Self-help templates
Collaboration Agreement
For two people working together on one project: roles, costs, who owns the work, how income is shared, how to leave.
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Licence: this document is for your personal use only. You may not resell, share, copy or republish it, or use its content, without the written permission of TheLawToKnow.
How to use it
- When: two people (for example authors, designers, musicians or small-business owners) agree to work together on one project and want to record who does what, who owns the result and how any income is shared.
- Who signs: both collaborators. Each keeps a signed copy. For more than two people, add the extra names in Art. 1 and the splits in Art. 7.
- Fill in everything in [square brackets] and cross out options that do not apply. Agree the money and ownership questions now, while you get along; it is much harder later.
- Be specific about the project: a clear description prevents arguments about what is and is not covered.
- Plan the exit: every collaboration ends one day. Decide now what happens to the work and the income if one of you leaves.
- Tip: if the project becomes a real business, with employees, contracts with clients or significant money, move to a company or a formal partnership agreement drafted by a lawyer.
What is inside
- Art. 1. The collaborators
- Art. 2. The project
- Art. 3. Roles and contributions
- Art. 4. Time and deadlines
- Art. 5. Costs
- Art. 6. Ownership of the work
- Art. 7. Income and credit
- Art. 8. Decisions and disagreement
- Art. 9. Confidentiality
- Art. 10. Ending the collaboration
- Art. 11. Law, copies and declaration
- Notes on the clauses and a checklist of what to check under your country's law
What these templates are not
- They are self-help templates, not legal advice, and they do not replace a lawyer.
- Laws differ from country to country, and some rules cannot be changed by contract. Each template ends with a checklist of what to check where you live.
- For a high-value or unusual situation, ask a local lawyer or notary to look at the final text.
TheLawToKnow Tools. Self-help template. Not legal advice. Check the law currently in force. Written with the help of AI tools and reviewed by a lawyer-author.