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Master Services Agreement and Service Level Agreement

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MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT AND SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT

This Master Services Agreement and Service Level Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into as of Effective Date: by and between Service Provider Name: , a organized under the laws of , with principal place of business at (Service Provider), and Client Name: , a organized under the laws of , with principal place of business at (Client). Service Provider and Client are each a Party and collectively the Parties.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Service Provider operates and maintains certain technical systems, services, and personnel capable of delivering the services described in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Client desires to procure from Service Provider certain services as set forth in the Service Description and associated Service Levels, and Service Provider is willing to provide such services under the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Parties intend for this Agreement to document their respective rights and obligations, including service performance standards, remedies for non-performance, fees, confidentiality, and intellectual property allocation.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein, the Parties agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 "Services" means the professional services, managed services, software-as-a-service, and related deliverables described in the Service Description field below and any Statements of Work executed under this Agreement.

1.2 "Service Levels" means the measurable performance standards set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement applicable to the Services.

1.3 "Confidential Information" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

2. SERVICES

2.1 Service Description. Service Provider shall provide the Services in accordance with the Service Description below and all express terms of this Agreement.

2.2 Performance. Service Provider shall perform the Services in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards and shall assign qualified personnel to perform the Services.

3. TERM; TERMINATION

3.1 Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue for a period of months unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement.

3.2 Renewal. This Agreement shall automatically renew for successive periods of months unless either Party provides written notice of non-renewal at least days prior to the then-current term expiration.

3.3 Termination for Cause. Either Party may terminate this Agreement for material breach if the breaching Party fails to cure the breach within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach, except where a longer cure period is reasonably required.

4. SERVICE LEVELS; REMEDIES

4.1 Availability. Service Provider shall target service availability of % measured monthly and calculated as (TotalAvailableTime - Downtime)/TotalAvailableTime.

4.2 Incident Response. Service Provider shall acknowledge incidents within hours and shall provide a remediation plan for severity 1 incidents within hours of acknowledgement.

4.3 Service Credits. If Service Provider fails to meet a Service Level in a given measurement period, Client shall be entitled to a Service Credit calculated as follows: . Service Credits are Client's sole and exclusive remedy for Service Provider's failure to meet Service Levels.

4.4 Exceptions. The Service Levels do not apply to failures caused by: (a) force majeure as set forth in Section 14; (b) Client's misuse or unauthorized modification; or (c) scheduled maintenance for which Service Provider provided prior notice.

5. FEES AND PAYMENT

5.1 Fees. Client shall pay Service Provider the fees set forth in the fees fields below in consideration for the Services. All fees are non-refundable except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

5.2 Invoicing and Payment Terms. Service Provider will invoice Client monthly in advance (or as otherwise stated in a Statement of Work). Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due within days of invoice date. Late payments shall accrue interest at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by law.

6. CONFIDENTIALITY

6.1 Definition. "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed in connection with this Agreement that is designated confidential or that reasonably should be understood to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure.

6.2 Obligations. The receiving Party shall (a) not use Confidential Information except to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (b) protect Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but no less than reasonable care; and (c) not disclose Confidential Information to third parties except to personnel and contractors who have a need to know and are bound by confidentiality obligations no less restrictive than those herein.

6.3 Exceptions. Confidential Information does not include information that is (a) or becomes generally available to the public through no fault of the receiving Party; (b) was rightfully in possession of the receiving Party prior to disclosure; (c) rightfully obtained from a third party without breach of an obligation of confidentiality; or (d) independently developed without use of the disclosing Party's Confidential Information.

7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

7.1 Background IP. Each Party retains all right, title and interest in and to its pre-existing intellectual property and tools, methodologies, and materials developed independent of this Agreement.

7.2 Deliverables. Except as otherwise agreed in a Statement of Work, Service Provider grants Client a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use Deliverables provided as part of the Services solely for Client's internal business operations.

8. DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY

8.1 Security Measures. Service Provider shall implement and maintain administrative, technical and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature of Client Data to protect against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.

8.2 Data Processing. Service Provider shall process Client Data only on the documented instructions of Client and in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Upon termination, Service Provider shall return or destroy Client Data as directed by Client, except as required by applicable law.

9. WARRANTIES; DISCLAIMER

9.1 Warranties. Service Provider warrants that the Services will be performed materially in accordance with the Service Description and with reasonable skill and care. For any breach of this warranty, Client's exclusive remedy shall be re-performance of the Services or, if Service Provider cannot cure the breach within a reasonable period, termination of the affected Services and refund of prepaid fees for the affected Services.

9.2 Disclaimer. EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND SERVICE PROVIDER DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

10.1 Exclusion of Damages. NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, OR BUSINESS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

10.2 Cap on Liability. EXCEPT FOR A PARTY'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS, OR BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY, EACH PARTY'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL FEES PAID OR PAYABLE BY CLIENT TO SERVICE PROVIDER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

11. INDEMNIFICATION

11.1 By Service Provider. Service Provider shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Client from and against all third-party claims alleging that the Services or Deliverables infringe a third party's intellectual property rights, provided Service Provider is notified promptly and given control of the defense and reasonable cooperation.

11.2 By Client. Client shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Service Provider from and against claims arising from Client Data, Client's breach of this Agreement, or Client's modification of the Services.

12. NOTICES

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth below or to such other address as a Party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section.

13. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER; COUNTERPARTS

13.1 Amendments. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both Parties.

13.2 Waiver. The failure of either Party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of future enforcement of that or any other provision.

13.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

14. FORCE MAJEURE

Neither Party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance to the extent caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, pandemics, governmental action, labor disputes, or third-party service failures (Force Majeure Event). The affected Party shall give prompt notice and use commercially reasonable efforts to resume performance.

15. GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SEVERABILITY

15.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction entered below without regard to its conflicts of law principles. Governing law jurisdiction:

15.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any Statements of Work, exhibits, and attachments executed hereunder, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, understandings, and representations, written or oral, relating to its subject matter.

15.3 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed to carry out the Parties' intentions to the greatest extent permitted by law.

16. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

16.1 Assignment. Neither Party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party, except that Service Provider may assign to an affiliate or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of substantially all of its assets, provided the assignee assumes Service Provider's obligations.

16.2 Relationship of the Parties. The Parties are independent contractors. Nothing in this Agreement creates an employment, partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between the Parties.

ADDITIONAL SERVICE LEVEL PARAMETERS

SIGNATURES

Service Provider Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Client Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Master Services Agreement and Service Level Agreement Cover

A Master Services Agreement (MSA) is the primary contract that sets general commercial terms, liability, confidentiality, and change-control processes between parties. An associated Service Level Agreement (SLA) defines measurable service commitments, performance metrics, remedies, and reporting obligations. Together they separate governance (MSA) from operational guarantees (SLA) so recurring services are administered consistently while allowing specific project or statement-of-work terms to reference the master contract. For electronic execution, ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state e-signature laws (UETA where adopted) generally validate e-signed MSAs and SLAs for commercial transactions.

Why a Combined MSA + SLA Is Used and When It Matters

A combined MSA and SLA clarifies roles, reduces negotiation friction on routine projects, and ties remedies to objective metrics. Using a single master agreement with an attached SLA reduces contract proliferation and makes renewals, audits, and change orders easier to manage while preserving enforceability under ESIGN/UETA.

Why a Combined MSA + SLA Is Used and When It Matters

Who Typically Prepares and Signs These Agreements

Several organizational functions participate in drafting, approving, and signing MSAs and SLAs depending on contract value and risk profile.

  • Procurement and sourcing teams — manage vendor selection and commercial terms for repeat services.
  • IT and operations teams — define technical scope, uptime targets, and monitoring requirements.
  • Legal and compliance — review liability, intellectual property, and data-protection clauses.

Smaller vendors often combine these roles; larger enterprises use role-based approval workflows to ensure both operational and legal risk are addressed before signature.

Who Signs and What Authority Is Required

Authorized Signer

An officer or employee with express corporate authority should sign on behalf of an entity. The signing person must be able to bind the entity contractually; attach a resolution or delegation of authority if internal records require it.

Corporate Counsel

Legal counsel often provides final sign-off for liability caps, indemnities, and IP clauses. Where required, counsel should confirm delegation, review governing law, and advise on notarization or witness requirements for specific jurisdictions.

Core Contract Elements to Include in a Professional MSA + SLA

A complete MSA and SLA bundle organizes governance, operational metrics, and remedies so each party understands obligations across all engagements.

Scope of Services

Clear description of deliverables, exclusions, acceptance criteria, and any attachments or statements of work that define what the provider will and will not perform.

Service Levels

Specific metrics (availability, response, resolution times) with measurement windows, monitoring methods, and data sources for determining compliance.

Remedies and Credits

Defined financial credits, service extensions, or termination rights triggered by SLA breaches, including calculation method and claim procedure.

Fees and Invoicing

Pricing model, invoicing cadence, payment terms, late payment interest, and any pass-through costs or cost-recovery mechanisms.

Liability & Indemnity

Limits of liability, exclusions (consequential damages), and mutual indemnities with carve-outs for gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Security & Data

Data handling, encryption expectations, breach notification timelines, and requirements for regulatory compliance such as HIPAA or PCI where applicable.

Step-by-Step: Prepare, Review, and Execute the Agreement

Follow a staged workflow to minimize rework and ensure each functional owner reviews required sections.

  • 01
    Draft Core Terms: Populate parties, scope, term, and fees first.
  • 02
    Define SLAs: Set metrics, measurement, and credit rules.
  • 03
    Legal Review: Validate liability, IP, and compliance clauses.
  • 04
    Execute Electronically: Use an e-signature solution that captures intent and audit trail.

Typical Digital Workflow Settings for MSA + SLA Execution

Configure your e-signature workflow to reflect approval order, authentication level, and document retention policies.

Field Configuration
Signer Order Sequential or parallel as required by approvers
Authentication Email link, SMS code, or advanced verification
Audit Trail Enable full event logging and downloadable certificate
Retention Set automated export to secure storage

Technical Considerations for eSigning MSAs and SLAs

Choose a platform that supports required authentication, audit trails, and the output formats your legal and IT teams need.

  • Supported Formats: PDF, DOCX, HTML
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Advanced Auth: SMS, KBA, or SSO/SAML

Confirm the vendor can supply compliance documentation (SOC 2, ISO 27001) and a reliable audit trail for each signed agreement and amendment.

How Electronic Execution Typically Works

A standard e-sign workflow moves a document from preparer to signer with authentication and an auditable completion record.

  • Upload Document: Preparer uploads final MSA + SLA packages.
  • Place Fields: Add signature, date, and initial fields.
  • Send to Signers: Notify signers via secure link or email.
  • Capture Audit: Platform stores timestamps, IPs, and certificate.

Key Dates and Notice Periods to Include

Define critical timelines explicitly so triggers for renewal, termination, and SLA claims are unambiguous.

Effective Date:

Date when duties, payments, and SLAs commence.

Renewal Notice:

Required notice, typically 30–90 days prior to renewal.

SLA Response Window:

Timeframe for acknowledging incidents, e.g., within 1 hour.

Remedy Claim Period:

Claim submission window, commonly 30 days after breach.

Invoice Due Date:

Payment terms such as Net 30 from invoice date.

Contract Lifecycle Milestones

Track milestones from negotiation through periodic performance review to keep the agreement current and enforceable.

01

Negotiation Complete

Final terms agreed and redlines accepted.

02

Execution

All authorized parties have signed the MSA and SLA.

03

Onboarding

Service provider implements monitoring and reporting systems.

04

Quarterly Review

Performance and credits reviewed against KPIs.

Common Preparation and Execution Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using vague SLA language without clear measurement windows or data sources leads to disputed performance claims and inconsistent remedies.
  • Failing to document signatory authority or relying on initials only can create enforceability questions in corporate or fiduciary disputes.
  • Neglecting to align invoicing terms with service periods causes payment disputes and late-fee disagreements between billing and operations.
  • Omitting a data-protection clause or failing to attach necessary addenda (e.g., HIPAA BAA) exposes parties to regulatory and contractual risk.

Key Legal and Commercial Risks

SLA Remedies: Service credits only
Termination Rights: Termination for repeated breaches
Liability Cap: Cap tied to fees or specific amounts
Indemnity Exposure: Third-party claim responsibility
Regulatory Fines: HIPAA or PCI penalties possible
Tax Withholding: Incorrect contractor classification

Comparing eSignature Pricing and Key Capabilities for Contract Execution

Pricing models and feature caps affect ongoing costs; below is a concise comparison with signNow listed first for reference.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Security, Encryption, and Compliance Essentials

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
HIPAA: BAA available for protected health information
Auditability: Comprehensive audit trail with timestamps
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 attestations
21 CFR Part 11: Support for FDA-regulated electronic record needs
Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance

Frequently Asked Questions About MSAs and SLAs

Answers to common questions on enforceability, signature methods, dispute handling, and records management for MSAs and SLAs.


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