Statement of work (SOW) template
A statement of work describes one project in detail — what will be delivered, by when, how it is accepted and what it costs. It usually sits under a master or services agreement that already covers the legal terms, so each new project only needs a new SOW.
This template is a general starting point, not legal advice. Laws differ between countries and states, so have it checked before signing anything important.
Fill in the details
Anything you leave empty becomes a blank line in the document, to fill in by hand or during signing.
Opens the signature request with this document and a signature box for each party already placed.
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Statement of Work
Statement of Work __________, dated __________, between __________ (the "Provider") and __________ (the "Client"). It is governed by __________; if the two conflict, that agreement controls unless this SOW expressly says otherwise.
1. Objective
The objective of this project is to __________.
2. Deliverables
The Provider will deliver: __________.
Not included: __________.
3. Timeline
Milestones: __________. Dates move by the length of any delay caused by the Client, such as late content or approvals.
4. Acceptance
Acceptance: __________. Rejection must list the specific points that do not match this SOW.
5. Fees
Fees and payment schedule: __________.
6. Changes
Changes to scope, timeline or fees are made by a written change order signed by both parties. Work outside this SOW is not started until a change order is signed.
7. Contacts
Project contacts: __________.
Provider
__________
Client
__________
What makes a good SOW
A SOW works when someone outside the project could read it and tell whether the work is done.
- Deliverables are things you can hand over, not activities.
- “Not included” is as important as the deliverables list.
- Acceptance has a deadline, so a project cannot stay open forever.
Frequently asked questions
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