Consulting Agreement
For consultants and advisers who sell expertise, such as strategy, finance, compliance or technical reviews, rather than a defined production deliverable. It handles retainers, hourly caps and the advice-only nature of the work.
- Fields
- 32
- Pages
- 3
- Paper
- Letter
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Reviewed
Before you start
What you need to fill it in
- Client and consultant legal names and addresses
- Areas of advice and any reports you will deliver
- Hourly rate or monthly retainer, plus any monthly hour cap
- Expense policy (pre-approval threshold)
- Term length and notice period
- Governing state
What's inside
32 fields, ready to fill
- 25Typed answersnames, addresses, descriptions
- 4Dateschecked as real dates
- 1Choicescheckboxes, options, dropdowns
- 2Signaturessignature and initials
18 required — the editor counts down how many are left while you fill.
Instructions
How to fill out the Consulting Agreement
- 1
Identify client and consultant
Use the consultant's business name if they operate through a company.
- 2
Describe the engagement
List advisory areas, meetings and written outputs. Mention who at the client is the main contact.
- 3
Set fees and cap
Enter the hourly rate or retainer and, if you want a budget limit, the maximum hours per month without written approval.
- 4
Set the expense threshold
Expenses above this amount need the client's prior written approval.
- 5
Fill the term and sign
Enter dates and the notice period, choose the governing state, and both parties sign.
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What filling it looks like
- Edit & fill, Invite to sign and Create form are three modes of the same editor
- Amounts are formula fields: they calculate as you type
- The field navigator counts what's left and jumps to the next field
Shown with our invoice template. Sample content; names are fictional.
Written for: General (US)
This template is a general starting point, not legal advice. Laws differ by state and country; have a qualified professional review it for your situation.
Written by PDFBetter and last reviewed October 15, 2026. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
Consulting Agreement: questions people ask
What is the difference between consulting and service agreements?
A consulting agreement covers advice and recommendations where the client makes the final decisions. A service agreement fits hands-on work with a defined output, like cleaning or web development.
Is the consultant responsible if the client follows bad advice?
This template limits liability to fees paid in the prior 12 months and states that the client makes its own decisions. Courts may still hold professionals to industry standards, and licensed professions may have extra rules.
Does a consulting agreement need to be notarized?
No. Signatures from both parties are normally enough, and e-signatures are generally accepted under US federal and state law.
Can the consultant work for competitors?
Yes, unless you add a restriction. The conflicts clause only requires the consultant to disclose direct conflicts. Restrictions on future work are regulated by state law.
How do retainers work here?
A retainer is billed monthly in advance for the availability described. Unused hours do not roll over unless you write that into the engagement box.
Ready when you are
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