Use this template: 

• If you have a framework service contract in place with the customer.
• When the customer asks for a project to be carried out on general lines, under identical or similar conditions to other past or future projects.
• When the project consists of one or more tasks or stages, to be completed by an estimated or specific deadline.
• When the assignment is invoiced with an exact price, a fee quote or an estimated price range.
• Whether the customer is located in Switzerland or abroad, and whether the customer is a private individual or a company.

Protect yourself legally as a supplier with the following options: 

• Indication of the quotation or estimated price with tolerated margin, and advance guarantee deposit. 
• Indication of materials and costs to be procured and invoiced, with amounts pre-approved by the customer. 
• Any other guarantees and restrictions contained in the framework service contract. 

Safeguard your interests as a customer by using the following clauses: 

• Limitation of the estimated price or indication of the exact price, with no commitment to pay more even in unforeseeable circumstances. 
• Capping of costs that may be invoiced in addition to the price, and clear indication of the VAT to be invoiced. 
• Any other guarantees and restrictions contained in the framework service contract. 

Use this contract:

• To carry out a defined project of any kind, such as development, design, layout or a one-off consultancy or assignment.
• Whether the project consists of one or more tasks or stages, to be completed by an estimated or specific deadline.
• When the services are invoiced with an exact price, a fee quote or an estimated price range.
• Whether the customer is located in Switzerland or abroad, and whether the customer is a private individual or a company.

Protect yourself legally as a supplier with the following options: 

• Indication of the quotation or estimated price with tolerated margin, and advance guarantee retainer. 
• Indication of materials and costs to be procured and invoiced, with amounts pre-approved by the customer. 
• Limitation of liability to the amount of fees paid and imposition of a short claims period by the customer. 
• Authorisation to delegate, represent and sign on behalf of the client. 
• Reservation of the intellectual property created and the right to use it, even by assigning it to the client. 

Safeguard your interests as a customer by using the following clauses: 

• Limitation of the estimated price or indication of the exact price, with no commitment to pay more even in unforeseeable circumstances. 
• Capping of costs that may be invoiced in addition to the price, and clear indication of the VAT to be invoiced. 
• A firm prohibition on subcontracting, non-disclosure, non-solicitation and non-competition, even after the contract has ended. 
• Unambiguous treatment of the transfer and use of intellectual property created and protection of confidential information.

Project agreement

A project contract template allows you to draft a legal document signed between a client and a supplier of services to outline the scope of work, remuneration, and respective liabilities of parties. With this template, it’s possible to provide either a one-off short-term task or a long-term project development service.

A service company uses a project agreement template: 

• To provide immaterial services of any kind (for example: software development, architectural plans, marketing campaigns, etc).
• To provide services in view of a defined project on a short-term or long-term basis, to be accomplished in milestones or until a given deadline.
• To create a legal agreement outlining all services, duties, responsibilities, and liability of the supplier.

Key aspects of a project agreement 

• This project-based contract template is principally used by a company or registered business to develop a project or carry out a single task assignment. 
• The document should clearly define the scope of the project, expected results, deadline, and remuneration calculation. 
• In particular cases, clients expect a restriction on any act of outsourcing, disclosure of confidential information, solicitation, or competition. 
• In others, the supplier is free to perform their duties without restrictions, subject to diligent execution of the project. 

Eight tips on a project agreement 

To protect your legal interests as a professional supplier of services, we advise you to choose from the following options of our project agreement example: 

• Flexible determination of project pricing, including an estimation of fees or hourly-based rates depending on the seniority of employed staff. 
• Supplementary rights to represent the client and act on their behalf, to outsource all or part of services, to compete and use created intellectual property. 
• Strict limitations on supplier’s liability, and a shortened verification period for defects. 
• Provisions for retainer, late payment interest, invoice reminder fees, and termination of the agreement in case of default of payment. 

The project agreement sample may also protect and give advantages to the client, for example: 

• Restriction of competition, poaching of staff, or any other act that may result in a conflict of interests or be otherwise detrimental to the client. 
• Possibility to include all taxes and expenses in the fees for the project. 
• Exclusive ownership of any created intellectual property without further compensation. 
• Particular technical or administrative measures to keep the confidentiality of proprietary information even after the accomplishment of the project. 

Create a project agreement with AdminTech 

Using AdminTech online document builder and a project contract template, only provide the necessary information in the relevant fields, and the document shall automatically be tailored to your specific requirements. 

A professional project contract agreement includes the following information:  

• Parties’ names, addresses, and signatories 
• Scope of project, stages, milestones, and specifications 
• Start of agreement, date, and time of accomplishment 
• Form and terms of execution, including location, outsourcing, or the right to act on behalf of a client 
• Calculation of fees, expenses, and costs of materials for the project 
• Limitations on liability, review period, and tolerated delay 
• Restrictions on solicitation, competition, and non-disclosure obligations 
• Transfer, acquisition, and use of intellectual property rights. 

FAQ on a project agreement 

How is a project remunerated? 

Under the terms of our project contract template, the form of remuneration for the supplier may be, for example: 

• Fixed price for the whole project without right of deviation 
• Estimated price range depending on the time spent at an hourly rate. 

For both the service company and the client, a fixed price is due in full even if the effective time spent and costs are smaller or higher than initially estimated. For a long-term or more complex project, a rather flexible price range is advisable. 

Can the agreement be terminated prematurely? 

Once the scope of the project and the terms of remuneration are defined and agreed by the parties, there are only a few circumstances in which the project contract agreement may be terminated prematurely: 

• Default of payment on deadline by the client 
• Statement of poor performance or significant damages by negligence of the supplier 
• Impossibility to continue the project due to unforeseen circumstances, such as force majeure 
• If the agreement has been concluded under the influence of error or fraud. 

When is remuneration for the project due? 

Depending on the choices you make in our project-based contract template, the company has the following payment options: 

• Retainer amount as a full or partial guarantee of the project price 
• The invoice payment deadline from 5 to 90 days, according to your preference. 

If you wish to receive partial payments after each milestone of the project, opting to draft a master services agreement and successive project assignments may be a more suitable option for you. 

What costs and taxes can be billed for the project? 

In our project agreement template, you may either include all ancillary expenses and VAT in the total price or convene the coverage of additional fees, for example: 

• Maximum limitation of the billable material costs for the entire project 
• Attached catalogue of materials and tools to procure 
• Restriction of the amount of additional costs that may be billed on top of the price 
• Preliminary client’s approval for anything else. 

Who owns intellectual property created within the scope of the project? 

As you will see in our project agreement example, any created intellectual property may be assigned to the supplier or the client exclusively. In one or the other example, you may allow or restrict the use of intellectual property by the other party. 

What are the responsibilities of the service provider? 

The service provider is responsible for the professional and diligent execution of the project to the specifications of the client and should ensure that the client is protected from any damages or lost profits resulting from negligence or fault. 

How can a company ensure a successful project assignment? 

To ensure a successful project assignment, it is generally recommended to: 

• Outline the start and deadline of the project, including any tolerated delay. 
• Specify how the price shall be calculated and determine if you would allow a slight deviation depending on the effective work done. 
• Determine the scope of materials and expenses amount that can be billed to the client. 
• Create a professional project agreement based on our sample. 
• Specify limitations on liability, submission and review notice and penalties for violation. 
• Conserve every act or statement of work for the purpose of proof. 

Use this contract:

• To carry out general contracting work or services over a short or long period of time.
• Whether the project consists of one or more tasks or stages, to be carried out by an estimated or precise deadline.
• Whether the work is to be carried out on defined premises or remotely, on a customer’s movable property.
• When the services are invoiced with an exact price, a fee quote, or an estimated price range.
• Whether the customer is in Switzerland or abroad, and whether they are a private individual or a company.

Protect yourself legally as a contractor with the following options: 

• Indication of the quotation or estimated price with tolerated margin, and advance guarantee retainer. 
• Indication of materials and costs to be procured and invoiced, with amounts pre-approved by the customer. 
• Limitation of liability to the amount of fees paid and imposition of a short claims period by the customer. 
• Authorisation to delegate, represent and sign on behalf of the client. 
• Reservation of the intellectual property created and the right to use it, even by assigning it to the client. 

Safeguard your interests as a customer by using the following clauses: 

• Limitation of the estimated price or indication of the exact price, with no commitment to pay more even in unforeseeable circumstances. 
• Capping of costs that may be invoiced in addition to the price, and clear indication of the VAT to be invoiced. 
• A firm prohibition on subcontracting, non-disclosure, non-solicitation and non-competition, even after the contract has ended. 
• Unambiguous treatment of the transfer and use of intellectual property created and protection of confidential information. 

Contract for services

A service contract template allows you to draft a basic contract for services signed between a client and a supplier of services to outline the scope of work, payment, and respective responsibilities of parties. With this sample, you can securely carry out works on the premises or remotely, without worrying about liability and default of payment of the fees.

A service company signs a works contract template: 

• To execute works of any kind (for example: construction, repairs, or inspection).
• To carry out services in view of a defined project or a specific single task, to be accomplished by a given deadline or in successive milestones.
• To create a legal agreement outlining all scope of works, duties, responsibilities, and liability of the worker.

Key aspects of a contract for services 

• This service agreement contract template is mainly used by a registered business or a company to execute works in relation to a movable object or real estate. 
• The document should openly specify the extent of the project, expected outcomes, terms, and calculation of fees. 
• In some instances, customers request a restriction on any act of outsourcing, competition, or poaching, as well as disclosure of confidential information. 
• In others, the worker is free to execute their services without limitations, except for the obligation of diligent execution of the works. 

Eight tips on a contract for services 

To protect your legal interests as a professional contractor, we advise you select from the following choices of our template for agreement of services: 

• Flexible calculation of pricing, including an estimation of fees or hourly rates depending on expertise and grade of hired staff. 
• Additional rights to act on behalf of the client, to delegate all or part of such services, to compete, and to use intellectual property created as a result. 
• Firm limits on supplier’s liability, and a reduced defects review period. 
• Down payment, default interest, reminder fees, and termination of agreement for default of payment. 

Our service contract example may offer advantages to the client as well, for example: 

• Non-compete restrictions, non-solicitation, as well as prohibition of any other act related to a conflict of interests. 
• The option to include all expenses and taxes in the price for the work. 
• Exclusive ownership of the created intellectual property without additional remuneration. 
• Specific technical or organisational measures to protect the confidentiality of sensitive information following the completion of the services. 

Create a contract for services with AdminTech 

With AdminTech’s online document builder and a service contract template, simply indicate the necessary information in the required fields, and your document shall automatically draft itself to your specific needs. 

A professional service agreement template includes the following information:  

• Parties’ names, addresses, and signatories 

• Scope of services, milestones, stages, and specifications 
• Commencement of works, date, and time of submission 
• Form and modalities of execution, including location, right to outsource, or the right to act on behalf of a client 
• Estimation of price, costs, and expenses of materials necessary for works 
• Liability limitation, tolerated delay, and review period 
• Restrictive covenants, for example, non-compete and non-disclosure. 

FAQ on a contract for services 

How are the workers remunerated? 

Under the terms of our service contract template, the form of compensation for the worker may include, for example: 

• A set fee quotation for the whole assignment, without the right of recalculation 
• An approximative fee quote range based on the time spent at an hourly rate. 

For both the services company and the client, a fixed price is payable in full even if the actual time spent and expenses are lesser or greater than initially agreed upon. For long-lasting or more complicated works, a more flexible price range is recommended. 

Can the agreement be terminated before term? 

Once the scope of services and the amount of fees have been specified and accepted by the parties, there are only a few situations in which the service agreement template may be terminated before the accomplishment of the works: 

• Non-payment of retainer or ancillary fees by the client 
• Particular damages or faulty execution of the services resulting in occurred or foreseen damages 
• Completion becomes objectively impossible due to external circumstances 
• The agreement has been signed under the effect of error or fraud. 

When is remuneration for work due? 

Subject to the selections you can make in our service agreement contract template, the company has the following payment possibilities: 

• Outstanding invoice payment within 5 to 90 days, according to your preference 
• Retainer guarantee, serving as a full or partial assurance of the price of services. 

Should you wish to have successive payments following each accomplished milestone of the works, we recommend you draft a master services agreement and project assignments for each respective stage of the services. 

What taxes and expenses can be billed for the works? 

In our works contract template, you may include VAT or ancillary expenses and material costs in the total price, or agree on the coverage of additional amounts, for example: 

• A detailed catalogue of materials and tools to be attached 
• Maximum ceiling of the material costs that can be billed in addition to services price 
• Limitation of additional costs that may be invoiced on top of the work price 
• Request preliminary approval of the client in any other circumstance. 

Who owns intellectual property created within the scope of the services? 

As you may find in our template for agreement of services, any invention or design may be attributed to the supplier of services or to the client exclusively. In each example, you can restrict or permit the use of intellectual property by the other party. 

What is the liability of the service provider? 

The contractor is liable for diligent and professional performance of works under the specifications of the client and must hold the latter free from any injury or lost profits as a result of negligence or fault.  

How can a company ensure a successful work experience? 

To ensure a successful work assignment, we generally recommend the following: 

• Outline the start and deadline of the services, including an acceptable delay. 
• Specify how the fees shall be estimated and indicate whether slight deviations based on effective work done will be allowed. 
• Determine the scope of expenses and materials to be paid by the client. 
• Create a professional project agreement based on our template. 
• Specify limitations on liability, submission and review notice and penalties for violation. 
• Register and conserve every act or statement of work for the purpose of proof. 

Use this document: 

• To offer services or works of any kind.
• Whether the price is fixed or estimated, inclusive or exclusive of costs and taxes.
• If you wish to grant the customer a certain deadline to evaluate the offer before accepting it.
• If you do not intend to provide additional guarantees or restrictions.

Protect yourself legally as a supplier of services with the following options: 

• Requirement to pay upfront retainer, in full or in part. 
• Ability to bill additional costs and clear approval of materials and tools to be procured at client’s expense. 
• Deadline to accept the offer, failing which the quotation becomes invalid and is no longer binding to the supplier. 
• Stipulation of a fixed price or estimated range providing for more flexibility in case of complex projects. 

Use this contract:

• To provide intangible services and advice of all kinds, either face-to-face or remotely.
• When the services are performed with complete flexibility and independence, subject to the customer’s general instructions and requests.
• Where the services relate to a specific project or are to be provided on a repetitive or ongoing basis.
• If you wish to invoice the services at the standard hourly rate or according to staff seniority.
• Whether the customer is based in Switzerland or abroad, and whether they are a private individual or a company.

Protect yourself legally as a consultant with the following options: 

• Invoicing of fees according to staff seniority, annual indexation, and advance guarantee retainer. 
• Indication of costs to be invoiced in addition, on an actual basis, at a flat rate or as a percentage of fees. 
• Limitation of liability to the amount of fees paid and imposition of a short claims period for the client. 
• Authorisation to delegate, represent and sign on behalf of the client. 
• Reservation of the intellectual property created and the right to use it, even by assigning it to the client. 

Safeguard your interests as a customer by using the following clauses: 

• Clear indication of how fees are calculated, billing period and due dates. 
• Capping of charges that may be invoiced in addition to fees, and clear indication of VAT to be invoiced. 
• Clear deadlines for the consultant’s reports and an extended period for acceptance and inspection of services. 
• Firm prohibition on subcontracting, non-disclosure, non-poaching and non-competition, even after the contract has ended. 
• Unequivocal treatment of the transfer and use of intellectual property created and protection of confidential information. 

Contract for consulting services 

A consultant agreement template allows you to draft a legal document signed between a client and a consultant to outline the scope of services, remuneration, and respective liabilities of parties. With this sample, it’s possible to provide one-off or recurring advisory services while mitigating liability and guaranteeing the payment of the fees.

A service company uses a consulting contract template: 

• To provide consulting services of any kind (for example: accounting, advisory, technical expertise, or marketing research).
• To provide services in view of a defined project or on an ongoing recurrent basis.
• To create a legal agreement outlining all services, duties, responsibilities, and liability of the consultant.

Key aspects of a contract for consulting services 

• This template is principally used by a company or registered business to provide immaterial services, on premises or remotely. 
• The document should openly lay out the scope of services, the calculation of hourly fees and costs, as well as the start and termination of the agreement. 
• In particular cases, clients expect a restriction on any act of solicitation or competition, non-delegation, and non-disclosure of confidential information. 
• In others, the consultant is free to perform their duties without limitations, subject to diligent accomplishment of assignments. 

Eight tips on a contract for consulting services 

To protect your legal interests as a professional consultant, we recommend that you select from the following possibilities: 

• Unambiguous definition of ancillary costs, VAT, and how the hourly fees shall be calculated. 
• Additional rights to represent the client and act on their behalf, to outsource all or part of services, to compete, and to use created intellectual property. 
• Strict limitations on the amount of liability, shortened review, and acceptance periods. 
• Retainer guarantee, default interest, reminder fee, and termination of agreement for default of payment. 

The consulting services agreement may protect and give advantages to the client as well, for example: 

• Prohibition of competition, solicitation, or any other act that could cause a conflict of interest or be damaging to the client. 
• Option to include all costs and taxes in the fees for services. 
• Exclusive rights to any created intellectual property without additional remuneration. 
• Implementation of specific technical or organisational measures to protect the confidentiality of sensitive information. 

Create a contract for consulting services with AdminTech 

With AdminTech’s online document builder and a contract for consulting services, simply fill in the fields with the required information, and the document shall automatically adjust to your specific needs. 

A professional consulting services contract template includes the following information:  

• Parties’ name and identification 
• Scope of services, responsibilities, and review periods 
• Term of agreement and notice of termination 
• Rebilling of taxes, expenses, and ancillary costs 
• Retainer guarantee, termination for default, and limitations of liability 
• Restrictive covenants and non-disclosure provisions 
• Transfer and ownership of intellectual property. 

FAQ on a contract for consulting services 

What’s an independent consulting contract?  

An hourly consulting agreement from AdminTech offers parties the opportunity to create a professional document for collaboration with consultants, providing greater flexibility compared to hiring employees. This simple consulting agreement template is made by a lawyer and complies with Swiss law. 

Should a consultant contract be made in written form? 

While consulting may be legally binding even through an oral agreement, we recommend that you draft a professional consulting contract template for the following reasons: 

• To document the parties’ terms, scope, purpose, and intentions 
• To establish clear legal titles determining all fees, expenses, and taxes for reporting purposes. 
• To avoid ambiguity in long-lasting consulting agreements. 

How many weekly hours can a consultant work? 

In Swiss legislation, there is no legal limitation on the amount of working hours for an independent consultant. Despite a commitment of minimum or estimated weekly hours being possible in the consultant agreement template, the consultant is free to define their timetable. 

How is the consultant remunerated?  

In a consulting services agreement, the consultant is remunerated at an hourly fee, which may be fixed or depend on the seniority of staff employed to act under the consultant’s supervision. 

What is the indexation of fees?  

In some types of consulting business such as, for example, professional tax advisory, the hourly fee is increased by a fixed percentage every year, to offset inflation and accommodate the gradually increasing complexity of work. This practice, generally accepted as indexation fees, can be selected in our consultant agreement template. 

What is the difference between an employee and a consultant? 

A consultant may not necessarily be a business or a company, but self-employed. The main distinction from an employment contract lies in the absence of direct subordination and economic dependency. A self-employed consultant would usually: 

• Service multiple customers at a time 
• Define the working timetable without restrictions 
• Employ staff, hire subcontractors, and assume fixed costs.  

Is the consultant liable for outsourced services? 

Violation of restriction to outsource is a sufficient motive for damage claims. In the consulting agreement example, the client may restrict or allow this, in which case the consultant is liable for any negligence of employees or subcontractors as if they were that of the consultant. 

How can a consultant agreement be terminated? 

In our consulting contract template, you may select a permanent option, subject to a termination notice, or a fixed-term option, in which case the agreement expires automatically. All work done up to termination should be remunerated. 

What compensation is the client entitled to? 

A consultant must perform services in a professional and diligent manner, to the best of their ability. Although there is no guarantee for the result, the client may claim damages in case of fault or negligence in the accomplishment of the consulting services. 

How can consultants ensure a successful cooperation experience? 

To ensure a successful consulting experience, it is generally advisable to: 

• Outline the start and termination notices of consulting cooperation. 
• Clarify responsibilities and rights for representation, outsourcing, and competition. 
• Define the calculation of the fees, indexation, rebilling of taxes and costs, as well as a retainer amount. 
• Create a professional consulting agreement based on our sample. 
• Specify limitations on liability, submission, and review notice, as well as penalties for violation. 

Use this contract: 

• To provide regular or repetitive services with different deadlines or pricing.
• If you perform intangible services or consultancy of any kind, either face-to-face or remotely.
• When the services are performed with complete flexibility and independence, subject to the customer’s general instructions and requests.
• Whether the customer is in Switzerland or abroad, and whether they are an individual or a company.
• Whether the collaboration is short or long term, or even open-ended.

Protect yourself as a service supplier with the following choices: 

• Indication of the standard hourly rate for any additional requests outside the pricing package indicated. 
• Indication of costs to be invoiced in addition, effectively, at a flat rate or as a percentage of the fees. 
• Limitation of liability to the amount of fees paid and imposition of a short claim period for the client. 

• Authorisation to delegate, represent and sign on behalf of the client. 
• Reservation of the intellectual property created and the right to use it, even by assigning it to the client. 

Safeguard your interests as a customer by using the following clauses: 

• Clear indication of how fees are calculated, billing period and due dates. 
• Capping of charges that may be invoiced in addition to fees, and clear indication of VAT to be invoiced. 
• Clear deadlines for supplier reports and extended periods for acceptance and inspection of services. 
• Firm prohibition on subcontracting, non-disclosure, non-poaching and non-competition, even after the contract has ended. 
• Unambiguous treatment of the transfer and use of intellectual property created and protection of confidential information.