Is my person a contractor or employee?

Depends on how much control you have. The IRS uses a 20-factor test focusing on behavioral control (how the work is done), financial control (who provides tools, when payment is made), and relationship (written contract, benefits, expected duration). California uses a stricter ABC test. Misclassification owes back taxes, FICA, FUTA, plus penalties.

Are non-competes enforceable?

Depends on the state. CA, ND, OK ban non-competes entirely (employees and contractors). Many states limit by duration (typically 1-2 years) and geography (limited to where you actually compete). The 2024 FTC ban was blocked in court. We default to non-solicit, which is enforceable almost everywhere.

Who owns the work product?

Default: the contractor (work-for-hire only applies to specific narrow categories under copyright law). To own contractor work, the agreement must explicitly assign IP. Our generator includes a present assignment (transfers IP at the moment it is created) which is the most enforceable form.

Do I need a W-9 from the contractor?

Yes, before any payment. Without a W-9 on file you must apply 24% backup withholding on every payment. Collecting at onboarding (not year-end) eliminates the backup-withholding problem. Our bundled workflow handles it.

What state law applies?

Usually the state where the work is performed (especially for non-compete and labor-law issues), or the state in your governing-law clause for general contract issues. Cross-state contractors can be tricky; we default governing law to your home state.

What about international contractors?

International contractors do not need W-9s; they fill out W-8BEN (individuals) or W-8BEN-E (entities) to certify foreign status and avoid withholding. We support both. Tax-treaty rates apply for some countries.

What does Independent Contractor Agreement generator involve?

This page covers Independent Contractor Agreement generator — including what it is, who needs it, how to file or apply, typical costs, deadlines, and how File.Business handles it for you end-to-end.

How much does Independent Contractor Agreement generator cost with File.Business?

Pricing is shown on this page. We always disclose state filing fees separately from our service fee, with no surprise add-ons at checkout.

How long does Independent Contractor Agreement generator take?

Turnaround depends on the state agency. Standard processing typically takes a few business days; rush options are available where the agency offers expedited service.

Is this service available in all 50 states?

File.Business handles filings across all 50 US states and DC. State-specific rules, fees, and forms are built into the workflow so you don't have to research them yourself.

Home/Legal Forms/Contractor Agreement

Legal forms

1099 contractors · IP-protected

Hire a contractor without the IP and tax problems. Agreement + W-9, one workflow.

An independent contractor agreement defines who owns the work (you, via IP assignment), what is confidential, whether they can compete (if your state allows), and how they get paid. The 2024 FTC non-compete ban changed what is enforceable. California, North Dakota, and Oklahoma already had bans; many other states are now changing. We generate agreements that fit your state and bundle W-9 collection so you are 1099-ready when January arrives.

Generate my agreement

All 50 states + DC 60-day money-back SOC 2 Type II

Mar 2026 · NorthbridgeContractor · UX/research

Mar 02User-interview sessions6.5

Mar 05Synth · journey map4.0

Mar 09Concept & wireframes7.5

Mar 11Workshop · stakeholders3.0

Mar 14Prototype & usability v28.5

Mar 17Spec hand-off · review4.5

Hours · March34.0

Invoice & payNet-15 · ACH

Hours34.0

Rate$165 / hr

Pre-approved expenses$240

1099-NEC for the yearYes · CY-26

Pay$5,850

★ on-time
3 mo. running

Approved03/18 · CFO

How it works

How we handle Contractor Agreement, end-to-end.

An independent contractor agreement defines who owns the work (you, via IP assignment), what is confidential, whether they can compete (if your state allows), and how they get paid.

Classification check

We run the IRS 20-factor test on your role: how much control you have over the work, who provides tools, whether the contractor works for other clients. If the role looks like W-2 employment we flag it before you create the wrong contract.

Configure key terms

Scope of work, fee structure (hourly, fixed, milestone), IP assignment, confidentiality, non-compete (where enforceable), non-solicit, termination.

Send for e-sign + W-9

Agreement plus W-9 collection in one workflow. Contractor signs the agreement and completes the W-9 in the same session. Both go to your vault, TIN-matched against IRS records.

Year-end 1099 ready

January 1, your contractor list is already in our 1099 e-file service. One click pushes the data to IRS FIRE and recipients. No scramble in January.

What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

Pricing

Transparent contractor agreement pricing.

Government fees pass through at cost. No upsells.

Generate

Unlimited agreements.

Generate contractor agreements in any volume. Free forever. Classification check included. You handle the W-9 collection separately.

Get started

E-sign + W-9

$29

Per contractor, with W-9 bundled.

Generated agreement plus our e-sign workflow with W-9 collection in the same session. TIN matching, vault storage, year-end 1099 e-file ready.

Get started

Volume

$19

$19 per contractor at 50+ per year.

For agencies and businesses with high contractor volume. Drops to $19 per contractor above 50 per year. Includes branded contractor portal and bulk import.

Get started

FAQ

About the Independent Contractor Agreement Generator.

What is an independent contractor agreement?

An independent contractor agreement sets the terms between your business and a non-employee providing services, scope, payment, IP ownership, confidentiality, and independent status, so the relationship is clear and the work product belongs to you. It also supports proper classification. We keep your entity organized so your contracts sit on solid footing.

Why do I need a contractor agreement?

To define the scope and payment, secure ownership of the work the contractor creates, and document the independent relationship, which matters both for protecting the business and for supporting the contractor's status if classification is questioned. We flag the key terms so your agreements do this.

Does a contractor own the work they create?

By default, often yes, unless the agreement assigns the work product to your business, so an IP-assignment clause is essential to make sure you own what you paid for, especially for creative or technical work. We flag this so ownership sits with the company, not the contractor.

How does this help with worker classification?

A clear agreement supports, but does not guarantee, independent-contractor status, since classification turns on the actual relationship and control, so the agreement plus genuine independence both matter. We flag how to structure the relationship so classification holds up if challenged.

What if the contractor is really an employee?

Misclassifying an employee as a contractor brings back taxes, penalties, and liability, and an agreement alone does not fix a relationship that functions like employment. We flag the classification factors so you use a contractor agreement only where the relationship genuinely fits. See employment agreements.

What should the agreement include?

Scope of work, payment terms, timeline, IP assignment, confidentiality, independent-contractor status, and termination, plus a W-9 for tax reporting. These protect the business and clarify the relationship. We flag the terms that matter so your contractor arrangements are solid.

Do I need to issue a 1099?

Generally yes: if you pay a US contractor 600 dollars or more in a year for services, you issue a 1099-NEC and should collect a W-9 up front, which the agreement process supports. We flag the reporting so your contractor payments are handled correctly at year-end.

Should each contractor sign one?

Yes: every contractor relationship benefits from a written agreement securing IP and defining terms, since a handshake leaves ownership and expectations unclear. We flag this so your business consistently protects itself across all its contractors.

Can File.Business help me set up contractor relationships?

We form and organize the entity and flag the contractor-agreement terms, IP assignment, confidentiality, classification, and 1099 handling, that protect your business, so your contractor arrangements secure your work product and hold up to scrutiny.

SOC 2 Type II audited

220,000+ businesses. 60-day money-back. State fees passed through at cost.

Your operating system, not a transaction

Every deadline auto-tracked across your entities. Compliance Score visible year-round.

Transparent pricing

No hidden fees. No upsells at checkout. State fees disclosed upfront.

Business Operating System

I'm starting something

I have a deadline

Something is changing

I need to prove / protect

Build with File.Business

I serve clients

I run a [industry]

I manage multiple entities

I'm integrating or referring

BosAI · your compliance brain

I want intelligence

I need communications

I run money & people

I operate at scale

State of Business Compliance 2026

I want to learn

I want to compare / calculate

I want to research deeper

I need help

Hire a contractor without the IP and tax problems. Agreement + W-9, one workflow.

How we handle Contractor Agreement, end-to-end.

Classification check

Configure key terms

Send for e-sign + W-9

Year-end 1099 ready

A clean handoff, in four steps.

A name that's actually available.

Filed with the Secretary of State.

EIN + the right tax setup.

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Transparent contractor agreement pricing.

Generate

E-sign + W-9

Volume

About the Independent Contractor Agreement Generator.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

I'm starting something

I have a deadline

Something is changing

I need to prove / protect

I serve clients

I run a [industry]

I manage multiple entities

I'm integrating or referring

I want intelligence

I need communications

I run money & people

I operate at scale

I want to learn

I want to compare / calculate

I want to research deeper

I need help

Hire a contractor without the IP and tax problems. Agreement + W-9, one workflow.

How we handle Contractor Agreement, end-to-end.

Classification check

Configure key terms

Send for e-sign + W-9

Year-end 1099 ready

A clean handoff, in four steps.

A name that's actually available.

Filed with the Secretary of State.

EIN + the right tax setup.

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Transparent contractor agreement pricing.

Generate

E-sign + W-9

Volume

About the Independent Contractor Agreement Generator.

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