Statement of Work (SOW)
One project under your master services agreement: scope, deliverables with dates, acceptance, and fees as a fixed price in installments or as time and materials. It quotes the MSA by date and reference.
Free. Fill in, print, save as PDF or download as Word without an account. Saving to your account needs a free account.
Country versions
- International
- United States
- United Kingdom *
- Korea *
- Japan *
- Germany *
* check with local advice
A template, not advice.
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What it is
A statement of work, or SOW, describes one project in enough detail that both sides know what will be delivered, by when, and for what price. It is the working document under a master services agreement (MSA): the MSA fixes the general terms once, and each SOW adds the particulars of a single job.
This template quotes the MSA by its date and reference, then sets out the project background, the scope of work and what is left out, a table of deliverables with due dates, the assumptions the schedule depends on, how the client reviews and accepts the work, and the fees. Fees can be a fixed price paid in installments, with the total worked out for you, or time and materials with hourly rates, estimated hours and an optional not-to-exceed amount. The partner form, Master Services Agreement, covers the terms this SOW relies on.
When to use it
- A new project starts under an MSA that is already signed.
- A client wants to see scope, dates and price on one page before work begins.
- You need to add work to an existing relationship without reopening the master terms.
- You want a record of what was agreed to measure acceptance and invoicing against.
How to fill it in
- Enter the SOW number, project title and date, then the date and reference of the MSA it sits under.
- Fill in both parties; your saved company details go into the provider block.
- Write the scope as a list, note what is not included, and add the assumptions.
- List each deliverable with a due date and set the review period.
- Choose fixed price or time and materials and fill the table; totals are calculated.
- Pick a country for its acceptance wording, then print for signature or download as Word.
Common mistakes
- Describing the scope in vague terms such as “website work”, which invites disputes about what was included.
- Leaving out the assumptions, so a late client approval silently moves the delivery date.
- Forgetting the review period, so nobody knows when a deliverable counts as accepted.
- Typing an MSA date or number that does not match the signed MSA.
- Mixing fixed-price and hourly wording in the same SOW.
Steps at a glance
- Fill in
- Check the preview
- Save as PDF, Word or Excel
Country versions
Pick the country you need. Each version uses the wording and layout commonly found there; a version marked “check with local advice” should be read by someone who knows the local rules before it is used.
- International (XX): Written in English, Korean, Japanese, German
- United States (US): Written in English
- United Kingdom (GB): Written in English – check with local advice
- Korea (KR): Written in Korean, English – check with local advice
- Japan (JP): Written in Japanese, English – check with local advice
- Germany (DE): Written in German, English – check with local advice
Designs
The same form in several designs. The fields and the wording stay the same; only the look changes.
- Formal
- Executive
- Classic
- Plain (black and white)
- Minimal
- Ledger
- Modern
- Compact
- Side band
- Warm
- Boxed form
- Banner
Your details fill it in
Fields that ask for your name, address or company details are filled from My details, so you do not type them again; you can still change any field for one form. Signed in, your details stay in your account; otherwise they stay in this browser only. A passport, identity or social security number is never saved.
Guides to read next
Questions
- Do I need an MSA before I can use a SOW?
- This SOW is written to sit under an MSA and refers to it by date. If you have none yet, sign the Master Services Agreement form first. Without a framework contract, the general terms (payment, ownership, liability) would be missing.
- Fixed price or time and materials?
- A fixed price suits work whose scope is clear, and gives the client a known cost. Time and materials suits work that is hard to define in advance; a not-to-exceed amount keeps the bill from running away. The form shows only the table for the model you choose.
- What if the client never responds during review?
- The default wording treats the deliverable as accepted once the review period has passed in silence. Some countries have stricter rules on deemed acceptance, which the country notes describe. Agree a period both sides can realistically meet.
- Can I add or change work later?
- Yes, through a written change order signed by both sides, as the Changes clause says. For a larger addition, a new SOW is cleaner than editing an old one.
- Is this template legal advice?
- No. It is a general template in plain language. Whether it fits your project depends on the law that applies, so have a qualified adviser review it for larger engagements.
- Is this form legal, tax or accounting advice?
- No. It is a template: it gives you the usual structure and wording, not advice. Rules differ by country and case, so have someone qualified read anything that matters before you sign, send or file it.
- Which countries and designs does it come in?
- It comes in 6 country versions: International, United States, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, and Germany. 12 designs.
Want it signed online instead? With E-Contracts you fill in the sample contract and send it by secure link for a simple electronic signature. Open the Statement of work sample contract
A form is a template, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Rules differ by country and case.