Plain English contract templates. Written by lawyers. Understood by you.

? Which document do I need?Contractor, consultant or services? Agreement or terms? See the differences in one table.
Contracts Agreements both parties sign 33
Consultant Agreement
Engaging a consultant for professional services. Scope, fees, reliance on information, IP, liability and termination.
Contractor Agreement
Head contract for engaging a contractor directly. Obligations, payment, variations, liability caps, disputes and termination.
Confidentiality Agreement
Mutual confidentiality agreement. What is confidential, permitted disclosure, privacy, security, and return or destruction on request.
Supply and Install Agreement
Supply and installation in one agreement. Site obligations, payment claims, variations, defects, liability and termination.
Supply of Goods and Services Agreement
Supply of goods and services together. Delivery, risk and title, payment, warranties, defect period and liability.
Cast and Crew Contractor Agreement
Cast or crew on a production as indepndent contractor. Credit, allowances, leave, moral rights, completion guarantor and confidentiality.
Cast and Crew Member Agreement
Cast or crew on a production as employee. Credit, allowances, leave, moral rights, completion guarantor and confidentiality.
Casual Employment Agreement
Casual employment. Shift offer and acceptance, casual loading, duties, confidentiality, IP and termination.
Casual Shift Employment Agreement
Casual employment for shifts. Shift offers, casual loading, duties, confidentiality and termination.
Co-Production Agreement
Two parties co-producing a screen project. Decision making, revenue splits, credits, ownership and subsequent productions.
Commercial Cleaning Agreement
Ongoing commercial cleaning services. Term, scope, site access, payment, liability caps and termination for convenience.
Construction Management Agreement
Construction manager running other contractors on a project. Paid against an approved budget, with limited liability.
Event Catering Agreement
Catering for an event. Headcount and menu changes, deposit and security bond, unforeseen events and cancellation.
Event Media Agreement
Photography or video coverage of an event. Attendance, deliverables and turnaround, copyright, usage rights and liability.
Event Services Agreement
Services performed at an event. Access, meal breaks, extra hours at extra charge, unforeseen events and cancellation.
Event Supply of Equipment Agreement
Hiring equipment for an event. Deposit, security bond, damage, collection, unforeseen events and cancellation.
Event Supply of Goods Agreement
Goods delivered to an event. Delivery window, risk and title, extra quantities, warranties and cancellation.
Event Supply of Goods and Services Agreement
Goods and services delivered to an event. Delivery, risk, extra work at extra charge, warranties and cancellation.
Fixed-term Employment Agreement
Fixed-term employment. Probation, duties, leave, pay, confidentiality, IP and how the term ends.
Full-time / Part-time Employment Agreement
Full-time or part-time employment. Probation, duties, hours, leave, pay, confidentiality, IP and termination.
Influencer Agreement
Influencer campaign. Deliverables, ad disclosures, AI and likeness use, content ownership and usage.
Land Access Agreement
Landowner granting access for site investigations for a project (eg renewable), with an option for a lease. Licence,…
Master Services Agreement
Master agreement for repeat work ordered under proposals. Equipment, faults, payment against an approved budget, IP and liability.
Minor Works Agreement
Small-value building work. Shorter than a full subcontract but keeps payment claims, variations, liability and defects.
Preferred Contractor Agreement
Appoints a preferred contractor and authorises paid early works before the main contract is signed.
Residential Cleaning Agreement
Ongoing residential cleaning services. Term, scope, access to the home, payment, liability caps and termination.
Services Agreement
General services agreement. Term, scope, payment, directions and variations, IP and confidentiality, liability and termination.
Subcontractor Agreement
Head contractor engaging a subcontractor for works / services. Progress claims, payment schedules, site directions, variations, delay damages,…
Subcontractor Tender Bid Participation Agreement
For subcontractors joining a head contractor's tender. Exclusivity, best-offer review, what happens after submission and award.
Supply of Goods Agreement
Supply of goods only. Delivery, risk and title passing on payment, goods warranties, defects and liability.
Trade Call-Off Agreement
Call-off agreement for repeat trade work under standing terms. Each order takes the same obligations, payment and liability…
Novation Deed
Transfers an existing contract to a new party by deed, with warranties from all three parties.
Subcontractor Warranty
Warranty deed poll from a subcontractor to an owner or head contractor, covering rectification and sub-supplier warranties.
Terms & Conditions Attach to your quote or proposal 21
Purchase Order Terms
Purchase order works terms for trade work. Scope by purchase order, payment claims, variations, defects, liability and cancellation.…
Commercial Cleaning Terms
Commercial cleaning services terms to attach to a quote. Scope, payment, liability and cancellation.
Consultant Terms
Consultant terms to attach to a proposal. Scope, fees, variations, reliance, IP and liability.
Contractor Terms
Contractor terms to attach to a quote. Obligations, payment, variations, liability and termination. No signature required.
Event Catering Terms
Catering an event terms, to attach to a quote. Guest numbers, dietary notice, deposit, venue access, liability and…
Event Media Terms
Event photography or video terms. Creative control, delivery date, copyright and licence, deposit, liability and cancellation. No signature…
Event Services Terms
Services at an event. Access, extra work, unforeseen events, liability and cancellation.
Event Supply of Equipment Terms
Hiring equipment terms for an event. Deposit, security bond, delivery and collection, damage, liability and cancellation. No signature…
Event Supply of Goods and Services Terms
Goods supply and services provision at an event. Delivery, risk, extra work, liability and cancellation.
Event Supply of Goods Terms
Goods supplied to an event. Delivery, risk, extra quantities, liability and cancellation.
Influencer Terms
Influencer terms to attach to a quote. Deliverables, disclosures, AI and likeness, content ownership and liability. No signature…
Master Services Terms
Ongoing services terms under a quote. Equipment, faults, payment, IP and data, liability and cancellation. No signature required.
Residential Cleaning Terms
Residential cleaning services terms to attach to a quote. Scope, access, payment, liability and cancellation.
Services Terms
Services terms to attach to a quote. Scope, payment, variations, warranties, liability and termination.
Simple Services Terms
Shortest services terms in the library. Supply, liability, cancellation and general. One page for small jobs.
Simple Supply of Goods Terms
Shortest goods terms in the library. Supply, liability, cancellation and general. One page for simple orders.
Subcontractor Terms
Subcontract terms to attach to a quote. Obligations, payment, variations, liability and termination. No signature required.
Supply and Install Terms
Supply and install terms to attach to a quote. Obligations, payment, risk, variations and liability.
Supply of Goods and Services Terms
Goods supply and services provision terms to attach to a quote. Delivery, payment, risk, warranties and liability.
Supply of Goods Terms & Conditions
Goods terms for orders. Delivery, payment, risk and title, consumer guarantees and liability.
Work Terms
Small building jobs terms, to attach to a quote. Principal contractor duties, payment claims, variations, defects, liability and…
Letters Proposals, engagement and intent 4
Consultant proposal letter
Consultant proposal letter with staged scope, fees, assumptions, allowances, exclusions and a client acceptance block.
Expert engagement letter
Engages an expert. Scope and questions, independence, conflicts, documents, fees and what happens to the work product.
Letter of intent
Letter of intent recording what has been agreed in principle before the full contract is signed.
Works proposal
Works proposal letter with staged scope, fees, assumptions, allowances and exclusions, ready for client acceptance.
Notices Construction and contract notices 11
Claim for an extension of time
Claims an extension of time with delay details, impact on the program, mitigation and supporting documents.
Confirm ability to comply with Contract
Asks the other party to confirm in writing that it can still comply with the contract.
Contractor’s notice of intention to terminate
Notifies an intention to terminate for breach, giving the other party its cure period first.
Defect Notice
Identifies a defect, requires rectification by a date, and includes an acknowledgement for the other party to sign.
Delay Notice
Notifies a delay with its cause, impact and mitigation, and preserves an extension of time claim.
Notice of concerns
Raises a concern early and on the record, before it becomes a dispute or a delay claim.
Notice of dispute
Formally notifies a dispute and triggers the contract's negotiation and mediation steps before litigation.
Notice of provisional sum
Notifies that a provisional sum has been priced, and the adjustment to the contract price.
Notice of suspension
Two letters in one: warning that work may be suspended, and confirming that it has been.
Owner’s notice of intention to terminate
Alternative notice of intention to terminate, with notes on getting the cure period and service right.
Variation claim
Variation claim with scope, price and time impact, and an acknowledgement for the owner to sign.
Guides and tools Free and member guides, and practical tools 3

Guides

How to make a contract
What makes a binding agreement, what should be put in writing, and the types of mistake that can…
Free
What are the duties of a board member of an association?
The legal duties of committee and board members of incorporated associations and charities, and how to meet them.
Free
What are a company director’s duties?
The main duties of a small business director, including care, honesty, conflicts and insolvency.
Free

Tools

Tools are coming soon.

About
Simple Terms is …

A library of plain English contracts, terms and conditions, letters and notices for Australian businesses. Each one is short and written so you can read it, understand it and explain it to the other side, without needing to pay a lawyer to translate.

Lawyers write the templates

A team of experienced contract lawyers work on these documents. These Terms have been used on master services arrangements, renewable energy projects, all the way up to engaging subcontractors on $500m projects. Every template is carefully reviewed before it goes into the library.

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A contract is just some words that allocate risks. If you don’t have a contract you aren’t limiting your financial risk in your work. If you stuff up, you might think it is fair that you are only exposed to the amount you were paid. Nor should you be responsible for the other party’s lost profit. A contract can limit those risks. Or if there is a big enough change in scope directed without agreement on price. Without a variation clause, the contract should terminate because the deal is no longer what the parties initially agreed. What about a contract that has an indemnity (pay up on demand) for breach of contract? Insurance usually doesn’t cover “assumed liability”. Should people sign up to work not realising insurance won’t cover it? Having a contract you understand is important. Simple Terms can help with these problems.

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Simple Terms are for everyone who needs a contract. If you run a business you need contracts. Or you need T&Cs. Or a scrap of paper that properly records your deal. But what if the circumstances change? You – rather that just your lawyer – want to know what is in your agreement. If you have these documents, you know what is in them, and you get on with work. These are for sole traders, trades and contractors, consultants, creatives, online businesses, growing companies and not-for-profits. If you sign or send contracts, it’s for you.

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A Simple Terms format is always the same

Signatures and parties first. A Details table for all the commercial points – the scope goes in here, or if it is long, you just refer to a Schedule and attach it at the end. Contract terms (clauses) follow. The clauses come from a library and are consistent across all documents so you don’t need to keep learning new concepts or words. Sections are groups of sub-topics and there are no confusing cross-references or “subject to” language.

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