Free Bookkeeping Contract Template

As is always recommended when drawing up any kind of legal document, both parties can be well served to consult a qualified attorney with experience in independent contractor contracts. They can help with negotiations, but at a minimum they will see to it that the basic requirements of any accounting contract are included. So if you’re paying unlicensed California accountants or bookkeepers as independent contractors, you’re probably going to have to rehire them as employees regardless of whether or not your firm is located in California. The discussion of fees should include both the type of billing (hourly, retainer, or flat fees) along with specifications of how often payment is expected.

Why Use an Accounting Contract

Courts will closely examine covenants not to compete signed by individuals in order to make sure that they are not unreasonable as to time or geographical area. The Client and the Bookkeeper (“Parties”) agree to the following terms and conditions for the Bookkeeper’s services. The Bookkeeper will remain an independent contractor and will not be considered an employee of the Client. Below is a free bookkeeping service agreement template you can use as a starting point to make sure you’ve covered the duties included in your engagement. Get it in writing.Keep it simple.Deal with the right person.Identify each party correctly.Spell out all of the details.Specify payment obligations.Agree on circumstances that terminate the contract.Agree on a way to resolve disputes.

Do bookkeepers always need to write a Bookkeeping Contract?

An independent contractor agreement for accountant and bookkeeper is an important document to determine, for tax purposes, that the worker is not an employee of the company. A bookkeeping service agreement is a binding contract for the parties involved. You need to outline the circumstances under which either party (the bookkeeper or the client) can end the contract term. This usually includes a set number of days required for either party to give written notice to the other that they want to end the contract. Formal bookkeeping services agreements make things better by providing clear terms, legal protection for both parties, a defined scope, and a professional setting. Having a written agreement is a helpful way to maintain open communication, prevent errors, and sustain a professional relationship.

Related Contracts and Forms

However, it is recommended that you verify all the details mentioned in the template with your legal counsel to make sure it serves your benefit and is in-tune with industry standards. The Accountant shall provide an itemized invoice to the Client for services rendered every 30 calendar days. Each invoice shall be paid in full by the Client within 30 days of receipt.

• It is recommended to discuss any desired modifications with a legal professional to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
• The arbitration may be commenced at any time by either party and will commence when written documentation is provided to the other party.
• When working across multiple states, independent contractor agreements should consider complying with the laws and regulations of each state involved.
• Certain scenarios might involve hours of research and hundreds of dollars spent.
• Not having an independent contractor agreement can lead to misunderstandings, disputes over payment or ownership rights, potential legal liabilities, or a misclassification of the contractor’s status.

Determine the length of your accounting contract

While bookkeeping doesn’t often lead to legal action (and, of course, you should always maintain professional liability insurance), you should be prepared if an engagement does lead to legal action. Your bookkeeping service agreement should include all the services the bookkeeper will perform. This helps avoid scope creep and future misunderstandings from your client. The bookkeeping services should be outlined in as much detail as possible. Standard bookkeeping services include accounts payable, accounts receivable, monthly bank reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.

The above bookkeeping services template gives you a starting point for your Bookkeeping Service Agreement so you don’t have to start from scratch. Jetpack Workflow believes that using existing resources can make your practice more efficient and increase profitability. Use our platform whenever you need a trustworthy and reliable services through which you can easily locate and download the Independent Contractor Agreement For Accountant And Bookkeeper. If you’re not new to our website and have previously created an account with us, simply log in to your account, select the form and download it away or re-download it at any time in the My Forms tab.

If you’re considering hiring a freelance bookkeeper, it’s important to establish a clear agreement on services and fees. A well-defined invoice template can help ensure both you and the bookkeeper are on the same page regarding payment terms and deliverables. Brooke Davis serves as Legal Counsel at Legal Templates LLC, where she edits and writes content, simplifies legal concepts https://www.bookstime.com/ and jargon, ensures legal accuracy, and advises on product development, functionality, and user experience. She has been a licensed attorney since 2011 and has years of legal experience advising and representing clients on a wide variety of business and other legal matters. She founded the first fully online, unbundled law firm and is an expert on legal AI and technology.

The arbitration may be commenced at any time by either party and will commence when written documentation is provided to the other party. Any payment awarded by the single arbitrator will be considered binding under accountant for independent contractor this agreement and create a legal obligation for the Party to pay. Our virtual collection of more than 85,000 up-to-date legal forms covers virtually every aspect of your financial, legal, and personal matters.

Free Accounting Contract Template for Download

• Use this section of the bookkeeping contract template to indicate which services are being procured by the client.
• Any fees or expenses not listed in this bookkeeping contract must be approved in writing by the Client prior to being invoiced.
• It is advisable to consult legal counsel to determine the best course of action based on the specific circumstances.
• The Accountant swears to perform all services to the highest standards as defined by the National Association of Accountants and the National Tax Prepares’ Association.
• If the company had the right to supervise and control such details of the work performed, and the manner and means by which the results were to be accomplished, an employer-employee relationship would be indicated.
• The signatures below indicate entire agreement and the Parties entering into this contract.
• The employer should keep detailed work records because the IRS could determine that the consultant was actually a paid employee of the company based on the number of hours worked.