A great service agreement does more than describe the work — it plans for what happens when things go sideways. The difference between a contract that protects you and one that leaves you exposed usually comes down to a handful of clauses. Here are the ten that every service agreement should include, in plain language, with examples. 1. Scope of work Define deliverables precisely — what is included, what is excluded, and any assumptions. Vague scope is the number-one cause of disputes. Example: "Provider will design and develop a five-page marketing website. Content and images are provided by the Client. Ongoing maintenance is not included." 2. Payment & late fees Spell out the amount, currency, schedule, invoice timing, and the consequences of late payment. Example: "Fees total $6,000, payable 50% on signing and 50% on delivery. Invoices are due within 14 days; overdue amounts accrue a 1.5% monthly late fee." 3. Term & termination State when the agreement starts, how long it lasts, and how either party can end it — including notice periods and what is owed on termination. Example: "Either party may terminate with 14 days' written notice. The Client will pay for all work completed up to the termination date." 4. Intellectual property Clarify who owns the deliverables and exactly when ownership transfers. The safest standard is transfer on final payment. Example: "All deliverables remain the Provider's property until full payment is received, at which point ownership transfers to the Client." 5. Confidentiality Protect trade secrets, client data, and business information on both sides. Larger clients often require this before work begins. Example: "Each party will keep the other's confidential information private and use it only to perform this agreement." 6. Warranties & disclaimers State what you promise about your work — and, just as importantly, what you do not. Example: "Provider warrants the services will be performed professionally. Provider does not guarantee specific business results such as revenue or rankings." 7. Limitation of liability Cap your total exposure if something goes wrong. This single clause can save a business from a catastrophic claim. Example: "The Provider's total liability under this agreement will not exceed the total fees paid by the Client." 8. Indemnification Decide who covers third-party claims arising from the work — for instance, if client-supplied content infringes someone's copyright. Example: "The Client will indemnify the Provider against claims arising from materials the Client supplied." 9. Dispute resolution Agree on how disagreements are handled before anyone reaches for a lawsuit — usually good-faith negotiation, then mediation or arbitration. Example: "The parties will attempt to resolve disputes through mediation before pursuing litigation." 10. Governing law Specify which jurisdiction's laws apply and where disputes will be heard. This avoids confusion when the parties are in different places. Example: "This agreement is governed by the laws of [Jurisdiction], and the courts of [City] will have exclusive jurisdiction." Putting it together A strong service agreement is not about being aggressive — it is about being clear. Each of these clauses removes a common source of conflict before it can arise, which actually makes for better client relationships, not worse ones. Clients appreciate knowing exactly what to expect. Build it in minutes, not hours You do not need to draft these from scratch or stitch together clauses from the internet. Coventract assembles a complete, professional service agreement with all ten of these clauses built in — then lets you tailor the details, add e-signatures, and export a polished, branded PDF. The bottom line: the clauses above are the difference between a document that merely describes a project and a contract that genuinely protects your business. Include them every time.