title: "Virtual Assistant Contract: What to Include, What to Skip, Free Template" seoTitle: "Virtual Assistant Contract: Free Template" description: "A practical guide to VA contracts: the 7 clauses that matter, what to skip for simple arrangements, and a free template you can adapt today." date_published: "2026-06-12" date_modified: "2026-06-29" author_name: "Teo Vanyo" author_url: "/about/#teo-vanyo" canonical_url: "https://www.stealthagents.com/docs/virtual-assistant-contract" key_takeaways:

"A written agreement prevents the two most common VA disputes: scope creep and IP ownership conflicts."
"The 7 clauses that matter: scope of work, rate/payment, confidentiality, IP assignment, contractor status, termination, and governing law."
"Skip non-competes, exclusivity, and heavy arbitration clauses for standard VA arrangements."
"Agency hires use a client services agreement with the agency - not a direct contract with the VA."
"This template is a starting point. For high-value or sensitive engagements, have a lawyer review it." faqs:
question: "Do I need a contract to hire a virtual assistant?" answer: "Not legally required, but strongly recommended. Most VA disputes - scope creep, IP ownership, payment disagreements - happen because expectations were never written down. A short agreement takes 30 minutes and prevents most problems."
question: "What should a VA contract include?" answer: "At minimum: scope of work, rate and payment terms, confidentiality, IP assignment (work-for-hire), contractor status, and termination notice. Governing law is optional for smaller arrangements."
question: "Can a VA own the content they create for me?" answer: "Yes, without an IP assignment (work-for-hire) clause, a VA can legally claim co-authorship or ownership of original work. Always include a clause assigning all deliverables to the client upon creation."
question: "How long should a VA contract termination notice be?" answer: "14 days is standard for most arrangements. Use 30 days for senior or higher-volume roles. Always include an immediate-termination clause for cause - breach, confidentiality violations, fraud, or non-performance." featuredImage: "/docs/images/branded_virtual-assistant-contract.jpg"

Most VA arrangements go well without a contract. The ones that go badly almost always had no agreement in writing.

A VA contract is not about distrust - it is about clarity. It defines what you expect, what the VA expects, and what happens when either side needs to change or end the arrangement. Getting that clarity in writing before work starts takes 30 minutes and prevents most disputes.

This guide covers what to include, what to skip, and provides a free template you can adapt.

Why a Written Agreement Matters

Two common failure modes in uncontracted VA arrangements:

Scope creep without rate adjustment. You hire a VA for email management. Six months in, they are also handling social media, booking travel, and doing light bookkeeping - without any conversation about rate or hours. Neither party is happy.

IP disputes after termination. A VA writes content for your website. The relationship ends badly. The VA claims co-authorship. Without an IP assignment clause, your position is weaker than it should be.

A written contract addresses both before they happen.

The 7 Core Clauses

1. Scope of Work

Define:

Task categories covered (email management, calendar, research, social media, etc.)
Estimated weekly hours
Tools and systems the VA will access
What is explicitly excluded from scope

Example language: Services include management of the client Gmail inbox (triage, drafting, and sending replies under the client supervision), scheduling via Google Calendar, and weekly competitive research reports. Services do not include client-facing calls, financial transactions, or account management unless separately agreed in writing.

2. Rate and Payment Terms

Specify:

Hourly rate or monthly retainer amount
Billing cycle: weekly, biweekly, or monthly
Invoice submission process and due date
Payment method: PayPal, Wise, direct bank transfer, or other
Late payment terms (typically: 7-day grace period, then work suspension until paid)

Example language: The fee is $12.00 USD per hour, billed monthly based on tracked hours. Invoices are submitted by the 1st of each month for the prior month and due within 7 days of receipt.

3. Confidentiality

VAs access sensitive information. This clause requires them to keep it private.

Cover:

All business information, client names, financial data, and internal systems
Both written and verbal information
Survival after termination (the obligation continues after the agreement ends)

Example language: The contractor agrees to keep all client business information confidential during and after this engagement, including client names and contact information, financial data, internal processes, and any information marked or reasonably understood to be confidential. This obligation survives termination.

4. IP Assignment (Work-for-Hire)

Without this clause, a VA can claim ownership of original work they create for you.

Example language: All work product created by the contractor in the course of this engagement - including written content, graphics, code, research, and any other deliverables - is work made for hire and is assigned to the client upon creation. The contractor retains no ownership interest in any deliverable.

5. Contractor Status

State that the VA is an independent contractor, not an employee.

Example language: The contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee of the client. The contractor is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and benefits. Nothing in this agreement creates an employment relationship.

6. Termination

Both parties should be able to end the agreement:

With notice (7 to 30 days depending on arrangement size)
Without cause
Immediately for cause (material breach, confidentiality violation, fraud, non-performance)

Specify: what happens to work in progress, what happens to advance payments, and whether there is a final invoice or settlement process.

Example language: Either party may terminate this agreement with 14 days written notice. Either party may terminate immediately for cause, including material breach, confidentiality violation, or failure to perform. Upon termination, the contractor will submit a final invoice for completed work, and the client will pay within 7 days.

7. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution (Optional)

For US-based arrangements or higher-value engagements, specify the governing state and how disputes are resolved (negotiation first, then arbitration or small claims court).

Free VA Contract Template

Copy and adapt the following for your arrangement. This is a starting point, not legal advice - for arrangements involving significant dollar amounts or sensitive data, have a lawyer review it.

VIRTUAL ASSISTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT

This agreement is between [Your Name or Business Name] ("Client") and [VA Name] ("Contractor"), effective [Start Date].

1. Services. Contractor will provide [describe tasks: e.g., email management, calendar scheduling, research tasks] for approximately [X] hours per week. Services do not include [any exclusions].

2. Rate and Payment. Client will pay Contractor [amount] per hour [or: a monthly retainer of X]. Invoices are submitted [weekly/monthly] and due within 7 days of receipt via [PayPal/Wise/bank transfer]. Work may be suspended if payment is more than 7 days late.

3. Confidentiality. Contractor will keep all Client business information confidential during and after this engagement, including client names, financial data, internal systems, and any information reasonably understood to be confidential. This obligation survives termination.

4. Work Product. All deliverables created by Contractor under this agreement are work made for hire and owned by Client upon creation. Contractor retains no ownership interest in any deliverable.

5. Independent Contractor. Contractor is an independent contractor, not an employee. Contractor is responsible for their own taxes and benefits.

6. Termination. Either party may terminate with [14] days written notice. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach, confidentiality violation, or fraud. On termination, Contractor submits a final invoice for completed work, due within 7 days.

7. Governing Law. This agreement is governed by the laws of [State/Country].

Signed:

Client: _________________________ Date: _________

Contractor: _____________________ Date: _________

What to Skip for Simple Arrangements

You do not need to include:

Non-compete clauses - hard to enforce across jurisdictions and create friction
Exclusivity - unless the role truly requires it (most VA arrangements do not)
Long liability sections - for general admin work, proportionate liability (VA liable up to fees paid) is sufficient
Arbitration with filing fees - for amounts under $5,000, small claims court is simpler and cheaper

Agency Arrangements: What Changes

If you hire through a VA agency like Stealth Agents, the mechanics change:

You sign a client services agreement with the agency, not with the VA directly
The agency handles the employment or contractor agreement with the VA
Your agreement with the agency should still cover: scope, rate, termination notice, and confidentiality on your behalf
IP assignment should be included in the agency agreement - confirm this before signing
You do not need to draft a separate contract with the individual VA

Review the agency agreement before work starts. Most standard agency agreements include these protections. If they do not, ask for an addendum.

Next Step

If you are ready to hire, read the step-by-step guide to hiring a virtual assistant.

For a breakdown of what VAs typically cost in 2026, see the VA pricing guide.

Need a role brief template to attach to your agreement? The onboarding checklist includes a pre-start documentation section covering role briefs and SOP formats.