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Statement of work template

Statement of work (SOW): A statement of work (SOW) describes one specific project under a master agreement: what will be delivered, by when, for how much and how it will be accepted.

Last reviewed 6 November 2026 · 6 clauses · General guidance, not legal advice

Upload yours for a review and e-signature, or save it as a team template.

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When to use a statement of work (SOW)

  • Ordering a project under an MSA
  • Defining milestones and acceptance criteria
  • Fixed-price or time-and-materials engagements

Statement of work template: clause-by-clause outline

Sample starting wording for each clause. Replace the text in [brackets] with your details.

  1. Reference

    This SOW is issued under the Master Services Agreement dated [date] between [Client] and [Provider].

  2. Objectives and scope

    The Provider will [objective]. In scope: [items]. Out of scope: [items].

  3. Deliverables and milestones

    Milestone 1: [deliverable] by [date]. Milestone 2: [deliverable] by [date].

  4. Acceptance criteria

    Each deliverable is accepted when it meets [criteria] and the Client confirms in writing.

  5. Fees

    [Fixed price of X, payable per milestone] / [Time and materials at rates in Appendix A, capped at Y].

  6. Assumptions and dependencies

    The plan assumes the Client provides [access, data, approvals] by [dates].

What to check before you sign

  • Is “out of scope” listed as clearly as “in scope”?
  • Are acceptance criteria measurable?
  • Is time-and-materials work capped?

How to send a statement of work (SOW) for e-signature

  1. Draft or upload it. Use the outline above with your own wording, upload an existing document, or save it as your organisation’s template.
  2. Check it against your playbook. Points outside your positions are flagged, and approval rules route it to Legal when needed.
  3. Send it by email. Signers get a plain-language review and a secure link, sign on any device in the order you set, and can suggest changes as tracked changes.
  4. Keep the signed PDF. Everyone receives it with a certificate of completion, and key dates go to Upcoming with reminders.

Statement of work template: frequently asked questions

Can an SOW be used without an MSA?

It can, but then it needs the legal terms (liability, IP, termination) that an MSA would otherwise provide.

How detailed should an SOW be?

Detailed enough that a third party could tell whether each deliverable was met.

Is an electronically signed statement of work (SOW) legally binding?

In most countries, yes. E-signatures are recognised for commercial contracts under laws such as the ESIGN Act (US), eIDAS (EU), the Electronic Communications Act (UK) and the Information Technology Act (India). econtracts.ai adds a certificate of completion with each signer’s identity check and a fingerprint of the signed content.

Can I get a statement of work (SOW) I received reviewed?

Yes. Upload it to econtracts.ai and you get a plain-language review: key dates, money and points to check, each quoting the clause it comes from.

Related contract templates

Master services agreement templateMaster services agreement (MSA)Software development agreement templateSoftware development agreementConsulting agreement templateConsulting agreement

This outline is a starting point for discussion, not legal advice, and it is not a complete contract. Laws differ by country and sector; have a qualified lawyer review contracts that matter.