Statement of Work Template
Fixes the scope, deliverables, dates and fee before work starts.
Details
statement of work templateUploads
Your logo
A photo or picture
Goes on this page only. Drag it anywhere and pull its corner to resize it.
Your signature
Draw it with a finger, a mouse or a trackpad, and it goes on the page like a picture.
Pictures and signatures stay on this device. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
Red highlights mark what is still blank. Click anything on the page to change it. Your draft is kept on this device as you work.
| Client | [client] |
| Project | [project] |
| Period | [date] to [date] |
| Date | October 14, 2026 |
1. Work included
[list what is included, one per line]
3. Deliverables
| Deliverable | Due |
|---|---|
| [add one deliverable per line] |
4. Fee and payment
The fee for the work in this statement is $ [amount], exclusive of tax unless stated otherwise.
6. Changes
Anything outside the work described above is a change. Changes are agreed in writing, with their effect on the fee and the dates, before the work is done.
What is a Statement of Work?
A statement of work fixes what is being done, what gets delivered, when, and for how much — before anyone starts. It is the document that decides, six weeks in, whether a request is part of the job or a change to it.
An SOW is not a contract on its own. It normally sits under a master services agreement that carries the terms of business: liability, confidentiality, ownership of the work, how disputes are handled. The SOW handles scope; the agreement handles everything else. If there is no agreement between you, get one, because an SOW alone leaves the important questions unanswered.
Scope creep is what an SOW exists to prevent, and it almost never arrives as a big request. It arrives as a series of small ones, each individually reasonable. The defence is not a longer scope section — it is an explicit out-of-scope list and a change process that both sides agreed to in writing before the work felt urgent.
Deliverables beat activities. 'Design work' is an activity and it can absorb unlimited time. 'Eight approved page templates, delivered by 24 October' is a deliverable: it can be finished, checked and paid for.
What to put in a Statement of Work
These are the details this template asks for. Anything left blank is marked in red on the preview so you can see what is still missing.
| Field | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Business name | For example: Barton Supply Co. |
| Your address | For example: Unit 7, Barton Road, Columbus, OH 43212 |
| Client | For example: Kinnear Property Management |
| Project | For example: Website rebuild and tenant portal |
| Period from | Free text |
| Period to | Free text |
| Work included | One per line |
| Not included optional | One per line |
| Deliverables and dates | One per line: Deliverable | Date |
| Fee | For example: 18,400 |
| Payment schedule | One per line: Trigger | Amount or percentage |
| Assumptions optional | One per line |
| Currency | Free text |
| Signatory name optional | For example: K. Srinivasa Rao |
| Signatory designation optional | For example: Honorary Secretary |
How to write a Statement of Work
Name the client, the project and the period
With dates. An SOW without a start and end is an open-ended commitment, which is the opposite of the point.
Write the scope as a list of deliverables
One line each, each one something that can be handed over and accepted. If you cannot describe how you would know it was finished, it is not a deliverable yet.
Write the out-of-scope list, and make it specific
This is the most valuable section and the one most often skipped. Name the things people will assume are included — copywriting, photography, hosting, training, ongoing support.
Tie payment to milestones
A deposit, one or more staged payments, and a balance on completion. Payment on acceptance of a named deliverable is far easier to invoice than payment on a calendar date.
Set out the change process
Anything outside the scope is a change; changes are agreed in writing with their effect on the fee and the dates before the work is done. Then hold to it the first time it is tested — that is what makes it real.
Common mistakes
- No out-of-scope section, so every assumption becomes an argument.
- Deliverables written as activities that can never be declared finished.
- Unlimited revision rounds, which is the most common way a fixed-fee project loses money.
- No assumptions section, so a client delay silently becomes your problem.
- Signing an SOW with no underlying agreement about liability, payment terms or who owns the work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an SOW and a contract?
The contract or master agreement sets the terms of the relationship — liability, confidentiality, ownership, termination. The SOW sets the scope, deliverables, timeline and fee for one piece of work. Most engagements need both.
What is the difference between an SOW and a proposal?
A proposal persuades; it is a sales document. An SOW records what was agreed and is signed by both sides. Proposals often become SOWs, but the language has to tighten on the way.
Should the SOW include the price?
Yes, along with the payment schedule and whether tax is included. Splitting the commercial terms into a separate document is how disagreements start.
How detailed should the deliverables be?
Detailed enough that both sides would agree on whether one has been delivered. If a reasonable person could argue either way, add detail.
Can an SOW be changed after signing?
Yes, through the change process it sets out — in writing, with the effect on fee and dates agreed before the extra work starts.
This page explains general practice and is not legal advice. Requirements differ between countries and, in some cases, between states — check what applies where the document will be used.