Service agreement
A service agreement is the principal document by which one party undertakes to provide a specific service to the other — consultancy, freelance work, maintenance, service, software development — with its legal basis being, depending on the case, TBK arts. 393 et seq. (general service), arts. 470 et seq. (contract for works), or arts. 502 et seq. (mandate). Scope of work, delivery schedule, payment terms, intellectual property, confidentiality, and termination terms form the contract's core. Akitle turns a ready service-agreement template into a fillable, link-shareable, audit-trailed digital flow — no paper, photocopy, or fax.
By: Akitle Legal Team · Last updated: May 29, 2026
What this contract covers
- Scope of work: deliverables and acceptance criteria
- Delivery schedule: milestones and dates
- Payment: amount and schedule (upfront / milestone, VAT incl./excl.)
- Intellectual property: full assignment, exclusive or non-exclusive license
- Confidentiality clauses (embedded NDA provisions)
- Termination notice period and cancellation compensation
- Default-interest rate and consequences of late payment
- Party status: independent contractor / mandatary — not employment
Mandatory fields in a service agreement
A well-prepared service agreement clearly regulates the scope of work, delivery schedule, payment plan, intellectual-property ownership, confidentiality, and termination terms — simply stating 'service to be procured / provided' is not enough. The Akitle template includes the following core fields by default:
- Scope of work: deliverables, acceptance criteria
- Delivery schedule: milestones and dates
- Payment: amount, schedule (upfront, milestone-based, VAT incl./excl.)
- Intellectual property: ownership of creative output (assignment / license)
- Confidentiality (non-disclosure / NDA clauses)
- Termination terms and cancellation compensation
- Independent contractor or employment contract (critical for social-security liability)
Service agreement or employment contract?
An employment contract and a service (procurement) agreement are different documents and are frequently confused. An employment contract (Turkish Labor Law No. 4857) governs the worker relationship subject to the employer's instructions; it brings obligations like social security, severance, and overtime. A service agreement (TBK arts. 393 / 470 / 502) governs relationships with independent contractors or freelancers acting as contractor or mandatary; what matters is the result or service delivery, not dependence on instructions.
Labeling a contract 'service agreement' is not by itself sufficient; the working pattern, instruction relationship, and continuity are examined, and the real relationship may be implicitly reclassified as employment. If in doubt, we recommend consulting a lawyer.
Intellectual-property clause
For software, design, content, or similar creative work, the copyright and usage rights of the produced work must be explicitly regulated in the contract. Under Law No. 5846 (Intellectual and Artistic Works), authorship initially belongs to the creator; it is not transferred unless explicitly regulated in writing. The Akitle template's IP section covers three common scenarios: full assignment, exclusive license, non-exclusive license.
Instead of downloading a Word/PDF example
Download a static example
- You download a blank Word/PDF file and fill it in by hand
- You must print it and gather the parties for wet-ink signing
- No record of who signed, or when
Sign via link with Akitle
- You fill in a ready template online
- You send a link; the renter approves from their own phone
- Both parties download a PDF with an audit trail
Akitle produces a binding document with an audit trail; it is not a qualified electronic signature under Law No. 5070.
Frequently asked questions
Is a service agreement sufficient for a freelancer?
Yes, if the worker is genuinely independent (uses their own tools, sets their own working hours, works for multiple clients), a service agreement is appropriate. Otherwise, the relationship may be reclassified as employment in practice, exposing you to SGK (social security) audit findings.
What happens if payment is not made?
For receivables past the payment dates defined in the contract, statutory or contractual default interest accrues. The Akitle template includes the default-interest rate as a dedicated field; amounts flow into the line total automatically.
Should confidentiality (NDA) be a separate contract?
Both options are valid: confidentiality clauses can sit within the service agreement as a dedicated section, or be signed as a separate non-disclosure agreement (NDA). The Akitle template offers embedded confidentiality clauses; for a separate NDA, you can create an additional contract through the same signing flow.
Can a service agreement be unilaterally terminated?
Unless otherwise regulated in the contract, the parties have the right to terminate with reasonable notice. The Akitle template includes dedicated fields for the notice period and cancellation compensation.
Is the Akitle signature a qualified e-signature (Law 5070)?
No. Akitle produces a binding document and an audit trail between the parties; the document constitutes evidence under HMK art. 199. It is not, however, a qualified electronic signature under Law No. 5070. Where wet-ink equivalence is required, we recommend a notary or qualified e-signature.
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The information and examples on this page are for general guidance only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult a lawyer for your specific situation.