Free template · Business
Statement of work template
Short answer
A statement of work, or SOW, describes one project in detail: objectives, scope, what is out of scope, deliverables, how they are accepted, and the fee and payment schedule. This template is free to fill in and download as a PDF, and you can send it for e-signature in Sign PDF with the Client's and Supplier's boxes placed for you.
Updated 25 October 2026
What's in this statement of work
The full text. Words in brackets are filled in from the form above.
- 1. Parties and agreement. This statement of work is between [Client name] (the Client) and [Supplier name] (the Supplier) for the project called [Project name]. It is made under [Agreement this SOW sits under]. If no such agreement exists, the terms in this statement of work apply on their own.
- 2. Objectives. The project aims to achieve the following: [Objectives].
- 3. Start. Work starts on [Start date].
- 4. Deliverables and timeline. The Supplier will provide the following deliverables by the dates shown: [Deliverables and dates].
- 5. Out of scope. The following are not included in this statement of work: [Out of scope]. Any of these, or anything else not listed as a deliverable, will need a change request.
- 6. Client responsibilities. The Client will provide on time the content, access, decisions and feedback the Supplier reasonably needs, and will name one person to give approvals. If the Client is late, the dates that depend on it move by the same amount.
- 7. Acceptance. The Client will review each deliverable within [Days to accept a deliverable] working days of receiving it and either accept it or give written reasons why it does not meet this statement of work. The Supplier will fix any such failures and resubmit. A deliverable the Client does not accept or reject within that time, or that the Client starts using in its business, is treated as accepted.
- 8. Fees. The total fee for this statement of work is [Total fee], excluding any taxes that apply, which will be added to invoices where required.
- 9. Payment schedule. The Supplier will invoice on this schedule: [Payment schedule]. Invoices are payable within 14 days.
- 10. Change control. Either party may request a change in writing. The Supplier will say what the change will cost and how it affects the timeline. No change is binding, and no extra work is chargeable, until both parties approve it in writing.
- 11. Order of precedence. If this statement of work conflicts with the agreement it sits under, that agreement prevails except where this statement of work expressly says it overrides a particular clause.
- 12. Governing law. Where no other agreement applies, this statement of work is governed by the laws of [Governing law], and the courts of that place have jurisdiction over any dispute arising from it.
- Signed by: the Client, the Supplier, each with a signature, printed name and date.
When to use a statement of work
Use an SOW when a client and supplier already have, or are about to sign, a general services or consulting agreement and need to pin down a specific project under it. Agencies, software developers, consultants and IT suppliers often sign one master agreement and then a new SOW for each project.
It can also stand alone for a small project: if no master agreement exists, this template says its own terms apply, including the governing law.
What each part does
Most SOW templates people find online share the same core sections. This one keeps them in plain English.
- Objectives: why the project exists, so both sides judge decisions against the same goal.
- Scope and deliverables: what will be produced, in what form, and when.
- Out of scope: the list that prevents more disputes than any other part.
- Acceptance: how many days the client has to accept or reject a deliverable, and what happens if it says nothing.
- Fees and payment schedule: often tied to milestones.
- Change control: how new requests are priced and approved before work starts.
How to adapt it
Write deliverables as things you can point to, such as 'a tested checkout page deployed to the staging site', not activities like 'work on checkout'. Put dates in the deliverables box if the project has milestones. List assumptions honestly, for example that the client will supply copy by a certain date.
This template is a starting point, not legal advice. For large or regulated projects, have a lawyer check that the SOW and the master agreement fit together under the governing law you choose.
Getting the statement of work signed
Fill in the boxes above and download the statement of work as a PDF, free and with no account. To get it signed, send it from Sign PDF: the signature, name and date boxes for the Client and the Supplier are already placed and labelled, so you only add each signer's email.
Each signer opens an email link, confirms a six-digit code sent to their inbox and signs in the browser on a phone or laptop, with no app and no account. When the last person signs, the boxes are written into the PDF, a certificate of completion is added at the end, and the file is sealed with a digital signature and a timestamp so any later change shows.
The Light plan at $5 a month covers 2 documents a month. The Full plan at $10 a month has no limit and lets you save this document as a template, with a signing order and reminders.
Questions people ask
Is a statement of work a contract?
Once both parties sign it, yes. It usually sits under a master agreement, which sets the legal terms, while the SOW sets the project details.
What should go in the out of scope section?
Anything the client might reasonably assume is included but is not: hosting, content writing, extra languages, training, ongoing support. Being specific here saves arguments later.
What is deemed acceptance?
If the client does not accept or reject a deliverable within the set number of days, it counts as accepted. This stops payments stalling because nobody replied.
Do I need a new SOW for each project?
Usually yes. One master agreement with a fresh SOW per project keeps each project's scope and fee clear without renegotiating the legal terms.
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