Full Template Text
Copy the usable agreement below, replace every [BRACKET] placeholder, then customize for your situation.
Statement of Work (SOW)
STATEMENT OF WORK
This Statement of Work (the “SOW”) is entered into as of [Effective Date] (the “Effective Date”),
BETWEEN:
[Client Name], with a principal place of business at [Client Address] (the “Client”);
AND
[Service Provider Name], with a principal place of business at [Service Provider Address] (the “Service Provider”).
The Client and the Service Provider may be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”
1. RELATIONSHIP TO MASTER AGREEMENT
(a) This SOW is issued under [Master Agreement Reference] (the “Master Agreement”). The terms of the Master Agreement on confidentiality, intellectual property, warranties, indemnities and limitation of liability apply to this SOW. If this SOW conflicts with the Master Agreement, the Master Agreement controls unless this SOW expressly identifies the provision it overrides.
(b) If the Parties have not signed a Master Agreement, this SOW is a standalone agreement and the following also apply: (i) each Party will keep the other Party's non-public information confidential and use it only to perform this SOW; (ii) upon full payment, the Client will own the final Deliverables created specifically for the Client, while the Service Provider keeps its pre-existing tools, code, templates and know-how and grants the Client a non-exclusive license to use them as part of the Deliverables; and (iii) except for breach of confidentiality, gross negligence or willful misconduct, each Party's total liability under this SOW will not exceed the fees paid or payable under it.
2. PROJECT OVERVIEW
Project name: [Project Name]. Background and objectives: [Project Overview]. The Service Provider will perform the work described in this SOW (the “Services”) in a professional and workmanlike manner, consistent with generally accepted industry standards.
3. SCOPE OF WORK
The Services consist of the following tasks and activities: [Scope of Work]. Any task not described in this Section 3 or in Section 4 is outside the scope of this SOW unless it is added through a Change Request under Section 9.
4. DELIVERABLES
The Service Provider will deliver the following items (each a “Deliverable”): [Deliverables]. Deliverables will be provided in the formats and through the channels reasonably agreed by the project contacts, such as a staging site, a shared folder or a code repository.
5. OUT OF SCOPE
The following items are expressly excluded from this SOW: [Out of Scope Items]. Unless listed in Section 4, the Services do not include hosting, third-party licenses, premium plugins, stock assets, copywriting, translations, or maintenance and support after acceptance.
6. TIMELINE AND MILESTONES
Work will begin on [Project Start Date] and is expected to be completed by [Project End Date]. The Parties agree to the following milestones and target dates: [Milestones and Due Dates]. These dates depend on timely Client feedback, approvals and materials. Delays caused by the Client, by third parties outside the Service Provider's control or by approved Change Requests will extend the timeline accordingly.
7. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
(a) Criteria. Each Deliverable will be evaluated against the following acceptance criteria: [Acceptance Criteria].
(b) Review. The Client will review each Deliverable within [Acceptance Review Period] business days after delivery and either accept it in writing or provide a written list of specific nonconformities with the acceptance criteria.
(c) Corrections. The Service Provider will correct documented nonconformities within a reasonable time and resubmit the Deliverable for review under the same process.
(d) Deemed Acceptance. A Deliverable is deemed accepted if the Client does not respond within the review period or uses the Deliverable in a live or production environment.
8. FEES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
(a) Fees. The total fees for the Services are [Total Fees], plus applicable taxes.
(b) Schedule. Fees will be invoiced according to the following payment schedule: [Payment Schedule].
(c) Payment Terms. Invoices are due within [Payment Due Days] days of the invoice date. The Service Provider may pause work on overdue invoices after giving written notice to the Client.
(d) Expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses approved in advance by the Client will be reimbursed at cost against receipts.
9. CHANGE REQUESTS
Either Party may request changes to the scope, Deliverables or timeline in writing. The Service Provider will respond with a written estimate of the impact on fees and schedule. No change is binding until both Parties approve a written Change Request. Unless otherwise agreed in the Change Request, additional work is billed at [Hourly Rate for Additional Work].
10. ASSUMPTIONS AND CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES
This SOW is based on the following assumptions: [Assumptions]. The Client will provide timely access to systems, accounts, content, brand assets and decision-makers reasonably needed to perform the Services. If an assumption proves incorrect, the Parties will address the impact on fees and timeline through a Change Request.
11. ROLES AND PROJECT CONTACTS
Client project contact: [Client Project Contact]. Service Provider project contact: [Service Provider Project Contact]. Each contact is authorized to give approvals, receive Deliverables and coordinate Change Requests on behalf of its Party. Either Party may replace its contact by written notice to the other Party.
12. TERM AND TERMINATION
This SOW starts on the Effective Date and continues until all Deliverables are accepted and all fees are paid, unless terminated earlier. Either Party may terminate this SOW for a material breach that remains uncured [Cure Period] days after written notice. On termination, the Client will pay for Services performed and approved expenses incurred up to the termination date, and the Service Provider will hand over all completed and in-progress work that the Client has paid for.
13. GOVERNING LAW
This SOW is governed by the laws of [Governing Law / Jurisdiction], without regard to conflict-of-law principles. If a Master Agreement applies, its dispute resolution provisions control. Otherwise, the courts located in [Governing Law / Jurisdiction] will have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising out of or relating to this SOW, unless the Parties agree in writing to mediation before litigation.
14. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) Entire Agreement. This SOW, together with the Master Agreement (if any) and any approved Change Requests, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties concerning the project and supersedes prior proposals, quotes and discussions on that subject.
(b) Amendments. Modifications must be in writing and signed by both Parties.
(c) Severability. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
(d) Independent Contractor. The Service Provider is an independent contractor and is responsible for its own personnel, taxes and tools.
(e) Counterparts and Electronic Signatures. This SOW may be executed in counterparts, including electronic signatures, each of which will be deemed an original.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Statement of Work as of the Effective Date.
CLIENT
Name: [Client Name]
Signature: _______________________________
Name of Signatory: _______________________
Title: ___________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
SERVICE PROVIDER
Name: [Service Provider Name]
Signature: _______________________________
Name of Signatory: _______________________
Title: ___________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
This is a starting template, not legal advice. Have a qualified attorney review it for your jurisdiction and use case before signing.
A statement of work template turns a sales conversation into a clear project plan that both sides sign. Whether you run a WordPress agency, freelance as a developer or deliver consulting projects, an SOW defines the scope, deliverables, milestones, acceptance criteria and payment schedule so nobody argues later about what was promised.
Disclaimer: This template is informational reference material, not legal advice. Adapt it to your jurisdiction and project, and consult a lawyer for high-value or regulated work.
What Is a Statement of Work?
A statement of work (SOW) is a project-level agreement between a client and a service provider. It usually sits under a master or framework agreement, such as a service agreement or a consulting agreement, which covers the legal terms. The SOW then describes one specific project: what will be built or delivered, by when, how it will be approved and how much it costs. If you have no master agreement, this template includes basic confidentiality, intellectual property and liability terms so it can be used on its own.
Key Clauses in This SOW Template
- Relationship to Master Agreement — Which document controls if terms conflict.
- Project Overview and Scope — Objectives and the tasks included.
- Deliverables — The concrete outputs, such as a website, a report or a design system.
- Out of Scope Items — What is explicitly excluded, to prevent scope creep.
- Timeline and Milestones — Start date, end date and target dates for each phase.
- Acceptance Criteria — How deliverables are reviewed, corrected and approved.
- Fees and Payment Schedule — Total fees and when each payment is due, often tied to milestones.
- Change Requests — How new requests are estimated, approved and billed.
- Assumptions and Project Contacts — Dependencies on the client and who can approve work.
How to Customize This Template
- Write measurable deliverables — “Five-page WordPress site with contact form” beats “new website.”
- Be generous with exclusions — Hosting, licenses, content and post-launch support are common sources of disputes.
- Tie payments to milestones — A deposit plus payments at design approval and launch keeps cash flow predictable.
- Make acceptance objective — Define the review period and what counts as a nonconformity.
- Name the decision-makers — One authorized contact per side speeds up approvals and change requests.
How to E-Sign with WPsigner
- Upload — Add your completed statement of work to the WPsigner dashboard.
- Add fields — Place signature, date and initial fields for the client and the service provider.
- Send — Email a secure signing link to each signer.
- Track — See when the SOW is opened and signed from your WordPress admin.
- Store — Keep the signed PDF and its audit trail on your own server.
Electronic signatures on business documents like an SOW are generally enforceable under ESIGN, UETA and eIDAS when consent, intent and an audit trail exist. Government or regulated procurement may require specific forms, so confirm the client’s requirements before sending.