Master Services Agreement for SaaS Developers: What to Include (Customizable Template)

Introduction

A clear Master Services Agreement is essential for SaaS Developers engaged in complex, multi-phase projects. It helps define the work, approvals, and handoffs effectively. By outlining expected outcomes, you can minimize misunderstandings. Customize your Master Services Agreement now to suit your needs!

Legal Terms: What Matters Most for SaaS Developers

IP Ownership and Restrictions

• Be clear about IP ownership. Specify that ownership transfers only upon full payment of fees. This ensures you get rightful compensation for your hard work.
• Make it clear that clients cannot use your work product for AI models to protect your creations.
• Discuss attribution. Consider retaining source files for your portfolio rights and grant limited usage rights while ensuring you get credit when applicable.

Revision Limits, Acceptance, and Payment Milestones

• Set revision limits and acceptance criteria upfront. This could include a cap on the number of rounds of revisions allowed to keep the project on track.
• Create a simple milestone schedule that aligns with your workflow. Define what completion looks like for each phase so that everyone is on the same page.
• Include a plan for payment milestones tied to the delivery of each project phase, providing clear expectations about when payments are due.

Avoiding Scope Creep and Handling Change Orders

• Clarify what constitutes scope creep. Ensure there are clear triggers for change orders to address any additional requests that arise during the project.
• Provide pricing guidance for change orders so clients understand the cost implications of changes.
• Include language that discusses how schedule impacts will be handled when changes occur, keeping timelines transparent.

Other Helpful Clauses for SaaS Developers

• Confidentiality: Protect sensitive information by including a confidentiality clause to keep your ideas and work safe from unauthorized sharing.
• Limitation of Liability: Consider a clause that limits your liability in case things don’t go as planned, helping shield you from excessive claims.

How Counsel Club Helps

Counsel Club re-imagines legal for startups, freelancers, and creative entrepreneurs. Our platform allows you to search for lawyer-drafted forms for startups, freelancers, content creators, and other creative entrepreneurs. Our platform guides you through modifications, both to the contract and the scope of work. Counsel Club has the most sophisticated drafting tool on the market, and it was designed and developed by lawyers. If you want more help, reach out to a Counsel Club lawyer through our Concierge program. Our legal agent, Amicus, was trained on proprietary legal data to be your best legal assistant. Finally, legal for today, that is fast, protective, and cost effective.

Questions to Ask Amicus

• What rights do I have over my work product after the contract ends?
• How can I manage revisions without extra costs?
• What steps should I take if the scope of the project changes?

Closing CTA

Now that you understand the key components of a Master Services Agreement, it’s time to protect your work and streamline your projects. Create your Master Services Agreement and pair it with Statement of Work documents to ensure clarity and structure in your collaborations. Customize your Master Services Agreement now.