What Should a Service Agreement Include?
A checklist-style guide to the main clauses commonly considered when documenting services between a client and a provider.
Core commercial details
Common essentials include the parties, effective date, description and scope of services, deliverables or milestones, fees, invoicing, payment terms and duration.
Responsibilities and standards
Set out what each party must provide, dependencies, deadlines and any acceptance process. Consumer-facing services remain subject to statutory rights including reasonable care and skill.
Confidentiality, intellectual property and data
Where relevant, say how confidential information is handled, who owns or may use work product, and allocate data-protection responsibilities. These clauses should match the actual service.
Liability and termination
Liability clauses require care: some exclusions are prohibited or subject to fairness/reasonableness tests. Termination provisions should explain notice, breach, accrued fees and what happens after termination.
Keep the language clear
Consumer terms must be fair and transparent. Even in business agreements, clear drafting makes obligations easier to understand and enforce.
Create your service agreement
Use the free browser-based builder to enter the parties, services, fees and core terms, then review the document before printing or saving as PDF.
Open the Service Agreement builderRelated service agreement guides
Guidance checked: GOV.UK / Competition and Markets Authority guidance on consumer and business contract terms, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and GOV.UK/HMRC guidance on contractors and employment status. This page is general information, not legal advice.