Software Development Agreement — Word & PDF Template

This Software Development Agreement sets out the terms on which a developer builds bespoke software for a client. It covers the scope, timeline, payment, acceptance testing and crucially the ownership of intellectual property, making it ideal for software houses, agencies and freelance developers in England and Wales.

Who is this template for?

It is designed for software developers, development agencies and freelancers, and their business clients commissioning custom software. It suits fixed-scope or milestone-based projects where IP ownership and acceptance criteria need to be clear.

What does the template include?

The agreement is fully structured and covers the key terms of a development project:

• Parties — the developer and the client.
• Project Description and Scope — what is being built.
• Timeline and Milestones — delivery schedule and stages.
• Fees and Payment — charges and payment schedule.
• Developer’s Obligations — standards and delivery duties.
• Client’s Obligations — information, access and cooperation.
• Acceptance Testing — how deliverables are accepted.
• Intellectual Property — ownership of the developed software.
• Confidentiality — protection of confidential information.
• Warranties and Defect Correction — fixing defects after delivery.
• Liability — caps and exclusions on liability.
• Termination — how and when the contract can end.
• Governing Law — England and Wales jurisdiction.
• Entire Agreement — the contract as the complete agreement.
• Signatures — execution by both parties.

Easy to customise

The template works in Microsoft Word, Google Docs and LibreOffice. Simply fill in the highlighted fields, tick the relevant checkboxes and edit any clauses to suit your arrangement. No special software is required.

Format and scope

The document downloads as an editable Word (.docx) file and a ready-to-print PDF, formatted to A4. It is drafted for use in England and Wales with light, general legal references.