The master service agreement checklist is your essential companion for confidently handling complex master service agreements (MSAs). It makes creating, reviewing, or changing MSAs easier.
What does an MSA typically include? A. A master services agreement (MSA) is a contract that defines the terms under which future work will be completed. Specific work is then typically handled under a statement of work or SOW.
A master service agreement (MSA) is a fundamental contract outlining the scope of the relationship between two parties, including terms and conditions for current and future activities and responsibilities.
An MSA generally contains the following elements: Scope of work: ensures that both parties understand what work will be delivered. Confidentiality: protects intellectual property and other proprietary information from being disclosed. Geography: defines where the work will be performed.
At its most basic, an MSA is a contract between two or more parties that establishes what terms and conditions will govern all current and future activities and responsibilities. MSAs are useful because they allow the parties to plan for the future while also speeding the ratification of future agreements.
If you are a business that enters into multiple Master Service Agreements per year, it is to your advantage to work with a business lawyer to prepare your own Master Service Agreement template and related Statements of Work for consistency, risk mitigation and control purposes.
A SLA is not a contract. The SLA document should be seen as a list of targets, rather than a legal binding agreement. The parties should be aware that the SLA itself does not guarantee that the expected service levels will always be met or that penalties will be imposed if they are not met.
While no statement of work document is exactly the same, most SOWs will cover similar content. That's because a statement of work is often the centerpiece of any contract. A standard SOW covers all of the basic elements of a valid contract in clear and certain terms.
In summary, Terms of Service are designed for individual users and are used in B2C relationships, while Master Service Agreements are tailored for business-to-business relationships and provide a comprehensive framework for ongoing service provision between companies.
While the terms “master agreement” and “contract” are sometimes used interchangeably, there are subtle distinctions between the two. A master agreement is a broader agreement that sets the framework for future transactions or engagements between parties.