What is a consulting agreement?
A consulting agreement is a contract engaging an expert consultant to provide advice, analysis, or recommendations, setting out fees, deliverables, and each party's obligations.
Business & Startups
Consulting Agreement
Generate a consulting agreement for engaging an advisory consultant in Australia, covering fees, deliverables, and liability for professional advice.
- Create a consulting agreement for a fixed-fee project
Generate a consulting agreement between [Client Name] and [Consultant Name/Business] for [Description of Consulting Services] for a fixed fee of [Fee Amount], covering deliverables, timeline, and liability limitations.
- Create a retainer-based consulting agreement
Generate a consulting agreement between [Client Name] and [Consultant Name/Business] for ongoing advisory services on a monthly retainer of [Retainer Amount], covering scope of advice and hours included.
- Create a consulting agreement with a liability cap
Generate a consulting agreement between [Client Name] and [Consultant Name/Business] for [Description of Consulting Services] that includes a liability cap limiting the consultant's liability to [Amount or Multiple of Fees] for any claim arising from the advice given.
Consulting Agreement Generator (Australia)
A consulting agreement engages an expert consultant to provide advice, analysis, or recommendations, distinct from a general service agreement in its focus on advisory deliverables such as reports, strategies, or expert opinions rather than physical or operational services. This free Australian consulting agreement generator produces agreements for management consultants, technical advisors, and specialist consultants, covering fee structures, deliverables, and liability limitations appropriate for professional advice. It is designed for Australian businesses engaging consultants on a project or retainer basis, and for consultants formalising their engagement terms with clients. The generator lets you specify fee arrangements (fixed fee, hourly, or retainer), confidentiality obligations, and a liability cap appropriate to the value and risk of the advice given. Use it to set clear expectations about deliverables and protect both parties if the advice given turns out to be wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How is a consulting agreement different from a general service agreement?
A consulting agreement typically focuses on advisory deliverables such as reports, strategy, or expert recommendations, while a general service agreement may cover a broader range of operational or physical services.
What fee structures are common in consulting agreements?
Fixed project fees, hourly rates, and monthly retainers are all common, and the agreement should clearly state which applies along with payment terms.
Should a consulting agreement include a liability cap?
Yes, it is common for consultants to limit their liability for claims arising from the advice given, often to a multiple of the fees paid, since consulting advice can carry significant downstream risk if relied upon incorrectly.
Who owns reports or deliverables created by a consultant in Australia?
Unless the agreement says otherwise, IP in materials created by the consultant generally remains with the consultant, so the agreement should specify a licence or assignment if the client needs to own the deliverables.
Should a consulting agreement include confidentiality obligations?
Yes, consultants often have access to sensitive business information, so a confidentiality clause protecting the client's information is standard practice.