Consultants are experienced professionals possessing a wealth of experience in a specific industry and lend assistance to individuals or business entities that need their services. Many persons befitting this professional category author services contracts that formulate the agreements between them and their clients. Provisions these arrangements should contain include:

Services Provided

Naturally, the specific services performed will be pertinent to any legal arrangement. That said, consultant services are not always cut and dried and must be formally established in a written contract. In many instances, a consultant is hired to analyze a particular aspect of how an entity does business and offer suggestions regarding how to improve upon said endeavors. The consultant does not typically implement such improvements. Ergo, the consultant should clearly define what their role to avoid any potential future confusion.

Time Expectations

Time is of the essence is every profession. Therefore, it is imperative that consultant and client reach an amenable agreement regarding when the consulting services will be completed.

Expense Reimbursement

It is not unfair or unreasonable for a consultant to expect the entity they are providing services for to reimbursement them or immediately cover certain expenditures. For example, consultants that have to travel a lengthy distance might request remittance for their travel and lodging costs.

Important Contacts

The consultant will be working with and reporting to specific individuals within the entity in question. The names, titles and other contact information for all pertinent representatives should be established and entered into any official record.

Project Objectives

It is paramount for the consultant to understand and record their client’s exact objectives. Established specific aims help ensure that all concerned parties are the same page and share similar goals.

Termination Clauses

No party expects to be forced to terminate an agreement. However, certain circumstances might arise in which the respective entities cannot agree and wish to part company. Ergo, termination clauses should clearly and descriptively detail how each party can legally end the professional arrangement.

Payment

Last but certainly not least, all consultant services agreements should contain specific information regarding how the client will remit payment for services performed. Important matters to clarify include the specific amount of total fees and a pay cycle detailing how often payments should be made.