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A Fee Agreement spells out how much you'll pay for professional services and when those payments are due. In Australia, these binding contracts are common between lawyers and clients, but they're also used by consultants, financial advisors, and other service providers.

The agreement must outline payment terms, billing methods, and service scope under Australian Consumer Law. It protects both parties by preventing fee disputes and setting clear expectations. Good Fee Agreements include GST details, payment schedules, and explain what happens if payments are late or services change.

Use a Fee Agreement before starting any professional service relationship where payment terms need to be crystal clear. This is especially crucial for Australian lawyers, consultants, and service providers who charge hourly rates or work on complex projects with multiple billing stages.

The agreement becomes essential when dealing with high-value services, long-term engagements, or situations involving milestone payments. It protects your interests when pricing structures change, when providing services to multiple parties, or when working under specific regulatory requirements like those set by the Law Society or professional bodies.

• Costs Agreement: Standard legal fee arrangement detailing hourly rates and billing terms for law firms
• Conditional Costs Agreement: 'No win, no fee' arrangement commonly used in litigation cases
• Referral Contract Agreement: Specifies commission structures for client referrals between professionals
• Finders Agreement: Outlines compensation for introducing business opportunities or clients
• Sales Agent Commission Agreement: Details commission structures and terms for sales representatives

• Law Firms: Draft and implement Fee Agreements for their clients, ensuring compliance with Law Society guidelines
• Professional Service Providers: Consultants, accountants, and financial advisors use these to set clear payment terms
• Business Clients: Review and negotiate terms before engaging professional services
• Independent Contractors: Protect their interests and clarify payment expectations with clients
• In-house Legal Teams: Review and approve Fee Agreements for their organizations
• Regulatory Bodies: Oversee compliance with professional standards and consumer protection laws

• Service Details: List specific services, scope, and any exclusions
• Fee Structure: Document rates, payment schedules, and GST requirements
• Party Information: Gather full legal names, ABNs, and contact details
• Payment Terms: Define billing frequency, accepted methods, and late payment consequences
• Service Timeline: Outline start dates, milestones, and completion expectations
• Special Conditions: Note any unique requirements or variations from standard terms
• Template Selection: Use our platform to generate a legally-sound document tailored to your needs

• Party Identification: Full legal names, ABNs, and business addresses of all parties
• Service Description: Clear outline of services, deliverables, and exclusions
• Fee Structure: Detailed breakdown of costs, GST components, and payment schedules
• Payment Terms: Due dates, accepted methods, and late payment consequences
• Duration Clause: Agreement start date, term, and termination conditions
• Dispute Resolution: Process for handling disagreements under Australian law
• Cooling-off Period: Mandatory cancellation rights as per consumer law
• Execution Block: Proper signature sections for all parties

While Fee Agreements and Consultancy Agreements might seem similar, they serve distinct purposes in Australian business relationships. A Fee Agreement focuses specifically on payment terms and billing structures, while a Consultancy Agreement covers the broader working relationship and service delivery framework.

• Scope of Coverage: Fee Agreements primarily detail payment terms, rates, and billing schedules. Consultancy Agreements include additional elements like project scope, deliverables, and intellectual property rights
• Legal Requirements: Fee Agreements must comply with specific professional regulations, especially for legal services. Consultancy Agreements focus more on general contract law principles
• Flexibility: Fee Agreements typically have stricter regulatory requirements and less room for negotiation. Consultancy Agreements offer more flexibility in terms and conditions
• Primary Users: Fee Agreements are common among regulated professionals like lawyers and accountants. Consultancy Agreements are used more broadly across industries