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 the UK, covering fees, deliverables, IR35 status, 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 IR35 status and liability cap
Generate a consulting agreement between [Client Name] and [Consultant Name/Business] for [Description of Consulting Services] that supports genuine self-employed status for IR35 purposes and includes a liability cap limiting the consultant's liability to [Amount or Multiple of Fees].
Consulting Agreement Generator (UK)
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 UK consulting agreement generator produces agreements for management consultants, technical advisors, and specialist consultants, covering fee structures, deliverables, liability limitations, and IR35 status considerations where the consultant operates through a limited company. It is designed for UK 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.
Does IR35 apply to consulting agreements in the UK?
If the consultant operates through a limited company, IR35 (off-payroll working rules) may apply, so the agreement should reflect genuine self-employment factors such as a right of substitution and lack of day-to-day control.
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, subject to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 where relevant.
Who owns reports or deliverables created by a consultant in the UK?
Unless the agreement says otherwise, copyright 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.