Community management contract template

This agreement is made on [Date] between [Your Name / Business Name] (the "Contractor") and [Client Name / Company] (the "Client").

The Contractor is an independent contractor, not an employee of the Client.

The Contractor will manage the Client's community on [platform]: coverage of [X] hours per business day during [window, timezone], new-member onboarding, question routing, [number] programmed prompts or events per week, and moderation per the agreed code of conduct.

Coverage outside the stated window is not included; urgent issues outside hours are handled next business day [or per the volunteer moderator arrangement].

Moderation follows written guidelines agreed at the start and applied evenly. Bans and content removals beyond [threshold] require the Client's sign-off except where safety demands immediate action, which is then reported the same day.

Serious matters (harassment reports, legal threats, press, safety concerns) are escalated to the Client with a recommendation within [timeframe], never handled unilaterally or improvised.

The total fee for the work is [Amount]. A non-refundable deposit of [Amount or %] is due before work begins, and the balance is due [on delivery / per the schedule below].

Invoices are payable within [14] days. Late payments may incur a fee of [1.5%] per month on the outstanding balance.

Any expenses (stock assets, plugins, printing, travel) are billed to the Client at cost and agreed in advance.

Work outside the scope described above is not included. If the Client requests additional work, the Contractor will provide a written estimate, and that work begins once the Client approves it in writing.

The Client will provide all content, access, feedback, and approvals needed to complete the work, in a timely manner.

If the project is delayed by more than [30] days due to a lack of Client response or materials, the Contractor may pause the project and invoice for work completed to date.

The community platform, member relationships, and member data belong to the Client. Member information is confidential, used only to manage the community, and never exported, sold, or reused.

The Contractor is granted the platform roles needed to do the work and never changes account ownership or recovery settings.

Playbooks, onboarding flows, and content created for the community become the Client's once the month they were delivered in is paid for.

Each party will keep the other's confidential information private and use it only to carry out this agreement.

The Contractor may show the finished work in a portfolio or case study unless the Client asks in writing to keep it private.

Either party may end this agreement with [14] days written notice. If the Client cancels, the deposit is non-refundable and the Client pays for all work completed up to the cancellation date.

If the Contractor cancels, any pre-paid amount for work not yet delivered is refunded.

The Contractor's total liability under this agreement is limited to the total fees paid by the Client. Neither party is liable for indirect or consequential losses.

The work is provided without warranties beyond those stated here.

The Contractor controls how and when the work is done, uses their own tools, and is responsible for their own taxes and insurance. Nothing here creates an employment, partnership, or agency relationship.

This agreement is governed by the laws of [Your State / Country]. Any dispute will be handled in the courts of that location.

Contractor: ______________________________ Date: ____________

Client: __________________________________ Date: ____________