13 Free Contract Templates Small Businesses Actually Send

Last week we sent a first contract from start to signed. This week's question comes before that one: which contract?

Our template library has 37 agreements. Every one is free to read on the site and free to copy into your account. Most small businesses only ever need a handful of them, so here are the thirteen that cover most of what a small business sends, grouped by the job they do, with what to watch for when you set each one up.

One note before the list: these are general-purpose starting points, not legal advice. They're written in plain language and they're a solid base. If a contract carries real risk, like a large sum, an employee, or property, have a lawyer in your jurisdiction read your version before you send it.

How to use a library template

In the dashboard, go to Templates → Create Template → Browse Template Library and pick one. It's copied into your account as your own template, so you can edit anything: rename clauses, delete what you don't need, add your terms.

Two things to check on every template before its first send:

1. Who signs. Most of these have a signature line for each party. When you create a contract, add every party who signs as a signer (usually that includes you) and assign each one their own signature field. Part 1 covers why.
2. Optional sections. A few templates have signature blocks that only apply sometimes, like a witness or a parent or guardian. A signer is asked to complete every signer field shown to them, so if you never need that block, delete it from your copy of the template.

Hiring help

Independent contractor agreement

Independent Contractor Agreement: for hiring someone who isn't an employee to do a defined piece of work. It covers the scope, payment, who owns the work, and the fact that the contractor runs their own business.

Signers: the client (you) and the contractor.

Freelance agreement

Freelance Agreement: a lighter, project-shaped alternative for creative and digital work: deliverables, revisions, deadlines and payment milestones.

Signers: the client and the freelancer. If you are the freelancer, this is the one to send to your clients.

Employment offer letter

Employment Offer Letter: a formal job offer with the title, start date, pay and the basic terms.

Signers: just the candidate. There's one signature field, so a single signer works with no extra setup.

Selling your services

Service agreement

General Service Agreement: the all-rounder for providing professional services: what you'll do, what it costs, when it's paid, and how either side can end it. If you only set up one template this year, make it this one.

Signers: the client and you, the provider.

Consulting agreement

Consulting Agreement: for advisory work billed by the hour, day or retainer, with confidentiality built in.

Signers: the client and the consultant.

Maintenance agreement

Maintenance Agreement: for ongoing upkeep and repair work, like the building, equipment or grounds you look after month after month.

Signers: the client and the provider. This is the one Nordlys Renovation uses for its yearly check-up contracts.

Photography and videography contract

Photography/Videography Contract: the shoot, the deliverables, usage rights and the cancellation terms. Weddings, events and commercial work.

Signers: the client and the photographer.

Protecting information

Mutual NDA

Non-Disclosure Agreement: when both sides will share confidential information, like two businesses exploring a partnership or a supplier seeing your plans while you see their pricing.

Signers: both parties. Each has its own signature field.

One-way NDA

Non-Disclosure Agreement (One-Way): when only you are disclosing, like a contractor seeing your product before launch or a candidate seeing your client list.

Signers: the disclosing party (you) and the receiving party.

Property and money

Month-to-month rental agreement

Month-to-Month Rental Agreement: a rental with no fixed end date that rolls over each month until someone gives notice. For a fixed term, use the Apartment Lease Agreement instead.

Signers: the landlord and the tenant. Two tenants? Add each as a signer and give each their own signature field. Part 3 of this series covers exactly that.

Bill of sale

Bill of Sale: proof that ownership of something passed from seller to buyer: a car, a boat, equipment, furniture.

Signers: the buyer and the seller. There's an optional witness block too. If you don't use witnesses, delete it from your copy.

Promissory note

Promissory Note: a written promise to repay a loan: the amount, interest, schedule and what happens if a payment is missed.

Signers: the borrower (the "maker"). There's an optional co-maker block for a second borrower. Delete it if there isn't one.

Activities and events

Release of liability waiver

Release of Liability Waiver: for anything with physical risk: classes, rentals, tours, events.

Signers: the participant, plus a parent or guardian block for participants under 18. If you work with adults and children, keep two copies: one with the guardian block and one without, and use the right one for each participant.

Set up three, not thirteen

Most businesses send two or three kinds of contract and rarely anything else. Pick yours from the list, and for each one:

1. Copy it from Browse Template Library.
2. Read it top to bottom, and change anything that doesn't match how you work.
3. Delete optional blocks you'll never use.
4. Check the Variables tab: your fields set to be completed by the creator, the signer's fields by the signer.
5. Create a contract with Send as a test ticked, sign it yourself, and read the PDF.

If your contract already exists as a Word document, skip the library and import it instead. And if you want help writing your own, the writing guide covers plain-language contract writing, and the template editor's assistant can draft one with you.

Browse the full template library, or sign up and copy any of them into your account. Your first 20 contracts are free.