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What is an Accounting Contract?
An Accounting Contract is used to define the terms, scope and payment for work to be done by an accountant. Accounting Contracts should be signed by the client and the accountant, and can help each to set expectations and reduce the risk of disagreements.
An Accounting Contract also ensures that the accounting services are performed in accordance with the agreed-upon terms, and contains terms to protect the interests of both clients and accountants.
If there are any questions about the accounting services, you'll always be able to refer to the Accounting Contract as your written record. Rocket Lawyer members have access to Document Defense®, for when you need the help of an attorney to get paid or enforce your rights. Get started on yours now!
When to use an Accounting Contract:
- You're an accountant or accounting firm about to work with a new client, and you'd like to clearly define your accounting or bookkeeping services.
- You're an individual who'd like to hire an accountant to handle your personal accounting needs, and you want an agreement in writing.
- You are a business owner hiring an accountant or accounting firm to handle certain aspects of your business finances, and you want a contract to define those services.
Sample Accounting Contract
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This CONTRACT is made and entered into on by and between, ("Accountant"), duly licensed in the as a certified public accountant, and having a principal place of business at , , , and ("Client"), of , , .
In consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Contract, the contracting parties agree as follows:
. CONTRACT TERM.
This Contract shall become effective on . It shall remain in effect until the services required hereunder have been completed satisfactorily by Accountant unless sooner terminated as provided in this Contract.
. ACCOUNTING SERVICES.
Under the terms and conditions stated in this Contract, Accountant agrees to perform the following specific accounting services for Client:
Preparation of journals and ledgers
. FEES FOR SERVICES.
In consideration of the services to be performed by the Accountant, the Client agrees to compensate the Accountant for the services rendered as follows:
at Accountant's standard hourly rate of per hour.
. CLIENT'S COOPERATION.
The Accountant is hereby authorized to communicate with the Client's custodian regarding the Client's account and other relevant financial data. The Client takes sole responsibility for the acts or omissions of its custodian and will have by the effective date of this Contract instructed its custodian, and will instruct any future custodian of the Client to provide the Accountant with custodian's reports and other information of the Client that the Accountant requires to perform its Services. The Client will provide the Accountant with true and complete information necessary for the Accountant to perform its services. The timely performance of the Services will depend on the timely receipt of complete Client data.
. MUTUAL REPRESENTATIONS.
(a) Representations by the Client: The Client represents and warrants that:
(i) it will comply with applicable law in its use of the Services;
(ii) execution, delivery, and performance of this Contract have been duly authorized and shall not conflict with any obligation of the Client, whether arising by contract, operation of law, or otherwise;
(iii) this Contract constitutes a valid, binding obligation of the Accountant; and
(iv) the Client has all rights necessary and power necessary to appoint the Accountant as its accounting agent.
(b) Representations by the Accountant: The Accountant represents and warrants that:
(i) it will comply with applicable law in its performance of the Services;
(ii) execution, delivery, and performance of this Contract have been duly authorized and shall not conflict with nature of the Client's business, whether arising by contract, operation of law, or otherwise;
(iii) this Contract constitutes a valid, binding obligation of the Accountant; and
(iv) the Accountant has all rights necessary to provide the Services contemplated herein.
. CONFIDENTIALITY.
Any confidential information (including all technology, processes, trade secrets, contracts, proprietary information; the nature of the information and the manner of disclosure are such that a reasonable person would understand it to be confidential) exchanged between the Accountant and the Client in connection with the performance of the Services shall be held by the Accountant in trust for the benefit of the Client only, and the Accountant will not divulge or authorize anyone to divulge during the term of this Contract, or any period thereafter, any information or knowledge acquired in the course of its performance.
. TERMINATION.
This Contract may be terminated as follows:
(a) This Contract may be terminated by either party by giving 30 days advance written notice to the other party.
(b) Either party has the right to terminate this Contract where the other party becomes insolvent, fails to pay its bills when due, goes out of business, or there is a death of a party.
(c) If either party breaches any provision of this Contract and if such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice from the other party specifying such breach in reasonable detail, the non-breaching party shall have the right to terminate this Contract by giving written notice thereof to the party in breach, which termination shall go into effect immediately upon receipt.
. NOTICES.
Any notices to be given under this Contract by either party to the other may be effected either by personal delivery in writing or by mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid with return receipt requested. Mailed notices shall be addressed to the addresses of the parties as they appear in the introductory paragraph of this Contract, but each party may change the address by written notice in accordance with this paragraph.
. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Governing Law: This Contract shall be construed under and in accordance with the laws of .
(b) Parties Bound: This Contract shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties to this Contract and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns as permitted by this Contract.
(c) Severability: If one or more of the provisions contained in this Contract shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, that invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision. This Contract shall be construed as if the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been contained in it.
(d) Prior Contracts Superseded: This Contract constitutes the sole and only agreement of the parties and supersedes any prior understandings or written or oral agreements between the parties respecting the subject matter of this Contract.
(e) Entire Agreement: This instrument contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the rights granted and the obligations assumed in it. Any oral representations or modifications concerning this instrument shall be of no force or effect except any amendment by the parties by a written agreement.
(f) Attorneys' Fees: If any action at law or in equity is brought to enforce or interpret the provisions of this Contract, the prevailing party will be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees in addition to any other relief to which that party may be entitled.
. SIGNATORIES.
This Contract shall be signed by and by .
| By: | Date: |
| By: | Date: |
Accounting Contract FAQs
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Do I need to create an Accounting Contract for every engagement?
Regardless of the type of work you plan to do, you should always consider making an Accounting Contract. These benefits might help your decision-making:
- The length of the engagement is established.
- Both client and provider understand the scope of their responsibilities.
- There is no confusion about the fees.
Without an Accounting Contract, timelines and quality standards may not be clear, payments might come in late or not at all, and unexpected changes may complicate the work. When disputes arise, with a written contract, there is a clear answer or path to resolve that dispute.
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What details should an Accounting Contract contain?
Specifics to cover include:
- Name and address of the client and provider.
- Payment terms.
- Whether the work is ongoing, or for a set period of time or a single project.
- What work will be completed (for example, preparation of journals and ledgers, financial statements, or tax returns).
The Rocket Lawyer Accounting Contract template also contains important language to protect proprietary information and define the scope of work. You'll also be able to decide which state's jurisdiction it falls under and define any services you'd like to exclude from the contract.
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How much would I traditionally have to pay for a lawyer to make a contract for accounting services?
The great news is you do not have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in attorney fees to put your contract in writing. With the document tools on Rocket Lawyer, you can make a free Accounting Contract today. Your agreement is built piece by piece, so you can be sure that it has all of the appropriate information you need.
If you are having any particular doubts or hesitations before getting started, you can always reach out to a Rocket Lawyer network attorney for affordable legal advice. Feel free to explore more business documents in our library.
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What steps should I take after an Accounting Contract has been made?
After completing your Accounting Contract with the help of Rocket Lawyer, you will have access to it anywhere and on any device. Rocket Lawyer members can have a lawyer review their documents, and can use RocketSign® to get their contracts signed.
Additionally as a member, you may edit, make a copy, print, and save it as a Word document or PDF file. Alongside each Accounting Contract, there will be a set of helpful tips on what you can do next. You should ensure that your client has their copy of your final contract.
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How do I have my Accounting Contract looked at by an attorney?
An easy way to get a lawyer’s eyes on your document would be to request help from attorney services at Rocket Lawyer. As a Premium member, you can have your agreements looked at by an experienced attorney. Whether you decide to create additional copies of your Accounting Contract or other documents for your business, we are here to support you.
Seeking out a lawyer to review your agreement can be time-intensive and costly. Some lawyers may not even accept requests to review contracts that they were not paid to write. And those lawyers that do agree to review your agreement are likely to charge high hourly rates to do so.
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