Letter of Engagement

A letter of engagement confirms in writing what you will do for a client, what you will not do, who will do it, what it will cost and the terms on which you work. Signed by the client, it becomes your contract and is the best way to avoid scope creep and fee disputes. It suits general professional and business services such as consultancy, marketing, design, HR support and training, and comes with standard Terms of Business.

• At the start of every new client relationship, before work begins
• When an existing client asks you to do a new or different piece of work
• When your fees or terms change significantly

• Fill in the client’s details and describe the services in section 1 – be specific, and use the “not included” list
• Choose the fee basis in section 4: fixed fee (Option A), time-based (Option B) or monthly retainer (Option C)
• Check the Terms of Business in the Schedule, especially the liability cap and notice period
• If the client is a consumer and you are agreeing the contract away from your premises or at a distance, keep section 7 and include the cancellation form