What this document is
Some jobs do not need a five-page contract — they need one page that stops the two classic small-job arguments: 'that is not what we agreed' and 'I will pay you later'. A simple service contract records the job, the price, when payment happens, and both signatures. It suits an aircon repair, a garden wall, a one-day photo shoot, a logo touch-up, a house-move — any service agreed today and finished within days.
The value is speed. Because it fits on one page, people actually use it: fill it in on the spot, sign on a phone or on paper, and start work knowing payment terms are fixed. For the person doing the work it creates a payment obligation with a date on it; for the customer it fixes the price so the bill cannot grow on its own.
When to use it
- A tradesperson quoting a repair or installation and wanting the price fixed before starting.
- A one-day service — photography, catering, tutoring session, equipment servicing — agreed directly with the customer.
- A small creative task for a new client where a full freelance agreement feels heavier than the job.
- Any small job where the customer will pay after the work is done and you want the payment date written down.
- You are the customer and want the quoted price and finish date on paper before work begins.
When not to use it
- Projects that run for weeks with milestones, revisions, or a deposit — use the freelance service agreement, which handles those properly.
- Ongoing repeated work for the same business, which is better served by an independent contractor agreement.
- Construction or renovation big enough to need permits, staged payments, or subcontractors — those jobs deserve a fuller contract and often professional advice.
- Work where confidential business information changes hands; add an NDA or use a fuller agreement.
Information you will need
- Names, phone numbers, and ID details of the service provider and the customer
- A plain description of the job and where it will be done
- Anything specifically excluded, if the job has a common misunderstanding point
- The agreed price in figures and words, and whether materials are included
- When and how payment happens — on completion, within 7 days, by transfer or cash
- The start date and expected finish date
- Who supplies materials or equipment, if relevant
Clauses included
Parties
Names the provider and the customer with contact and ID details on one line each.
The job
Describes the work in plain words, specific enough that a stranger could tell whether it was done.
Price
States the full price in figures and words, and whether materials, travel, or taxes are included.
Payment
Fixes when payment is due and by what method — the single most important line on the page.
Timeline
Gives the start date and the expected completion date.
Changes
Says that any change to the job or price must be agreed in writing, even a short signed note or confirmed message.
Cancellation
States what is owed if either side cancels after work or preparation has begun.
Signatures
Both parties sign and date; a photo of the signed page shared to both phones is a practical backup.
What the guided builder asks
- 1PartiesWho is providing the money?
- 2AmountHow much is being provided?
- 3RepaymentWill it be repaid once or in installments?
- 4InterestWill interest apply?
- 5Late paymentWhat happens if a payment is late?
- 6Additional termsAdditional terms (optional)
- 7ReviewClauses included
- 8ExportExport PDF · Export DOCX
How to sign it
Sign before the work starts — on paper at the customer's premises, or by exchanging a signed PDF in the same chat where the job was discussed. Each side keeps a copy; the chat thread itself becomes part of the record.
When the job is finished and paid, confirm it: a payment receipt, or even a short message saying 'received THB 4,500, job complete, thanks'. That closing line prevents the rare but painful claim months later that something was still owed.
If cash changes hands, sign a receipt at the same moment. The contract proves the agreement; the receipt proves the money.
Common mistakes
- Describing the job so briefly ('fix bathroom') that the finished work is arguable.
- Not stating whether materials are inside or on top of the quoted price.
- Writing 'payment on completion' without defining completion — tie it to something visible, like handover or a working test.
- Adding extra work mid-job on a verbal okay, then disputing the final amount.
- Skipping the contract because the customer is a friend or neighbor — those are the disputes that cost the most.
Frequently asked questions
Is a one-page contract actually worth anything?
Yes. What gives a contract weight is agreement on the essentials — parties, work, price, payment — plus signatures, not page count. One clear page beats five vague ones, and it certainly beats a verbal agreement reconstructed from memory during a dispute.
When should I pick this instead of a freelance service agreement?
Choose by the shape of the job. Finished within days, one payment, no revision rounds: simple service contract. Weeks of work, a deposit, milestones, or intellectual-property questions: freelance service agreement. If you are debating which one, the job has probably outgrown one page.
Can we sign it over a messaging app?
A common approach is to send the filled PDF in the chat, have both sides print-sign-photograph it or sign electronically, and keep the thread. Many countries accept electronically signed private contracts, and the chat itself adds a time-stamped record of who agreed. For high-value jobs, prefer ink and a witness.
What if the customer asks for extra work halfway through?
Agree the addition and its price in writing before doing it — one confirmed message is enough. The changes clause exists precisely so that 'while you are here, could you also…' turns into a recorded agreement instead of an argument at payment time.
Should I ask for any money upfront on a small job?
If materials cost you money before you start, yes — ask for the material cost upfront and say so in the payment line. For pure-labor jobs finished in a day, payment on completion is standard, but put the date and method in writing.
What do I do if the customer does not pay on the agreed date?
Send a short written reminder with the contract attached the day after the deadline. Most small-job payment failures are disorganization, not refusal, and a documented reminder resolves them. If it does not, the signed page plus your reminder trail is your evidence for a formal demand or small-claims route.
This template provides general document assistance and is not a substitute for legal advice. Legal requirements vary by jurisdiction, transaction type, and individual circumstances.