Drawing up a contract for services: what goes in it?
Written by Ilias Aarrass7 min read · Published on · Last reviewed on 
In short
A contract for services records what you deliver, at what price and on what terms; eleven points suffice for most freelancers, with your general terms attached.
- Provide your general terms before signing, otherwise they can be annulled.
- Cap your liability at the assignment value or at what your insurance covers.
- Without an agreement copyright stays with you as the creator; transfer on full payment is customary.
- Do not include a clause that does not match practice, such as a right of substitution your client would never accept.
Many assignments start with a phone call and a price. If all goes well, that is enough. If it goes wrong, it turns out nobody understood the same thing: about the scope, about extra work, about who is liable and about when you get paid. A contract for services is not a thick legal document; two pages with eleven points suffice for most freelancers. This article covers what belongs in it, which clauses support your position as a self-employed professional and how your contract relates to your general terms.
What a contract for services is
A contract for services is the agreement in which you undertake to do work for a client without being employed by them. That is different from an employment contract, which combines authority, personal labour and wages. It is also different from a model agreement: that is a template assessed by the tax authorities covering only the tax classification. Your own contract governs the whole engagement.
You do not need a new document for every job. Make one template that you adjust per assignment in three places: the description of the work, the price and the planning. The rest stays the same. Attach your general terms and refer to them in the contract; provide them before signing, otherwise they can be annulled.
The eleven points that belong in it
These points cover the disputes that arise in practice. Keep them short: one paragraph per point is enough.
| Point | Why it belongs in it |
|---|---|
| Parties and Chamber of Commerce numbers | exactly who is your counterparty, certainly in groups |
| The assignment: result and scope | what is and is not included |
| Term and planning | start, milestones, end |
| Rate, invoicing and payment term | prevents discussion later, see [payment term](kb:wettelijke-betaaltermijn-incassokosten) |
| Extra work | how you announce and invoice it |
| Substitution and use of third parties | may you bring in someone else |
| Liability and insurance | limiting to the fee is common |
| Confidentiality and personal data | often with a [processor agreement](kb:avg-privacy-zzp-klantgegevens) |
| Intellectual property | what do you transfer and when |
| Termination | notice period and payment for work done |
| Applicable law and terms | Dutch law and your own general terms |
Watch the liability clause
Contracts from large clients often contain unlimited liability, an indemnity or a penalty clause. Ask for a cap at the invoice value of the assignment or at the amount your insurance covers. If you do not know what your policy covers, start with business insurance; signing for a risk you cannot carry is personally risky as a sole trader.
Clauses that support your independence
A contract does not determine whether you are an entrepreneur; practice does. But a contract that accurately describes practice does help if questions arise about false self-employment. Four formulations do most of the work.
- Result instead of availability: describe what you deliver, not how many days you are present.
- Your own way of working: you decide how and when you do the work, within the agreed planning.
- Right of substitution: you may have the work done by someone else, provided they deliver the same quality.
- Own means and risk: you work with your own equipment, carry your own insurance and fix mistakes at your own expense.
Signing and keeping
A signature by email or through a signing service is legally valid; so is an emailed approval of a complete quote. Keep the signed version with your records, together with the general terms as you supplied them. Those documents fall under your seven-year retention obligation, just like your invoices.
If the assignment runs longer than planned or the content changes, record it in a short email with the new agreement. That is enough: an addition does not need to be signed again. If the amount changes, refer to your agreement on extra work, so the invoice is no surprise later.
Frequently asked questions
Is a contract for services mandatory?
No, a verbal agreement is valid too. You just cannot prove it in a conflict, and a client who does not want to pay counts on that. So put it in writing, even briefly.
What is the difference from a model agreement?
A model agreement has been assessed by the tax authorities and only covers whether payroll taxes must be withheld. Your own contract also governs price, planning, liability and ownership.
My client uses their own contract. May I amend it?
You may always ask for changes, even if the contract is presented as standard. Watch above all for unlimited liability, long payment terms, exclusivity and penalty clauses.
Does my rate belong in the contract or in the quote?
Either is fine, as long as it appears in one place and two amounts are not circulating. Refer in the contract to the quote, or include the rate, invoicing frequency and payment term in full.
Who owns the work I create?
Without an agreement the copyright stays with you as the creator. If your client wants the rights, record that they transfer on full payment; that is customary and gives you leverage if they do not pay.
Sources
- How to draw up general termsKVK · kvk.nl
Sources checked on
This article provides general information based on the rules known for 2026 and does not replace personal tax advice. For your specific situation, we're happy to take a look with you.
