Free Blank California Independent Contractor Agreement (2026)
Download an empty Independent Contractor Agreement template for California: the same statute-aware layout our generator uses, with blank lines to fill in by hand. No account, no email, no watermark.
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Answer a few questions — we apply the California rules, check your entries and build a clean PDF and Word.
California rules that this document follows
| Worker-classification test | ABC test — all purposes (Labor Code, wage orders, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation) unless a statutory Borello exemption appliesSource: Cal. Lab. Code § 2775 (AB 5 / AB 2257, codifying Dynamex); Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code § 621(b); Borello test for exempt occupations (Lab. Code §§ 2776-2784) |
|---|---|
| Freelance payment law | Freelance Worker Protection Act (SB 988) — written contract required above $250.00; pay within 30 days after completion; keep the contract 4 yearsSource: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 18100-18107 (eff. Jan. 1, 2025); Los Angeles Mun. Code § 185.00 et seq. ($600 threshold) |
| Non-compete vs. contractors | noSource: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 16600, 16600.1, 16600.5 (void regardless of where signed; notice requirement) |
| Non-solicitation | Void — not includedSource: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 16600 |
| Work-made-for-hire clause | Not used — a work-made-for-hire agreement makes the client an employer for workers' compensation and unemployment insurance; rights pass by assignment insteadSource: Cal. Lab. Code § 3351.5(c); Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code § 686 |
| Terms this contract includes | names and mailing addresses of both parties, itemized list of all services to be provided, value of services and rate/method of compensation, date payment is due or mechanism to determine it, date by which freelancer must submit list of services rendered to meet hiring party's billing deadline |
Frequently asked questions
Is the blank template free?
Yes. The blank Independent Contractor Agreement is free to download as PDF or Word — no account, no watermark. The paid version is the completed document our generator builds from your answers.
Is it valid in California?
The template follows the California rules listed on this page (reviewed September 2026). A blank form becomes a binding document only once it is completed correctly and signed by the parties. Check the state facts below and consider an attorney for unusual situations.
Should I fill it by hand or online?
Online is safer: the generator applies California limits and notice periods, validates your entries and produces a clean PDF and Word file. Filling by hand works for simple cases — write clearly, initial every page and keep a signed copy for each party.
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