Master Service Agreement Template and Tips for MSAs
A master service agreement is essentially an independent contractor agreement relating to services. A Master Service Agreement Template can be a useful tool for helping service companies create a master service agreement that will clarify their responsibilities to a client while protecting their interests.
Using a Master Service Agreement Template
A Master Service Agreement Template should not be used in the place of legal advice. Ideally, a master service agreement is drafted by experienced attorneys and crafted based on a familiarity with the client, the customer, and the services to be provided.
However, companies can use a Master Service Agreement Template as a guide during negotiations to help the parties identify and address a number of common deal terms so that they can more efficiently and expeditiously arrive at a final master service agreement that is fair, clear and comprehensive.
Elements of a Master Service Agreement Template
A Master Services Agreement Template will address many key elements of a comprehensive master service agreement, such as:
Payment terms, schedules and mechanics
Description of services
Intellectual property rights
Handling disagreements and disputes
Changes to the scope of services
Warranties, disclaimers, and limits of liability
Although a master service agreement template will contain many common MSA agreement provisions, deal-specific information would need to be added for any individual transaction.
You can find additional information in our Master Services Agreement page and our corporate and commercial services page.
Master Service Agreement Template Form and Disclaimer
The Master Service Agreement Template form (the “Form”) is provided on a nonexclusive license basis only for your personal one-time use for noncommercial purposes, without any right to relicense, sublicense, distribute, assign or transfer such license. The Form is provided without any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to their suitability, legal effect, completeness, timeliness, accuracy and/or appropriateness. THE FORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS,” “AS AVAILABLE,” AND WITH “ALL FAULTS,” AND WE DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The Form may be inappropriate for your particular circumstances. Furthermore, state laws may require different or additional provisions to ensure the desired result. You should consult with legal counsel to determine the appropriate legal or business documents necessary for your particular transactions as the Form is only a sample and may not be applicable to a particular situation.
Moreover, although the Form was written by attorneys, neither the availability, operation, transmission, receipt nor use of the Form is intended to create, nor does it create, an attorney-client relationship.
See our Legal FAQs page for the answers to more intellectual property law questions.