Is this subcontractor agreement template legally binding?

Once both parties sign it, yes. The template uses standard contract language for scope, payment, insurance, indemnification, and termination. For high-dollar work or unusual scope, run it past your construction attorney. Workhand is not a law firm.

What insurance minimums should I require from a subcontractor?

At minimum: $1M general liability per occurrence, $2M aggregate, workers comp for any sub with employees, and $1M auto liability if they drive to the job. The template defaults to these numbers because they match what most GCs and owners require downstream. Bigger jobs or commercial work often require higher limits.

What does net 10/15/30 mean in a subcontractor agreement?

Net 10, 15, or 30 is the number of days you have to pay the sub after their invoice is approved. Net 10 is aggressive and helps you keep good subs. Net 30 protects your cash but burns goodwill. Most small GCs in Florida run net 15. Pick one number and put it in the agreement so there is no confusion later.

Do I need a separate lien waiver if the agreement already requires them?

Yes. The agreement requires the sub to deliver a waiver before each payment, but you still need to collect the actual signed waiver document each time. Florida requires statutory wording under Fla. Stat. 713.20. Use the Workhand lien waiver generator to produce a compliant one in 30 seconds.

Can I use this template outside Florida?

The general structure works in any state. The governing law and lien sections reference Florida statutes, so swap those out if you are working elsewhere. Insurance minimums and the right-to-stop-work clause are jurisdiction-neutral.

How is this different from a master services agreement?

An MSA is a long-term framework you sign once with a sub, then attach individual work orders for each job. This template is a single-job agreement. If you use the same sub on multiple jobs per year, an MSA plus per-job scope sheets is cleaner. The Pro tier of Workhand handles both flows.

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Free template

Subcontractor Agreement Template

One-page agreement covering scope, payment (net 10/15/30), $1M GL minimum, right to stop work, indemnification, change orders, and lien waiver on every draw. Download as PDF.

See COI tracking

Free, no signup, no email wall.

What's in this template

The seven clauses that end 90% of sub disputes

Scope of work

What the sub is being paid to do, in enough detail that no one argues about what "the plaster job" means at the end.

Payment terms (net 10/15/30)

How much, when, and what triggers a draw. Progress and final. Pick one net window and put a number on it so there is no confusion later.

Insurance minimums

$1M GL per occurrence, $2M aggregate, workers comp if the sub has employees, $1M auto if they drive. Matches downstream requirements.

Right to stop work

If the sub misses schedule, fails inspection, or works without proper insurance, you can stop them cold and issue a cure notice.

Indemnification

Sub carries risk for their own work. If their crew damages something or hurts someone, they defend the claim, not you.

Lien waiver on every draw

Sub delivers a Florida-compliant lien waiver before every payment. No waiver, no check. Protects your job from downstream liens.

How contractors use it

Three steps from handshake to signed sub

Fill in scope, dollar, and net window

Sub name, scope of work, contract amount, net 10, 15, or 30. Everything else in the template is pre-written and holds for a normal job.

Collect their COI

Their agent emails the COI showing GL, workers comp, and auto matching the minimums. Attach it to the signed agreement. Track expiration.

Sign, start work, waive per draw

Both sign. Work begins. Sub delivers a lien waiver before every payment. That single loop keeps you out of most Florida sub disputes.

About the format

Why one page beats twelve

Most sub agreements come from lawyers who bill by the page. Twelve pages of standard boilerplate is a document nobody reads. Subs sign it anyway because that's the game, but the terms live in a drawer. If you want the sub to actually respect the terms, keep the document one page and write it in plain English.

This template covers scope, payment, insurance, right-to-stop, indemnification, change orders, and lien waivers. The governing law defaults to Florida. Change that clause and the state citations if you work elsewhere. Everything else is jurisdiction-neutral.

Subcontractor Agreement

Contractor: [Company]

Sub: [Sub name]

1. Scope of work

Sub shall furnish labor and materials for [scope].

2. Payment

Contract amount $[amount]. Net [15] days from approved invoice.

3. Insurance

$1M GL, $2M aggregate, workers comp, $1M auto.

Runs in your browser. No signup, no email.

Tired of chasing COIs on email?

COI tracking with 30, 14, 7 day alerts

Sub uploads their COI once. Workhand reads the expiration and pings you at 30, 14, and 7 days out. If it lapses, the sub loses access to their assigned jobs until they re-up. No more calling the sub's agent the week before a plaster pour.

Expiration date read automatically from the COI
Push alerts at 30, 14, and 7 days out
Sub loses job access on expiration
All sub agreements, COIs, waivers in one place per job