Business
Forms Legal offers free business legal templates — NDAs, service agreements, operating agreements, partnership agreements and more — across 30 jurisdictions in their official language. Every template is referenced to the governing statute (such as the UK Companies Act 2006 or the German BGB), fillable through a guided editor, and downloadable as PDF or Word with no account or payment required.
When Do You Need Business Documents?
- Starting a new business or forming a partnership, LLC, or corporation
- Hiring independent contractors, consultants, or freelancers
- Entering into vendor, supplier, or distribution agreements
- Protecting confidential information with NDAs and non-compete clauses
- Defining terms for joint ventures, licensing deals, or franchise operations
- Documenting corporate decisions with board resolutions and meeting minutes
What Makes a Strong Business Contract?
- Clear identification of all parties with full legal names and addresses
- Specific scope of work, deliverables, and timelines
- Payment terms including amounts, schedules, and late payment penalties
- Intellectual property ownership and usage rights
- Confidentiality obligations and non-disclosure provisions
- Termination clauses with notice periods and exit procedures
- Governing law and dispute resolution mechanisms
Pro Tip: Always have contracts reviewed before signing. A well-drafted agreement prevents disputes and protects both parties. Our templates include standard legal clauses recognized by courts across the United States and Canada.
Subcategories
Contracts & Agreements
NDAs, service agreements, consulting contracts, and general business contracts. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Corporate
Articles of incorporation, operating agreements, bylaws, and corporate governance. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Service Contracts
Cleaning, photography, landscaping, catering, and other service agreements. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Intellectual Property
Trademarks, copyrights, IP assignments, licensing agreements, and software licenses. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Construction
Construction contracts, renovation agreements, subcontractor forms, and mechanic's liens. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Policies & Compliance
Company policies, employee handbooks, website terms of service, and privacy policies. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Business Bills of Sale
Business equipment, inventory, and bulk sale transfer documents. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Business Letters
Demand letters, contract termination notices, and business correspondence. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Partnerships
Partnership agreements, joint ventures, and strategic alliance contracts. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Shipping & Logistics
Bills of lading, freight contracts, and shipping agreements. Free templates — download PDF or Word, no signup required (2026).
Popular Business Templates
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
Sharing a business idea with a potential partner? Hiring a new developer who'll see your source code? An NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) keeps your sensitive information under wraps. It spells out exactly what's confidential, how long the obligation lasts, and what happens if someone breaks the rules. Our free template covers mutual and one-way confidentiality, carve-outs for publicly known information, and remedies for breach. Fill it out in minutes, preview in real time, and download a polished PDF or Word file — no account needed.
Service Agreement
Hiring a freelancer, consultant, or service provider? Or offering your own services to a client? Either way, you need a Service Agreement. It defines the scope of work, payment terms, deadlines, intellectual property rights, confidentiality, and what happens if things go sideways. Without a written contract, you're relying on goodwill — and that doesn't hold up in court. Whether it's web design, marketing, or plumbing, put it in writing. Our free template covers all the essentials. Fill it out, preview, and download as PDF or Word.
Partnership Agreement
Going into business with someone? Exciting — but don't skip the Partnership Agreement. It spells out each partner's investment, profit share, decision-making authority, and exit strategy. Without one, your state's default partnership rules kick in, and those rarely reflect what you actually agreed on over coffee. Avoids ugly disputes when business gets tough. Our template covers capital contributions, roles, voting rights, new partner admission, dissolution, and dispute resolution. Fill it out, preview, download as PDF or Word — free, no sign-up.
Operating Agreement
Starting an LLC with partners? An Operating Agreement is the rulebook for how your company runs — who owns what percentage, how profits are split, who makes decisions, and what happens if a member wants out. Without one, your state's default LLC rules apply, and those might not fit your situation at all. It's also what banks and investors ask to see. Our template covers membership interests, capital contributions, management structure, distributions, and dissolution. Fill it out, preview live, and download as PDF or Word — free, no account.
Independent Contractor Agreement
Hiring a freelance designer, a marketing consultant, or a software developer? An Independent Contractor Agreement makes clear they're not an employee — and that matters for taxes, liability, and IP ownership. It lays out the deliverables, payment terms, deadlines, and who owns the finished work. Our template includes clauses for confidentiality, non-solicitation, termination, and dispute resolution. Enter the details, preview your document in real time, and download a clean PDF or Word file — free, no account required.
Corporate Bylaws
Think of Corporate Bylaws as your company’s operating manual. They’re the internal rules that govern how your corporation runs on a daily basis — how meetings are called, how directors are elected, what officers do, how shares are transferred, and how amendments are made. Banks, investors, and state agencies often ask to see them. Without bylaws, your corporation operates in a gray area that can cause real problems during disputes or audits. Our free template covers governance structure, meeting procedures, officer roles, voting rules, and record-keeping requirements. Download as PDF or Word.
Commission Agreement
Paying someone on commission? Whether it’s a sales rep, a real estate agent, or a referral partner, a Commission Agreement makes sure everyone’s on the same page about how money changes hands. It lays out the commission rate or structure, what triggers a payout, when payments are due, and what happens with returns or cancellations. Without a written agreement, disputes over who earned what are practically inevitable. Our free template covers commission calculations, payment schedules, exclusivity terms, and termination conditions. Fill it out online, preview in real time, and download as PDF or Word.
Agency Agreement
Hiring someone to act on your behalf — whether it’s a real estate agent, a talent manager, or a sales representative — is a relationship built on trust. An Agency Agreement puts that trust in writing. It spells out exactly what the agent is authorized to do, how they’ll be compensated, how long the arrangement lasts, and what happens if things don’t work out. Without one, misunderstandings about scope, commissions, and exclusivity are almost guaranteed. Our template covers authority granted, compensation terms, duration, termination, and confidentiality. Download as PDF or Word, no signup required.
Franchise Agreement
Opening a franchise? This is the contract that defines your entire relationship with the franchisor. A Franchise Agreement covers the franchise fee, territory rights, operational standards, supply chain requirements, marketing contributions, training obligations, and renewal or termination terms. It's a big commitment — often spanning years and involving significant investment — so every clause matters. Understanding what you're signing is just as important as the business plan itself. Our free template lays out all the standard provisions in clear language. Fill it out, preview your agreement, and download as PDF or Word.
Distribution Agreement
Got a product that’s ready for market but need someone to get it on shelves or to customers? A Distribution Agreement formalizes that relationship between manufacturer and distributor. It defines the territory, exclusivity rights, pricing and margins, minimum order quantities, marketing obligations, and how returns or defective products are handled. Without clear terms, you risk channel conflicts, pricing disputes, and inventory headaches. Our free template covers everything from territory and performance targets to intellectual property rights and termination clauses. Fill it out online, preview, and download as PDF or Word.
Memorandum of Understanding
Planning a collaboration between two organizations, agencies, or departments? A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines the shared goals, each party's responsibilities, resources, and timeline — without the full weight of a binding contract. It's the "let's agree on the big picture first" document that paves the way for a formal agreement later. Common in government, nonprofits, and inter-company partnerships. Our template covers objectives, roles, duration, and amendment procedures. Fill out, preview, download as PDF or Word — free, no sign-up.
Related Legal Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, every business legal template on Forms Legal is 100% free to download as PDF or Word. No registration, no email required, no paywall. We make money through optional add-on services, never by gating the templates themselves.
Each business legal template is structured to follow the relevant statutes and standard market practice. Forms Legal templates reference specific laws (e.g. BGB, ZGB, USC, Companies Act) and are reviewed against the editorial guidelines published at /editorial-guidelines. They are intended as starting points; for high-stakes matters we recommend a final review by a licensed attorney.
No account is required. Click any template on Forms Legal, fill out the optional wizard fields (or skip them to get a blank template), and download immediately as PDF or Word. The wizard preview is provided for convenience — you can always edit the downloaded file in your own software.
Yes. Every business legal template downloads as both PDF and editable Microsoft Word (.docx) format. Open the .docx in Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice or any Word-compatible editor and customize freely. The wizard fields you fill on the page are also pre-populated into the downloaded file.
Both PDF (signature-ready, fixed layout) and Microsoft Word .docx (fully editable). The PDF is best for print or e-signature flows. The Word version is best when you need to add jurisdiction-specific clauses, change party names in bulk, or integrate the template into your firm's standard document set.
Yes. Forms Legal reviews all business legal templates against current statutory references and amends them when laws change. Major updates include the German NachwG 2022 reform, EU AI Act 2025 references, US Privacy framework changes, and per-jurisdiction tax-year refreshes. The "Last reviewed" date is shown at the top of each template page.