Independent Contractor Agreement Template California

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

This Independent Contractor Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of [Date] (the "Effective Date") by and between:

COMPANY: [Company Name], a [State] [Entity Type, e.g., Corporation/LLC], with its principal place of business located at [Company Address] ("Company"), and

CONTRACTOR: [Contractor Name], an individual/entity, residing/located at [Contractor Address] ("Contractor").

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1. SERVICES

Contractor agrees to provide the following services to the Company (the "Services"): [Detailed description of services to be performed]

2. TERM

This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until the completion of the Services, or unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

3. COMPENSATION

As full consideration for the services provided, Company shall pay Contractor as follows: [Payment terms, e.g., $______ per hour/project, total fee of $______]. Payments shall be made within [Number] days of receipt of a valid invoice from the Contractor.

4. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS

The parties agree that Contractor is an independent contractor and not an employee of the Company for any purpose, including but not limited to, the application of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, the Social Security Act, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, and the provisions of the California Labor Code. Contractor shall have no authority to act as an agent of the Company or to bind the Company to any obligation. Contractor acknowledges and agrees that they are responsible for all federal and state taxes, including self-employment taxes, and that they are not eligible for any employee benefits, including but not limited to health insurance, vacation pay, or retirement plans.

5. CALIFORNIA LABOR CODE COMPLIANCE

The parties intend that this Agreement comply with the requirements of California law, including the standards set forth in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court and California Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5). Contractor represents that they: (a) are free from the control and direction of the Company in connection with the performance of the services; (b) perform work that is outside the usual course of the Company’s business; and (c) are customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed for the Company.

6. WORK PRODUCT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Any work product created by the Contractor during the course of this Agreement shall be considered "work made for hire" and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Contractor hereby assigns all right, title, and interest in such work product to the Company.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY

Contractor agrees to hold all non-public information obtained from the Company in strict confidence and shall not disclose or use such information for any purpose outside the scope of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Contractor agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company and its officers, directors, and employees from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising out of or related to the Contractor’s performance of the Services or any breach of this Agreement.

9. TERMINATION

Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time upon [Number] days' written notice to the other party. Upon termination, Company shall pay Contractor for all services satisfactorily completed up to the date of termination.

10. GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Any disputes arising hereunder shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in [County Name] County, California.

11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior understandings, whether written or oral. No amendment or modification to this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by both parties.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

COMPANY:

Signature: ___________________________ Print Name: __________________________ Title: _______________________________ Date: ________________________________

CONTRACTOR:

Signature: ___________________________ Print Name: __________________________ Tax ID/SSN: _________________________ Date: ________________________________