Freelance Contract Template Germany

FREELANCE SERVICES AGREEMENT (FREELANCERVERTRAG)

Document ID: TR-DE-2026-001
Effective Date: [____/____/2026]

Instructions for Use

• Completion: Both the Contracting Company and the Freelancer must complete all bracketed fields. Ensure the "Scope of Services" is explicitly defined to avoid Scheinselbstständigkeit (false self-employment) risks under German law.
• Filing/Retention: Both parties are legally required to retain a signed original copy of this agreement for a minimum of 6 years (pursuant to § 257 HGB / § 147 AO).
• Mandatory Attachments: Ensure Annex A (Statement of Work/Service Description) and, if applicable, the Freelancer’s Certificate of Insurance (Liability/Indemnity) are attached and initialed.

1. PARTIES

This agreement is entered into by and between: The Company: [________________] with registered office at [________________]. The Freelancer: [________________] (Name/Company) with registered office at [________________].

2. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Freelancer agrees to provide the services described in Annex A ("Statement of Work"). The Freelancer shall perform these duties independently, without being subject to the Company's directive authority (Weisungsgebundenheit).

3. TERM AND TERMINATION

• Term: This agreement commences on [____/____/2026] and ends on [____/____/2026].
• Termination: Either party may terminate this agreement with a notice period of [__________] days/weeks, provided in written form.
• Termination for Cause: The right to terminate for cause (außerordentliche Kündigung) remains unaffected.

4. FEES AND PAYMENT

• Compensation: The Company shall pay the Freelancer [__________] EUR per [ ] Hour / [ ] Day / [ ] Project.
• Invoicing: Invoices shall be submitted monthly. Payment is due within [__________] days of receipt.
• VAT: The Freelancer is responsible for identifying applicable VAT according to their tax status under the Umsatzsteuergesetz.

5. INDEPENDENCE AND STATUS

The Freelancer represents that they are an independent contractor and not an employee of the Company. The Freelancer is responsible for the payment of all social security contributions, income taxes, and statutory insurance premiums. The Freelancer agrees to indemnify the Company against any claims arising from a misclassification of employment status.

6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

All results, work products, and intellectual property created during the performance of this agreement shall be the exclusive property of the Company upon full payment of the agreed fee. The Freelancer hereby grants the Company an exclusive, irrevocable, transferable, and sub-licensable usage right (Nutzungsrechte) for all known types of use.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

The Freelancer shall keep all business-related information, trade secrets, and documents obtained during the engagement strictly confidential for a period of [__________] years following the termination of this agreement.

8. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. The place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising out of or in connection with this agreement shall be [________________].

9. EXECUTION

For the Company:
Signature: ________________________________
Printed Name: [________________]
Title: [________________]
Date: [____/____/2026]

For the Freelancer:
Signature: ________________________________
Printed Name: [________________]
Title: [________________]
Date: [____/____/2026]

Disclaimer: This document is provided as a standardized framework. Consult qualified legal counsel for jurisdiction-specific statutory compliance.