There are many situations in which a business will want to engage the services of an independent contractor instead of hiring an employee. In these situations, both parties must sign an independent contractor agreement.
Even more important, a written independent contractor agreement helps establish a worker's independent contractor status by showing the IRS and other agencies that both you and the worker intended to create a hiring firm/independent contractor relationship, not an employer/employee relationship.
Writing a contract with myself has made personal development both sustainable and approachable. It's very different than the black-and-white perfectionistic way of being in the world. The contract is about creating an external version of me to reference whenever I'm feeling small or scared.
A contractor agreement should describe the scope of work, contract terms, contract duration, and the confidentiality agreement. It should also include a section for the two parties to sign and make the agreement official. If the contract doesn't meet these requirements, it may be inadmissible in a court of law.
Write the contract in six steps Start with a contract template. Open with the basic information. Describe in detail what you have agreed to. Include a description of how the contract will be ended. Write into the contract which laws apply and how disputes will be resolved. Include space for signatures.
The independent contractor should complete the W-9 and return it to the business with other requested information. When should the Form W-9 be completed? Contractors should complete it at the start of their working relationship with a company.
The agreement should have an introductory paragraph outlining who is the client and who is the service provider. It should contain the legal names of both parties, the date, and the physical addresses of each party.
Following this step-by-step checklist will mean that you can write your contract with confidence: Know your parties. Agree on the terms. Set clear boundaries. Spell out the consequences. Specify how you will resolve disputes. Cover confidentiality. Check the legality of the contract. Open it up to negotiation.
Submit a paper Report of Independent Contractor(s) (DE 542) using one of the following options: Downloading a fill-in DE 542 (PDF). Ordering the form to be mailed to you through our Online Forms and Publications. Printing your data directly from your computer to the DE 542 by following the Print Specifications (PDF).
A simple contract might include an agreement between two acquaintances to exchange one service for another. For example, if one person is a plumber and the other an electrician, they might agree to complete certain work for each other as a trade exchange.