with authority sign. |
| Scope of work | Exactly what is being delivered. | List deliverables, quantities and quality standards. Say what is not included. Number of revisions is a common gap. |
| Timeline | When work starts, milestones, and the finish date. | Use dates or working days from a trigger (5 working days after client approval). Say what happens if the client is late with inputs. |
| Payment terms | How much, when, and how. | Fixed price or rate, deposit, milestones, due date after invoice (net 15, net 30), method, and whether taxes are extra. Late payment interest goes here. |
| Termination terms | How either side can end it. | Notice period in days, what is paid for work done, and who keeps what. Add a clause for ending immediately on serious breach. |
| Signatures | Acceptance by both parties. | Both sign and date. For a company, add the signer's title. Each keeps a copy. |
How to fill this out
- 1Enter the effective date and both parties with full legal names and addresses.
- 2Write the scope as a list of deliverables, and add a line for what is excluded.
- 3Set the timeline with dates or working-day counts, and note what depends on the client.
- 4Fill in the price or rate, deposit, invoice timing, payment method and late-payment terms.
- 5Set the termination notice period and what is owed on ending.
- 6Both parties sign, then download the PDF and keep a copy each.
Common mistakes to avoid
- A scope that describes the goal but not the deliverables, so nobody can say when the work is done.
- No revision limit, which turns a fixed price into unlimited work.
- Payment terms that say on completion without saying who decides when it is complete.
- Forgetting to say whether sales tax (GST/HST, PST, state sales tax) is included in the price.
- No termination clause, so the only way out is a breach.
- Signing on behalf of a company without a title, which can make the person personally liable.
What makes it work, and when you need more
Usually fine with this template
- Freelance and small-business services: design, writing, web work, consulting, cleaning, landscaping, tutoring, event services.
- One-off projects and ongoing retainers where the scope and price are clear.
- Agreements between two people who both understand the deal and want it on paper.
Use the official form or get advice
- Anything over an amount you could not afford to lose, or with a long term.
- Work involving intellectual property you need to own outright, confidential data, or personal health information.
- Construction and renovation, where lien law and building codes add requirements.
- Contracts with consumers, which often need cancellation rights and specific wording by law.
- Any deal where the other side sends back their own contract. Have it reviewed rather than editing it.
Worked example (illustrative)
Made-up names and figures to show what a completed service contract looks like. Not a real transaction.
| Services contract, illustrative | |
|---|---|
| Effective date | October 1, 2026 |
| Provider | Maple Studio Design (sole proprietor), 12 Example Street |
| Client | Riverside Bakery Ltd., signed by its owner |
| Scope | Logo, business card and menu design. Two rounds of revisions. Printing not included. |
| Timeline | First concepts within 10 working days of the deposit. Final files 5 working days after written approval. |
| Payment | $2,400.00 plus HST. 50% deposit on signing, 50% on delivery of final files, due within 15 days of invoice. Late amounts bear interest at 1.5% per month, equivalent to 18% per year. |
| Termination | Either party on 7 days written notice. Client pays for work completed to the notice date. |
Related official forms, tools and guides
- Contract template guide: how to write each clause
- Independent contractor agreement: when contractor status matters
- NDA template: protect information shared under the contract
- Invoice template: bill against the contract
- Non-compete agreement
- Partnership agreement: for co-owners rather than a client and provider
- Sign PDF
Frequently asked questions
Is a simple contract enforceable?
Yes, if it shows an offer, acceptance, something of value on both sides, and an intention to be bound. A signed written contract is the best evidence of all of that. This template is not legal advice; for high-value or complex work, have a lawyer review it.
What should every contract include?
Who the parties are, the scope of work with exclusions, the timeline, the price and payment terms, and how the agreement ends.
Can I download a sample contract?
Yes. Fill this template with example details, download it, and use it as your sample. The worked example above shows what a completed one looks like.
Does a contract need a witness or notary?
A services contract between two parties does not need either in Canada or the US. Some documents do (for example a power of attorney), but not this one.
Can I use it for ongoing work?
Yes. Describe the ongoing scope, the monthly or hourly rate, and the notice period for ending the arrangement.
Is an electronic signature valid?
Electronic signatures are recognized for ordinary commercial contracts across Canada and the US. Use Sign PDF to sign the downloaded file, and keep the signed copy.
Sources checked
- Canada Revenue Agency, RC4110 Employee or Self-employed? (factors that decide worker status regardless of the contract label)
Checked 2026-09-19. This page is general information and not legal, tax or financial advice.