Business Template
Free Statement of Work (SOW) Template
A Statement of Work defines the specific deliverables, timeline, and costs for a project under an existing agreement.
Template
Copy this markdown, replace the {{variables}}, and send via API.
# Statement of Work
**Project:** {{projectName}}
**Client:** {{clientName}}
**Provider:** {{providerName}}
**Date:** {{date}}
## 1. Project Overview
{{projectDescription}}
## 2. Scope of Work
{{scopeDetails}}
## 3. Deliverables
{{deliverablesList}}
## 4. Timeline
- Start Date: {{startDate}}
- End Date: {{endDate}}
- Milestones: {{milestones}}
## 5. Fees
- Total Project Fee: {{totalFee}}
- Payment Schedule: {{paymentSchedule}}
## 6. Acceptance Criteria
{{acceptanceCriteria}}Send for e-signature
curl -X POST https://signb.ee/api/send \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"content": "YOUR_RENDERED_MARKDOWN",
"senderName": "Your Name",
"senderEmail": "you@company.com",
"recipientName": "Recipient",
"recipientEmail": "recipient@email.com"
}'What happens next
- Signbee converts the markdown to a professional PDF
- Recipient gets an email with a signing link
- Both parties sign with an animated handwriting signature
- Both receive the signed PDF with a SHA-256 certificate
All signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act, eIDAS, and ECA.
More details
A Statement of Work (SOW) is the project-specific companion to a Master Service Agreement (MSA). While the MSA defines general business terms, the SOW defines what gets built, when, and for how much.
What a SOW must include to prevent disputes: 1. Project overview — high-level description in plain language 2. Scope — explicit list of what IS included and what IS NOT included 3. Deliverables — tangible outputs with acceptance criteria 4. Timeline — start date, end date, milestones with dates 5. Fees — total cost, payment schedule, what triggers each payment 6. Acceptance criteria — how the client formally approves each deliverable 7. Change order process — how scope changes are requested, priced, and approved
SOW anti-patterns to avoid: - Vague deliverables: 'Website redesign' is not a deliverable. 'Responsive 10-page website with CMS, delivered as deployable Next.js application' is a deliverable. - Missing exclusions: Always list what is NOT in scope. If the client assumes SEO, content writing, or hosting are included and they're not, disputes follow. - Time-and-materials without caps: If billing hourly, include a not-to-exceed estimate. Clients need budget predictability. - No acceptance process: Without formal acceptance criteria and a sign-off process, projects never truly 'end' — scope creep continues indefinitely.
Payment milestone patterns: - 50/50: 50% upfront, 50% on delivery (simple, common for small projects) - 30/40/30: 30% upfront, 40% at midpoint, 30% on delivery (balanced risk) - Monthly: Equal monthly payments for longer engagements - Milestone-based: Payments tied to specific deliverables (ideal for complex projects)
Frequently asked questions
What is a Statement of Work (SOW)?
A SOW is a project-specific document that defines scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees. It typically operates under a Master Service Agreement (MSA) that covers general business terms like IP, liability, and confidentiality.
Does a SOW need to be signed?
Yes. Both parties should sign the SOW before work begins. This confirms agreement on scope, timeline, and cost — preventing disputes later. Electronic signatures make this instant.
Related resources
Send this template for signing — free, no credit card.