Independent Contractor Agreement This Agreement is made between __________________ ("MyBusiness"), with a principal place of business at ___________________, and __________________ ("Contractor"), with a principal place of business at ___________________. 1. Services to be Performed [Choose Alternative A or B] Contractor agrees to perform the following services on MyBusiness's behalf: _________________________ 2. Payment In consideration for the services to be performed by Contractor, MyBusiness agrees to pay Contractor $_____ according to the terms of payment set forth below. 3. Terms of Payment Upon completion of Contractor's services under this Agreement, Contractor shall submit an invoice. MyBusiness shall pay Contractor the compensation described within _____ [15, 30, 45, 60] days after receiving Contractor's invoice. 4. Expenses Contractor shall be responsible for all expenses incurred while performing services under this Agreement. This includes license fees, memberships and dues; automobile and other travel expenses; meals and entertainment; insurance premiums; and all salary, expenses, and other compensation paid to employees or contract personnel the Contractor hires to complete the work under this Agreement. 5. Materials Contractor will furnish all materials, equipment, and supplies used to provide the services required by this Agreement. 6. Independent Contractor Status Contractor is an independent contractor, and neither Contractor nor Contractor's employees or contract personnel are, or shall be deemed, MyBusiness's employees. In its capacity as an independent contractor, Contractor agrees and represents, and MyBusiness agrees, as follows: Contractor has the right to hire assistants as subcontractors or to use employees to provide the services required by this Agreement. 7. Business Permits, Certificates, and Licenses Contractor has complied with all federal, state, and local laws requiring business permits, certificates, and licenses required to carry out the services to be performed under this Agreement.

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8. State and Federal Taxes MyBusiness will not: 

withhold FICA (Social Security and Medicare taxes) from Contractor's payments or make FICA payments on Contractor's behalf

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make state or federal unemployment compensation contributions on Contractor's behalf, or

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withhold state or federal income tax from Contractor's payments.

Contractor shall pay all taxes incurred while performing services under this Agreement--including all applicable income taxes and, if Contractor is not a corporation, self-employment (Social Security) taxes. Upon demand, Contractor shall provide MyBusiness with proof that such payments have been made. 9. Fringe Benefits Contractor understands that neither Contractor nor Contractor's employees or contract personnel are eligible to participate in any employee pension, health, vacation pay, sick pay, or other fringe benefit plan of MyBusiness. 10. Workers' Compensation MyBusiness shall not obtain workers' compensation insurance on behalf of Contractor or Contractor's employees. If Contractor hires employees to perform any work under this Agreement, Contractor will cover them with workers' compensation insurance and provide MyBusiness with a certificate of workers' compensation insurance before the employees begin the work. 11. Unemployment Compensation MyBusiness shall make no state or federal unemployment compensation payments on behalf of Contractor or Contractor's employees or contract personnel. Contractor will not be entitled to these benefits in connection with work performed under this Agreement. 12. Insurance MyBusiness shall not provide any insurance coverage of any kind for Contractor or Contractor's employees or contract personnel. Contractor shall obtain and maintain a broad form commercial general liability insurance policy providing for coverage of at least $_____ for each occurrence. Before commencing any work, Contractor shall provide MyBusiness with proof of this insurance and with proof that MyBusiness has been made an additional insured under the policy. Contractor shall indemnify and hold MyBusiness harmless from any loss or liability arising from performing services under this Agreement. 13. Term of Agreement This agreement will become effective when signed by both parties and will terminate on the earlier of:

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

the date Contractor completes the services required by this Agreement

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__________________ [date], or

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the date a party terminates the Agreement as provided below.

14. Terminating the Agreement With reasonable cause, either MyBusiness or Contractor may terminate this Agreement, effective immediately upon giving written notice. Reasonable cause includes: 

a material violation of this Agreement, or

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any act exposing the other party to liability to others for personal injury or property damage.

15. Exclusive Agreement This is the entire Agreement between Contractor and MyBusiness. 16. Modifying the Agreement This Agreement may be modified only by a writing signed by both parties. 17. Intellectual Property Ownership Contractor assigns to MyBusiness all patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret rights in anything created or developed by Contractor for MyBusiness under this Agreement. Contractor shall help prepare any papers that MyBusiness considers necessary to secure any patents, copyrights, trademarks, or other proprietary rights at no charge to MyBusiness. However, MyBusiness shall reimburse Contractor for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred. Contractor must obtain written assurances from Contractor's employees and contract personnel that they agree with this assignment. Contractor agrees not to use any of the intellectual property mentioned above for the benefit of any other party without MyBusiness's prior written permission. 18. Confidentiality Contractor acknowledges that it will be necessary for MyBusiness to disclose certain confidential and proprietary information to Contractor in order for Contractor to perform duties under this Agreement. Contractor acknowledges that any disclosure to any third party or any misuse of this proprietary or confidential information would irreparably harm MyBusiness. Accordingly, Contractor will not disclose or use, either during or after the term of this Agreement, any proprietary or confidential information of MyBusiness without MyBusiness's prior written permission except to the extent necessary to perform services on MyBusiness's behalf. Proprietary or confidential information includes: © 2004 Nolo

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

the written, printed, graphic, or electronically recorded materials furnished by MyBusiness for Contractor to use

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business or marketing plans or strategies, customer lists, operating procedures, trade secrets, design formulas, know-how and processes, computer programs and inventories, discoveries and improvements of any kind, sales projections, and pricing information

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information belonging to customers and suppliers of MyBusiness about whom Contractor gained knowledge as a result of Contractor's services to MyBusiness

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any written or tangible information stamped “confidential,” “proprietary,” or with a similar legend, and

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any information that MyBusiness makes reasonable efforts to maintain the secrecy of.

Contractor shall not be restricted in using any material which is publicly available, already in Contractor's possession or known to Contractor without restriction, or which is rightfully obtained by Contractor from sources other than MyBusiness. Upon termination of Contractor's services to MyBusiness, or at MyBusiness's request, Contractor shall deliver to MyBusiness all materials in Contractor's possession relating to MyBusiness's business. 19. Resolving Disputes If a dispute arises under this Agreement, the parties agree to first try to resolve the dispute with the help of a mutually agreed-upon mediator in ________________ [list city or county where mediation will occur]. Any costs and fees other than attorney fees associated with the mediation shall be shared equally by the parties. If it proves impossible to arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution through mediation, the parties agree to submit the dispute to a mutually agreed-upon arbitrator in __________________ [list city or county where arbitration will occur]. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction to do so. Costs of arbitration, including attorney fees, will be allocated by the arbitrator. 20. Applicable Law This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the state of ________________. 21. Notices All notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be considered given as follows: 

when delivered personally to the recipient's address as stated on this Agreement

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three days after being deposited in the United States mail, with postage prepaid to the recipient's address as stated on this Agreement, or

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when sent by fax or electronic mail such notice is effective upon receipt provided that a duplicate copy of the notice is promptly given by first class mail, or the recipient delivers a written confirmation of receipt.

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22. No Partnership This Agreement does not create a partnership relationship. Contractor does not have authority to enter into contracts on MyBusiness's behalf. 23. Assignment and Delegation Contractor may not assign or subcontract any rights or obligations under this Agreement without MyBusiness's prior written approval. Signatures MyBusiness: _________________________ [Name of MyBusiness] By:

____________________________ Signature

_________________________ [Typed or Printed Name] Title: _________________________ Date: _________________________ Contractor: _________________________ [Name of Contractor] By:

____________________________ Signature

_________________________ [Typed or Printed Name] Title: _________________________ Taxpayer ID Number: _________________ Date: _________________________

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Contractor Agreement This agreement was provided by attorney Stephen Fishman, author of several books on hiring contractors, including Consultant & Independent Contractor Agreements, Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants, and Working With Independent Contractors. The explanation for using this agreement as well as numerous options for customizing the agreement to fir your purposes, can be found in Steve’s book: Consultant & Independent Contractor Agreements (Nolo). We strongly recommend that you purchase the book (or check it out at a library) if you work with contractors on a regular basis (or if you are a contractor yourself). It’s well worth the price. FORMS DISCLOSURE: Providing legal forms and information is not the same as providing legal advice--the application of law to an individual's specific circumstances. If you want professional advice about how a legal agreement applies to your particular situation, consult a lawyer licensed to practice in your state. These forms are the property of Nolo, who has the copyright on them, and are provided for readers and listeners of Whoops I'm in Business. Except for the one or two copies you may need to transact your company's business, the forms may not be duplicated, distributed or sold without permission of Nolo.

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