Retainer Agreement for Virtual Assistant Services
Agreement made on the ________________ (date) , between _____________________
(Name of Service Provider) , a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state
of ______________, with its principal office located at _________________________________
_____________________________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip code) ,
referred to herein as Service Provider , and __________________________ (Name of Client) ,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of ________________, with its
principal office located at ________________________________________________________
______________ (street address, city, county, state, zip code) , referred to herein as Client .
For and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
the parties agree as follows:
1. Services .
Client has retained Service Provider to perform virtual assistant services, which are
administrative, secretarial and clerical in nature. Services shall not include print media or web
design services, which are separate service categories and must be negotiated separately and
will require separate contracts.
2. Payment
A. Client agrees to pay a continuous monthly retainer of $__________ for services
of _____hours per month.
B. Monthly retainers provide ongoing support at a discounted rate up to the number
of hours set forth in this Agreement. Retainer fees are required in full in advance of services.
Payment is due on or before the 1 st
of each month. If payment is not received by the 1 st
, a late
fee of ____ % of the amount due shall be added to said monthly amount. Payments rendered
are considered fully earned and non-refundable. Unused hours are not carried over.
3. Additional Work
Client understands that additional work beyond the scope of this Agreement must be
negotiated separately and will require a separate Agreement. Services requested by Client and
provided by Service Provider that do not fall within the scope of this Agreement will be billed
separately at the full standard hourly rate according to service category with payment due upon
receipt.
4. Client Responsibilities
Client understands that Service Provider is not an employee, and that this will be a
collaborative, professional relationship of equals where mutual professional respect, courtesy
and consideration are expected. Due to the virtual nature of the relationship, Client understands
the importance of communication, especially via email, and agrees to respond to questions,
requests and communications from Service Provider in a timely manner. Client understands
that Service Provider is a business with other Client s to serve, and requires fair, realistic
notice in order to attend to requests and projects. Poor planning or miscommunication on the
part of Client will not constitute an emergency for Service Provider . Client understands that
Service Provider may require detailed clarification of projects in order to meet expectations and
provide the best support and highest quality work.
5. Office Hours and Communication
Office hours are ____________ (Day of Week) through __________ (Day of Week)
from _______ A.M. to ______ P.M. (CST). Email is to be the primary form of communication
between Client and Service Provider . Service Provider is available for phone calls during
office hours only. Occasional calls of only a few minutes in duration are not typically billed to
Client . However, the time of both parties must be respected, and calls lasting over 10 minutes
will be billed to Client . Telephone meetings must be prescheduled. Cancellation requires a
minimum of 24 hours advance notice. Missed meetings or cancellations without sufficient notice
will be billed to Client .
6. Projects Completion
Basic office support receives 24-48 hour attention. Each new or special project requires
a minimum of three (3) days lead time. Client will provide sufficient notice and allow for
reasonable timeframes for project completions. Rush projects of 24 hours or less and projects
requiring weekend or holiday work may be subject to a 25% surcharge and/or other rush fees.
Service Provider reserves the right to refuse any project or service request.
7. Client will provide all content, outlines, photos, product images, etc., necessary for any
special projects. Source material must be clear and legible. Client is responsible for furnishing
all pertinent information, and for furnishing accurate, truthful and complete information
necessary for Service Provider to perform or complete the contracted services or project.
8. Expenses
Expenses incurred on behalf of Client are not included in any fees and will be billed to
Client . Reimbursable expenses may include, but are not limited to, office supplies (e.g., file
folders, envelopes, CDs, diskettes, etc.), mileage, long-distance telephone charges, payments
made to vendors, and shipping and handling costs. Long-distance telephone calls will be billed
at a rate of $0.25 per minute. There is a one-hour minimum for office calls. On-site visits will be
billed for meeting time, roundtrip travel time and mileage. Payment is due upon receipt.
9. Delivery
Completed projects are delivered via diskette, fax, email, FTP, U.S. Mail, or other means
as required by Client . Client is responsible and will be billed for all shipping and handling costs.
There is no charge for faxing, emailing or U.S. mail under 1 ounce (#10 envelopes and one
stamp).
10. Accuracy
Client assumes full responsibility for acceptance of work or services performed and
agreed upon, as well as final proofing and accuracy. Service Provider is not responsible for
errors or omissions.
11. Payment Options
Personal or business checks are accepted for payment. AMEX, Discover, MasterCard
and VISA credit cards and e-checks are accepted through PayPal, our online payment vendor.
12. NSF Fees
There is a $40 NSF (insufficient funds) fee for returned checks.
13. Late Payments. Payments not received by due date may result in work cessation.
Service Provider reserves the right to refuse completion or delivery of work until past due
balances are paid.
14. Property
All billings (including invoices, statements and estimates), reports and time accountings
are provided as a convenience to Client at the discretion of Service Provider and remain the
property of Service Provider . Periodic audits may reveal previous billing discrepancies or
errors, and Service Provider is entitled to void or recall incorrect invoices and statements and
bill for any monies due on account.
15. Accuracy of Information
Client agrees that the accuracy of information supplied to Service Provider is the sole
responsibility of Client , and that Service Provider is not responsible and shall not be held liable
for the results of services performed on the basis of inaccurate, incomplete or untruthful
information furnished by Client .
16. Indemnification and Release of Liability
A. Client shall indemnify, defend and save Service Provider harmless from any
and all suits, costs, damages or proceedings, including, but not limited to, Service Provider’s
services, pertaining to any and all litigation in which the Client is a party. Client shall pay all
expenses incurred by Service Provider including, but not limited to, all attorneys’ fees, costs
and expenses incurred should Service Provider be named a party in any litigation to which
Client is a party. Client shall further indemnify and hold harmless Service Provider and its
agents, officers and directors from liability for any and all claims, costs, suits and damages,
including attorneys’ fees arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with the operations
of Client , and from liability for injuries suffered by any person relating to the Client .
B. All reasonable precautions will be taken to safeguard the property entrusted to
Service Provider . In the absence of negligence, however, Service Provider will not be held
liable for loss, destruction or damage of any kind resulting from items which are lost or delayed
in transit, whether such transit is electronic, fax, mail or otherwise, nor for unauthorized use by
others of such property. Service Provider will not be held liable for any incidental,
consequential or indirect damages, including without limitation damages for loss of profits,
business interruption, loss of information, plagiarism, etc. Service Provider will not be held
liable for typographical omissions or errors.
17. Termination
Retainers may be terminated by either party for any reason with 10 (ten) days advance
written notice of intent to cancel. Retainer fees are due in full for the intended month of
cancellation if proper notice is not provided.
18. Expiration and Modification.
This Agreement shall remain in effect until such time as one or the other Party provides
written notice of cancellation. This Agreement may be modified or amended as necessary after
negotiations initiated by either Party. If agreement is reached, only a written instrument signed
by both Parties will modify or amend this Agreement.
19. No Waiver
The failure of either party to this Agreement to insist upon the performance of any of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, or the waiver of any breach of any of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, shall not be construed as subsequently waiving any such terms
and conditions, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect as if no such
forbearance or waiver had occurred.
20. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of ______________.
21. Notices
Any notice provided for or concerning this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed sufficiently given when sent by certified or registered mail if sent to the respective
address of each party as set forth at the beginning of this Agreement.
22. Attorney’s Fees
In the event that any lawsuit is filed in relation to this Agreement, the unsuccessful party
in the action shall pay to the successful party, in addition to all the sums that either party may be
called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful party's attorney fees.
23. Mandatory Arbitration
Any dispute under this Agreement shall be required to be resolved by binding arbitration
of the parties hereto. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, each party shall select one
arbitrator and both arbitrators shall then select a third. The third arbitrator so selected shall
arbitrate said dispute. The arbitration shall be governed by the rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in force and effect.
24. Entire Agreement
This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties and any prior
understanding or representation of any kind preceding the date of this Agreement shall not be
binding upon either party except to the extent incorporated in this Agreement.
25. Assignment of Rights
The rights of each party under this Agreement are personal to that party and may not be
assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity without the prior,
express, and written consent of the other party.
26. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
In this contract, any reference to a party includes that party's heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, singular includes plural and masculine includes
feminine.
WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.
_____________________________ ___________________________
(Name of Name of Service Provider) (Name of Client)
By:______________________________ By:_____________________________
____________________________ ____________________________
(P rinted name & Office in Corporation) (P rinted name & Office in Corporation)
____________________________ ____________________________
(Signature of Officer) (Signature of Officer)