Legally sound contracts for contractors, subcontractors, and service providers
Create Your Contract →Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you click and sign up, LegalStack Review may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have personally evaluated.
Every construction contract dispute you've heard about started the same way: two people shook hands and assumed they were on the same page. Scope of work, payment schedule, change orders, who pulls the permits, what happens if material costs spike — none of that gets settled by a handshake. A written construction contract template doesn't just protect you legally. It forces the conversation that prevents most disputes from happening in the first place. LawDepot provides state-specific, lawyer-reviewed contracts for contractors and service businesses of every size.
This guide covers ten of the most commonly needed contracts in the construction and services industry. Whether you're a general contractor taking on a residential remodel, a plumber writing up a repair call, or a landscaper renting equipment to a client, there's a specific document that fits your situation. Using the right one matters more than most contractors realize until something goes wrong.
State-specific construction and service agreement templates, instantly downloadable and lawyer-reviewed
A construction contract is the foundational agreement between a general contractor and a property owner for a construction project. It defines the entire scope of work, the materials to be used, start and completion dates, total project cost, payment schedule (typically tied to project milestones), who is responsible for permits and inspections, how change orders will be handled, and what the remedies are for delays or defective work. Without this document, a contractor has no legal footing to demand payment, and an owner has no written basis to demand the agreed scope of work.
Most construction disputes, from minor residential remodels to large commercial builds, come down to two things: scope creep that wasn't documented and payment terms that weren't enforced. A solid construction contract addresses both by requiring written change orders for any modification to the original scope and tying each payment to a specific, verifiable milestone rather than a calendar date.
Who needs it: General contractors taking on any residential or commercial construction project where the scope, schedule, and payment terms need to be legally documented.
What to include: Full scope of work description, materials specifications, project timeline with milestones, total contract price and payment schedule, change order process, permit responsibilities, insurance requirements, and dispute resolution terms.
A subcontractor agreement governs the relationship between a general contractor and a specialty trade hired to complete a portion of the project: the electrician, plumber, roofer, HVAC technician, or framing crew. The subcontractor works under the general contractor's direction, not for the property owner directly. That distinction matters because it affects who is responsible for the sub's work quality, who pays them, and who bears liability if their work causes problems down the line.
A well-drafted subcontractor agreement should mirror the relevant sections of the prime contract with the owner. Payment to the sub should be tied to payment from the owner, and the sub's liability for their specific scope of work should be clearly allocated. General contractors who skip this document or use a verbal arrangement are personally exposed for everything the subcontractor does or fails to do on the job.
Who needs it: General contractors who hire specialty trades, and subcontractors who want written documentation of their scope, payment terms, and liability before starting work.
What to include: Scope of work specific to the sub's trade, payment amount and timing, insurance requirements for the subcontractor, warranty for the sub's work, indemnification terms, and whether the sub can hire their own workers.
A building contract is used for projects involving structural work: new construction, additions, or significant structural alterations to an existing building. It covers similar ground to a general construction contract but with language tailored to the specific requirements of structural work, including foundation specifications, building code compliance, architectural plan references, and inspection milestones. The distinction between a building contract and a general construction contract matters most for permitting and compliance purposes.
Structural projects carry more liability than most other types of construction work. A defect in a roof or foundation doesn't show up the day after the project is complete. It shows up three years later after a heavy rainstorm, and by then everyone has different memories of what was agreed. The building contract is your dated, signed record of exactly what was built, how, and to what standard.
Who needs it: Contractors and builders handling new construction, home additions, or structural renovation projects where building code compliance and inspection milestones are part of the scope.
What to include: Architectural plan references, structural specifications, permit responsibilities, code compliance requirements, inspection schedule, payment tied to inspection milestones, and a warranty for structural work.
A general service agreement is the standard contract for any business that provides services in exchange for payment. It works across a wide range of industries: IT services, marketing, consulting, cleaning, landscaping, and any other service business that doesn't fit neatly into a construction or repair category. It sets out what services will be provided, when, at what price, and what happens if either party doesn't hold up their end of the deal.
The advantage of a general service agreement over a verbal understanding is simple: memory is unreliable, especially when money is involved. What a client remembers agreeing to and what you remember agreeing to often diverge over time. A signed agreement fixes those terms in writing at the moment everyone is aligned. For recurring service relationships, it also forms the legal foundation for invoices and collections if a client goes delinquent.
Who needs it: Any business or independent contractor providing services to clients, across virtually any industry where services are exchanged for compensation.
What to include: Description of services, start and end date or term of agreement, total price or rate, payment schedule and method, what happens if services change, confidentiality terms if applicable, and how either party can terminate the agreement.
A home service agreement is designed specifically for contractors and service businesses that work inside or around a client's home: HVAC technicians, pest control companies, lawn care providers, house cleaners, pool maintenance services, and similar businesses. The residential setting adds considerations that a generic service agreement doesn't address, including access to the property, what happens if the homeowner isn't present during the work, and liability for damage to the home or its contents.
Home service providers who work on recurring contracts especially benefit from this document. A homeowner who signs a seasonal lawn care agreement is committing to a payment schedule. Without a written contract, a client can cancel mid-season after you've already scheduled crews and bought supplies, leaving you with no recourse. A signed home service agreement gives you the leverage to collect on early terminations and sets clear expectations from day one.
Who needs it: HVAC companies, lawn care services, cleaning companies, pest control providers, pool maintenance businesses, and any contractor performing regular service visits at a residential property.
What to include: Service description and frequency, property address, access terms, pricing and payment schedule, what the homeowner is responsible for preparing before service visits, liability for accidental property damage, and cancellation terms.
A repair service agreement covers single-visit or limited-scope repair work: appliance repair, vehicle repair, electronics repair, plumbing fixes, or any situation where a technician is hired to diagnose and fix a specific problem. It's shorter and more focused than a full construction contract, but it still needs to address the core issues: what's being repaired, what the diagnosis revealed, what parts will be used, the labor cost, and whether there's a warranty on the work.
Repair disputes almost always come down to two complaints: "I didn't authorize that" and "it still doesn't work." A repair service agreement handles both. The authorization section documents that the client approved the work before you started. The warranty section defines exactly how long your work is covered and under what conditions. Without it, you're arguing about those questions based on nothing but each side's word.
Who needs it: Appliance technicians, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, electronics repair shops, and any service business that diagnoses and repairs specific problems for clients.
What to include: Description of the item or system being repaired, diagnosis summary, parts to be used and their cost, labor rate, total estimated cost, client authorization signature, and warranty terms on parts and labor.
A construction service agreement bridges the gap between a full construction contract and a general service agreement. It's designed for construction-related service work that doesn't rise to the level of a full project contract: a painting crew, a concrete finishing team, a demolition company, or a specialty installer brought in for a specific phase of a larger project. The scope is narrower than a general construction contract, but the work still happens on a job site where liability, safety, and coordination with other trades are real concerns.
This document is particularly useful when a general contractor needs to bring in a service crew without the formality of a full subcontractor agreement, or when a specialty service business wants a contract that acknowledges the unique risks of working in an active construction environment. The construction-specific terms around site access, daily coordination, and work sequencing make it more appropriate than a generic service agreement for these situations.
Who needs it: Painters, flooring installers, concrete crews, demolition companies, specialty installers, and any construction-adjacent service business working on active job sites.
What to include: Specific services to be performed, job site address and access terms, coordination with other trades, daily work schedule, material and equipment responsibilities, site safety requirements, payment tied to completion of specific phases, and warranty for the service work.
An equipment rental agreement documents the terms under which one party rents machinery or equipment to another: excavators, generators, scaffolding, compressors, lifts, or any piece of equipment that gets rented rather than purchased for a job. It establishes who is responsible for the equipment while it's on rent, what the daily or weekly rate is, how long the rental period lasts, and what happens if the equipment is damaged, stolen, or returned late.
Equipment rental disputes are almost always about damage. The renter says the equipment was already scratched when they picked it up. The owner says the renter caused the damage. A rental agreement with a pre-rental inspection checklist and a signed acknowledgment of the equipment's condition at pickup eliminates most of that disagreement. It also establishes whether the renter is responsible for fuel, whether they can operate the equipment on public roads, and what insurance they need to carry.
Who needs it: Equipment owners renting to contractors or individuals, rental companies formalizing their terms, and contractors who need to document their liability exposure when renting equipment to others on a job site.
What to include: Equipment description and serial number, rental period, daily/weekly rate, deposit amount, condition at pickup, who is responsible for fuel and maintenance, permitted use restrictions, insurance requirements, and liability for damage or loss.
A hold-harmless agreement, also called an indemnity agreement, is a legal document where one party agrees not to hold the other legally responsible for injuries, damages, or losses that arise from a specific activity, project, or situation. In construction, general contractors routinely require subcontractors to sign hold-harmless agreements protecting the GC from liability for the sub's work. Property owners sometimes require contractors to sign them before work begins. They're also used by event venues, fitness studios, equipment rental companies, and anyone else whose activities carry risk of injury or damage.
The scope of a hold-harmless agreement matters a great deal. Broad form indemnification, where one party agrees to cover the other even for the other party's own negligence, is enforceable in some states but void in others. Intermediate form is more common and more likely to be upheld. LawDepot's state-specific template reflects your state's rules on what's enforceable so you're not relying on a clause that a court would throw out anyway.
Who needs it: General contractors requiring protection from subcontractor liability, property owners protecting themselves from contractor accidents, and any business whose operations carry risk of injury or property damage to others.
What to include: The specific activity or project covered, which party is being held harmless, what types of claims are included (injury, property damage, legal fees), the scope of indemnification (broad, intermediate, or limited), and whether the agreement is mutual or one-directional.
A personal property rental agreement covers the rental of any physical item that isn't real estate: tools, trailers, vehicles, boats, cameras, furniture, or specialty equipment. It's distinct from an equipment rental agreement in that it applies to a broader range of items, including those rented for personal or mixed use rather than strictly commercial purposes. If you're renting out tools from your shop, lending a trailer for a one-time job, or running a small rental business for specialty items, this is the document you need.
The key terms are the same as any rental agreement: what's being rented, for how long, at what price, and who bears the cost if it comes back damaged. But personal property rentals often happen between individuals who know each other, which makes both parties less likely to use a formal document. That's exactly when disputes are most likely to turn uncomfortable. A signed agreement keeps the transaction professional and the friendship intact.
Who needs it: Anyone renting personal property to another person or business, including tool rental, trailer rental, specialty equipment rental, or any physical item that changes hands for a defined period in exchange for payment.
What to include: Description of the item being rented, rental period, rental rate, deposit amount, condition of the item at pickup, who is responsible for damage or loss, permitted uses, and return terms.
| Document Type | Best For | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Contract | General contractors, property owners | Any residential or commercial construction project with defined scope and payment milestones |
| Subcontractor Agreement | GCs hiring specialty trades, subcontractors wanting written terms | Before any trade contractor begins work on your project |
| Building Contract | Builders handling structural work or new construction | New builds, additions, or structural renovations requiring permits and inspections |
| Service Agreement (General) | Any service business outside of construction | Consulting, IT, marketing, cleaning, landscaping, and other service industries |
| Service Agreement (Home) | HVAC, lawn care, cleaning, pest control companies | Recurring service visits at a residential property |
| Service Agreement (Repair) | Appliance techs, plumbers, electricians, repair shops | Diagnosing and fixing a specific problem for a client |
| Service Agreement (Construction) | Painters, flooring crews, demolition companies, specialty installers | Construction-adjacent service work on active job sites |
| Equipment Rental Agreement | Equipment owners and rental companies | Renting machinery or commercial equipment to contractors or individuals |
| Hold-Harmless Agreement | GCs, property owners, any business with operational risk | Before allowing anyone onto a job site or starting high-risk work |
| Personal Property Rental Agreement | Anyone renting tools, trailers, or personal items | Any rental of physical personal property between individuals or businesses |
Every unpaid invoice and every job site dispute you've seen started without a signed agreement. LawDepot's state-specific construction and service contract templates take about ten minutes to complete and give you legally sound documentation for every job you take on.
Create Your Contract on LawDepot →