Create a bespoke document in minutes,聽or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership聽of your information
Consultancy Agreement
I need a consultancy agreement for a freelance consultant who will provide strategic advice on digital marketing for a 6-month project. The agreement should include a fixed monthly retainer, confidentiality clause, and a provision for bi-weekly progress reports.
What is a Consultancy Agreement?
A Consultancy Agreement sets out the terms when you hire an external expert or specialist to provide professional services to your business. It's the key document that defines the relationship between your company (the client) and the consultant, covering everything from project scope and deliverables to payment terms and confidentiality obligations.
Under Australian contract law, these agreements protect both parties by clearly spelling out the consultant's role, their independence as a contractor rather than an employee, and how they'll handle sensitive information. They're especially important for complying with Australian taxation requirements and helping businesses avoid potential contractor versus employee disputes with the ATO.
When should you use a Consultancy Agreement?
Use a Consultancy Agreement when bringing in external expertise for specific projects or specialized work. This is essential for tech startups hiring IT consultants, businesses needing marketing strategists, or companies engaging management advisors. The agreement becomes particularly important when sharing sensitive information or intellectual property with outside experts.
It's crucial to have this agreement in place before any work begins, especially for projects lasting more than a few weeks or involving significant budgets. Australian businesses need it to clearly separate consultants from employees, protect confidential information, and establish clear deliverables and payment terms that satisfy ATO requirements for contractor relationships.
What are the different types of Consultancy Agreement?
- Contract For Consulting Services: Standard comprehensive agreement suitable for most business consulting arrangements, covering key terms and general professional services.
- Software Consulting Contract: Specialized version with detailed IP clauses and technical specifications for IT projects and software development.
- Marketing Contractor Agreement: Tailored for marketing professionals, with specific provisions for creative rights and campaign deliverables.
- Individual Consultant Agreement: Simplified version for engaging sole traders or individual consultants, with straightforward terms and payment structures.
Who should typically use a Consultancy Agreement?
- Business Owners & Companies: Engage consultants for specialized expertise, define project scope, and protect their intellectual property through Consultancy Agreements.
- Independent Consultants: Professional advisors, contractors, and specialists who provide services across industries while maintaining their independent status.
- Legal Teams: Draft and review agreements to ensure compliance with Australian contractor laws and protect their client's interests.
- HR Managers: Coordinate the engagement process and ensure proper contractor classification under ATO guidelines.
- Project Managers: Oversee deliverables and timelines specified in the agreement, managing consultant relationships day-to-day.
How do you write a Consultancy Agreement?
- Party Details: Gather full legal names, ABNs, and contact information for both the consulting party and the client business.
- Scope Definition: Document specific services, deliverables, and project milestones with clear timelines and success metrics.
- Payment Terms: Determine rates, payment schedule, expenses policy, and GST arrangements that satisfy ATO requirements.
- Intellectual Property: Clarify ownership of work products, pre-existing IP, and any licensing arrangements.
- Term and Termination: Set contract duration, notice periods, and conditions for early termination.
- Final Review: Use our platform to generate a customized agreement that includes all essential elements and meets Australian legal requirements.
What should be included in a Consultancy Agreement?
- Party Identification: Full legal names, ABNs, registered addresses, and authorised representatives of both consultant and client.
- Services Description: Detailed scope of work, deliverables, timelines, and performance standards.
- Payment Terms: Fee structure, invoicing schedule, expenses policy, and GST arrangements.
- Independent Contractor Status: Clear distinction from employment relationship, including control and autonomy provisions.
- Confidentiality: Protection of business information, trade secrets, and client data.
- Intellectual Property: Ownership rights, licensing terms, and transfer of created works.
- Termination Provisions: Notice periods, breach conditions, and post-termination obligations.
- Governing Law: Explicit reference to Australian jurisdiction and dispute resolution processes.
What's the difference between a Consultancy Agreement and a Contractor Agreement?
A Consultancy Agreement differs significantly from a Contractor Agreement, though they're often confused. The main distinction lies in the nature of work and relationship structure. While both involve independent services, consultants typically provide strategic advice and expertise, whereas contractors usually deliver specific operational or practical outcomes.
- Scope of Work: Consultancy Agreements focus on advisory services, strategic guidance, and specialized knowledge transfer. Contractor Agreements typically cover hands-on, task-specific work with concrete deliverables.
- Payment Structure: Consultants often charge project-based or hourly rates for their expertise, while contractors commonly work on fixed-price or time-and-materials basis.
- Intellectual Property: Consultancy Agreements usually include stronger provisions for protecting strategic insights and methodologies. Contractor Agreements focus more on ownership of tangible outputs.
- Duration and Engagement: Consultants typically work on shorter, project-specific terms with multiple clients simultaneously. Contractors often engage in longer-term, more exclusive arrangements.
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
骋别苍颈别鈥檚 Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here鈥檚 how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; 骋别苍颈别鈥檚 AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a 拢1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.