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Marketing Services Agreement template

A marketing services agreement sets out the marketing work an agency or consultant will perform for a client, including the services, reporting, ad budgets, fees, approvals, and ownership of campaign materials.

Replace everything in [BRACKETS], export to PDF, then send it for signature.

1. Parties

This Marketing Services Agreement (the "Agreement") is made on [DATE] between [CLIENT NAME], located at [CLIENT ADDRESS] (the "Client"), and [AGENCY NAME], located at [AGENCY ADDRESS] (the "Agency").

2. Services

The Agency will provide the following marketing services (the "Services"): [SERVICES, e.g. search engine optimization, paid search and social advertising management, social media content (NUMBER posts per month), email campaigns, content writing (NUMBER articles per month)] for the channels and markets described in Schedule A. Additional services will be agreed in writing.

3. Term

This Agreement starts on [START DATE] and continues for an initial term of [INITIAL TERM, e.g. six (6) months], then renews automatically month to month unless either party gives [NOTICE PERIOD] written notice of non-renewal.

4. Fees and Payment

The Client will pay the Agency [MONTHLY RETAINER / PROJECT FEE] of [AMOUNT AND CURRENCY], invoiced [in advance on the first day of each month / per milestone]. [OPTIONAL: Performance bonus: BONUS TERMS.] Invoices are payable within [PAYMENT TERMS] days. Late payments incur interest of [LATE FEE]% per month, to the extent permitted by law, and the Agency may pause Services while invoices are overdue.

5. Advertising Spend

Media and advertising spend is separate from the Agency's fees. [CHOOSE ONE: The Client will pay ad platforms directly using its own payment method. / The Agency will pay ad platforms and invoice the Client at cost plus a management fee of PERCENT%.] Monthly ad spend will not exceed [MONTHLY BUDGET] without the Client's written approval.

6. Client Responsibilities and Approvals

The Client will provide timely access to relevant accounts, brand guidelines, product information, and a point of contact, [CONTACT NAME]. All public-facing content and campaigns will be submitted to the Client for approval, which the Client will give or refuse within [DAYS] business days. The Client is responsible for the accuracy of product claims and information it provides.

7. Reporting and Performance

The Agency will provide [FREQUENCY, e.g. monthly] reports covering [METRICS, e.g. traffic, leads, conversions, cost per acquisition, return on ad spend] and meet with the Client [MEETING FREQUENCY]. Target metrics in Schedule A are goals, not guarantees; the Agency does not guarantee specific rankings, traffic, or sales, which depend on factors outside its control.

8. Accounts and Ownership

All ad accounts, analytics properties, social profiles, and domains will be created in, or transferred to, the Client's name, and the Client will retain administrative access. On payment, the Client owns the campaign materials, content, and creative produced for it under this Agreement. The Agency retains its pre-existing tools, templates, and methods.

9. Compliance and Confidentiality

Each party will comply with applicable advertising, consumer protection, privacy, and email marketing laws and with platform policies. Each party will keep the other's non-public information confidential. Where the Agency processes personal data on the Client's behalf, the parties will enter into any data processing terms required by law.

10. Termination

Either party may terminate for convenience after the initial term with [NOTICE PERIOD] notice, or immediately if the other party materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure within [CURE PERIOD] days of notice. On termination, the Client will pay for Services performed to the termination date, and the Agency will hand over account access and work in progress.

11. Liability and Governing Law

Each party's total liability under this Agreement is limited to the fees paid in the [NUMBER] months before the claim, excluding indirect or consequential losses and excluding breaches of confidentiality. This Agreement is governed by the laws of [GOVERNING LAW JURISDICTION], is the entire agreement between the parties, and may only be amended in writing.

12. Signatures

The Parties agree that this Agreement may be signed electronically and in counterparts, and that electronic signatures have the same effect as handwritten signatures. CLIENT: [CLIENT NAME] Signature: ____________________ Name: [SIGNATORY NAME] Title: [SIGNATORY TITLE] Date: [DATE] AGENCY: [AGENCY NAME] Signature: ____________________ Name: [SIGNATORY NAME] Title: [SIGNATORY TITLE] Date: [DATE]

When to use this template

  • When hiring an agency or consultant for SEO, paid ads, social media, email, or content
  • When an agency will manage ad budgets or platform accounts on your behalf
  • When you want agreed reporting, approvals, and performance metrics in writing
  • When starting a monthly marketing retainer

How to fill it in and get it signed

  1. Enter the client and agency details and the start date.
  2. List the services, channels, and deliverables, and complete Schedule A with target metrics.
  3. Set the retainer or project fee, payment terms, and how ad spend is paid and capped.
  4. Agree approval times, reporting frequency, account ownership, and the initial term and notice period.
  5. Fill in the governing law, then upload the agreement to eSignSimple and send it to both parties for e-signature.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and state; have a lawyer review contracts with high stakes.

Frequently asked questions

What is a marketing services agreement?

It's a contract between a business and a marketing agency or consultant that defines the services, fees, reporting, approvals, and ownership of the marketing work.

Should ad spend be included in the agency fee?

Usually not. Most agreements keep media spend separate from the agency's management fee, and many clients pay platforms directly to keep control and visibility.

Can a marketing agency guarantee results?

Most reputable agencies set target metrics but don't guarantee rankings or sales, because results depend on factors like competition, budget, and platform changes.

Can I sign a marketing agreement electronically?

Yes, in most jurisdictions. eSignSimple lets both parties sign online without an account and stores an audit trail with timestamps and IP addresses.