# Software developer agreement template

> Free software developer agreement template covering deliverables, milestones, IP assignment, confidentiality and payment. Download the PDF.

*Software developer agreement*

## Software developer *agreement template*

Engaging a developer without written IP terms is the single most expensive omission in software contracting. This template covers deliverables and milestones alongside the clauses that decide who owns the code when the work is done.

[Download Word template](https://media.cloudfiles.io/pages/templates/software-developer-agreement-template.docx) · [Download PDF](https://media.cloudfiles.io/pages/templates/software-developer-agreement-template.pdf) · [All templates](/templates)

*Who it's for*

## Who uses this template

- **Startups hiring contract developers** — You are building your product with outside help and need the code, and the rights to it, to end up with your company.
- **Development agencies** — You want a consistent base agreement to issue to clients, with scope and acceptance criteria that limit open-ended rework.
- **Independent developers** — You want milestones, acceptance and payment terms defined before you start writing code.

*What's inside*

## What the template covers

Every section below is already drafted in the document, with placeholders marking the details you need to fill in.

- **Scope and deliverables** — The software being built, the platforms it targets, and what constitutes a completed deliverable.
- **Development milestones** — Phases of work with dates and the payment attached to each, so neither side carries the whole project on trust.
- **Acceptance and testing** — How delivered work is reviewed, the window for raising defects, and what counts as accepted.
- **Intellectual property** — Assignment of the code and related materials, and how any pre-existing or third-party components are treated.
- **Confidentiality** — Protection for source code, architecture, credentials and business information on both sides.
- **Warranties and support** — What the developer warrants about the delivered work, and any defect-fixing period after delivery.

*Free download*

## Download the software developer agreement template

An editable Word document you can drop your own details into, or a print-ready PDF. Both free — no form, no email address required.

[Download Word template](https://media.cloudfiles.io/pages/templates/software-developer-agreement-template.docx) · [Download PDF](https://media.cloudfiles.io/pages/templates/software-developer-agreement-template.pdf)

*Do this automatically*

## Generate this document from *your CRM*

A template still means someone opens a file and retypes the names, dates and figures for every new agreement. CloudFiles Document Generation produces the finished document from a Salesforce or HubSpot record — the same structure, populated with real data, generated in seconds and filed straight back against the record it came from.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: Who owns the code under this agreement?**
The template assigns ownership of the developed work to the client. It also distinguishes that from pre-existing components and third-party libraries the developer brings in, which are typically licensed rather than assigned — an important distinction that informal agreements usually miss.

**Q: Does it handle open-source components?**
It includes provision for identifying third-party and open-source components used in the deliverables. Given how much modern software depends on open-source libraries with their own licence terms, this is worth completing carefully rather than leaving blank.

**Q: How do milestones and payment interact?**
Payment is structured against milestones so it is released as work is accepted, rather than entirely up front or entirely on completion. The specific milestones and amounts are placeholders for you to set.

**Q: Can I edit this template?**
Yes — download the Word (.docx) version and edit it like any other document. Placeholders mark every detail you need to replace. The PDF is there when you just want to read, print or send it as-is.

**Q: Is this template legal advice?**
No. It is a general drafting starting point and has not been reviewed for your jurisdiction or your circumstances. Contract law varies considerably between countries and states, so have a qualified lawyer review any agreement before you rely on it.

**Q: Do I have to give my email address to download it?**
No. Both download links on this page go straight to the file — there is no form and no sign-up.

*Beyond templates*

## Generate your documents from your CRM

See how teams turn documents like this one into automated output produced straight from Salesforce or HubSpot records.

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