Free Independent Contractor
Agreement Templates
Independent contractor agreement templates for federal use, state-specific engagements (California, Texas, Florida) and international arrangements. Built to reflect current worker classification rules — including California AB5 and the IRS multi-factor test. Download as DOCX or PDF. No signup required.
- 9 templates available now
- US states + UK + Australia
- DOCX + PDF
- No signup required
- Reviewed June 2026
Choose your agreement template
Worker classification law varies significantly by state. Use the federal template for most engagements — or select a state-specific version when operating in a high-scrutiny jurisdiction like California.
Federal-level IC agreement with IRS classification checklist, statement of work, IP assignment and confidentiality. Suitable for most contractor relationships outside strict-ABC-test states.
The IC agreement with the 1099 machinery built in: a W-9 due before the first payment, a 1099-NEC clause that adapts to the contractor's entity type (including the corporation exemption and the attorney exception), the new $2,000 threshold for 2026 payments, and 24% backup withholding.
For a contractor hiring a subcontractor to perform part of the work owed to a client or owner. Includes a flow-down clause, a pay-when-paid vs pay-if-paid selector, indemnification, additional-insured insurance and lien waivers.
Specifically drafted for California engagements under AB5. Includes ABC test documentation, Business & Professions Code language, and enhanced IP and non-solicitation clauses.
Optimised for Texas contractor relationships. Uses Texas common law classification factors and includes a Texas-specific governing law clause and dispute resolution provision.
Written for Florida contractor engagements. Includes Florida Reemployment Tax Act provisions, state-specific classification language and governing law under Florida statutes.
Drafted for New York contractor relationships. Compliant with the Freelance Isn't Free Act (GBL Art. 44-A, Aug 2024). Includes dual classification test (ABC + right-to-control), non-solicitation, and DTSA whistleblower notice.
Drafted for UK engagements under IR35 and employment status rules. Includes substitution clause, financial risk provisions and outside-IR35 supporting documentation language.
For Australian contractor engagements under the Closing Loopholes Act 2024. Includes multi-factor classification evidence, ABN/GST clauses and Payday Super reform (July 2026).
What every IC agreement should include
An independent contractor agreement does more than set payment terms — it documents the classification factors that protect both parties from misclassification liability.
The basics
Legal protection
Frequently asked questions
- An IC agreement should include: parties' details; a specific statement of work; compensation and invoicing terms; term and termination; an independent contractor status clause (with supporting classification factors); IP assignment (who owns deliverables); confidentiality; a no-benefits / no-withholding clause; and governing law. The classification evidence section is especially important — it documents the factors that support IC status and protects against misclassification claims from the IRS or state labor agencies.
- The distinction is legal, not just contractual. Employees work under the employer's control — the employer directs how and when they work, provides tools and training, and withholds payroll taxes. Independent contractors control their own work methods, provide their own equipment, may work for multiple clients, and are responsible for self-employment taxes. The IRS uses a multi-factor behavioral/financial/relationship test. California's AB5 uses the stricter ABC test. Mislabelling an employee as a contractor exposes companies to back taxes, penalties and wage claims.
- The ABC test (used in California under AB5, and in Massachusetts, New Jersey and others) presumes employment unless the hiring company proves all three: (A) the worker is free from the hiring entity's control and direction; (B) the worker performs work outside the usual course of the hiring entity's business; and (C) the worker is engaged in an independently established trade or business of the same nature. The B prong is the most commonly failed — if a company hires a contractor to perform work that is core to the company's business, the contractor is likely an employee under AB5. Always use a California-specific template when engaging contractors in California.
- Yes. A signed IC agreement is essential for three reasons: (1) it documents the classification factors that support IC status — the first line of defence against misclassification claims; (2) it establishes who owns the work product — without a written IP assignment, the contractor may retain copyright in deliverables even after being paid; and (3) it defines scope, payment and termination terms. Sign before work begins. Verbal contractor agreements are extremely difficult to enforce and provide no classification protection whatsoever.
- No. An IC agreement is the contract signed before work begins — it establishes the working relationship, scope, payment and classification. A 1099-NEC is a tax form issued at the end of the tax year, reporting the total amount paid to the contractor when that amount exceeds $600. The contract establishes the relationship; the 1099 reports income to the IRS. Having a contractor agreement does not guarantee IC classification — the actual working relationship (control, tools, exclusivity) determines whether someone is a contractor or employee. The contract is evidence, not a determination.
Bonsai handles IC agreements, e-signatures, invoicing and automated payments — purpose-built for contractor relationships.
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