SOW / Service Agreement

Statement of Work for professional services

Vendor Details
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When you need a Statement of Work

An SOW is the document that says exactly what is being delivered, by when, for how much, and what happens if any of that changes. It is the difference between "the website is done" and "the five pages listed in Schedule A are done" — and it is what you rely on when a client says the work was never finished, or a vendor says the extra work was never requested.

  • You are starting a project for a new client and want the scope fixed in writing.
  • You are engaging an agency or contractor and need deliverables and milestones defined.
  • Your last project ran over because "scope" meant different things to each side.
  • You have a master services agreement and need a per-project SOW under it.

What your agreement covers

  • Scope of work and the specific deliverables, listed rather than described.
  • Timeline and milestones, with what counts as acceptance of each.
  • Contract value, payment schedule, and what happens on a late payment.
  • Change requests — how extra work is agreed and priced before it starts.
  • Ownership of the work and confidentiality of what each side sees.
  • Termination, notice period, and payment for work already delivered.

Common questions

Do I need stamp paper for an SOW?

No. A service agreement between businesses is valid on plain paper once both sides sign it. Stamp duty applies to instruments like leases and conveyances, not to an ordinary services contract.

Can I read it before paying?

Yes — the complete agreement appears on screen, watermarked, before any payment. You check every name, date and figure first.

What if the client wants changes later?

That is what the change-request clause is for: extra work is agreed and priced in writing before it begins, rather than argued about after it is delivered.

Is this legal advice?

No. This produces a document you sign in your own name. For a high-value or unusual engagement, have a lawyer review it before you sign.