Statement of work template, plus the prompt to write one with your agent
Published
Short answer
A statement of work (SOW) describes one project under an existing agreement: the objectives, deliverables, milestones, timeline, price and acceptance criteria. Below is a template you can copy, and a prompt you can give Claude, ChatGPT, Codex or Cursor to fill it in from your project notes.
SOW, MSA or engagement letter?
- Master services agreement (MSA): the overall terms of the relationship: liability, ownership, confidentiality, payment terms. Signed once.
- Statement of work (SOW): one project under the MSA: what, when, how much. Signed per project.
- Engagement letter: a short, self-contained agreement for a single job when there's no MSA. See the engagement letter template.
If you work with a client repeatedly, an MSA plus a SOW per project saves you renegotiating the legal terms every time.
What a SOW should include
| Section | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Background and objectives | Why the project exists and what success looks like |
| Scope and deliverables | Exactly what you deliver |
| Out of scope | What you don't |
| Milestones and timeline | When each part is due |
| Roles | Who does what, on both sides |
| Acceptance | How the client approves each deliverable |
| Price and payment | Fixed or hourly, and when you invoice |
| Assumptions and dependencies | What you need from the client, and when |
Give the scope a visible boundary
- Included
Agency deliverables
Name the outputs and the milestone for each.
- Excluded
Out-of-scope work
For example, hosting and content in the prompt below.
- Dependencies
Client inputs
State when content, system access and approvals are needed.
Statement of work template
Statement of work: [project name]
This statement of work is made under the [master services agreement] dated [date] between [Client name] ("the Client") and [Agency name] ("the Agency"). If they conflict, the master services agreement applies unless this statement of work says otherwise.
1. Objectives. [Two or three sentences on why the project exists and what it should achieve.]
2. Deliverables. The Agency will deliver: [deliverable 1]; [deliverable 2]; [deliverable 3].
3. Out of scope. [Items not included, e.g. copywriting, hosting, ongoing maintenance.]
4. Milestones.
- Milestone 1, [name]: [date]
- Milestone 2, [name]: [date]
- Milestone 3, [name]: [date]
5. Roles. The Client's contact is [name], who approves deliverables. The Agency's lead is [name].
6. Acceptance. The Client reviews each deliverable within [number] working days. A deliverable is accepted when approved in writing or when no feedback is given within that time.
7. Price. [Fixed price of [amount] excluding VAT / hourly rate of [amount] excluding VAT, estimated at [number] hours]. Invoiced [per milestone / monthly], payment due within [number] days.
8. Assumptions. [E.g. the Client provides content and access to systems by [date]. Delays on the Client's side move the timeline accordingly.]
9. Changes. Changes to this statement of work are agreed in writing, with their effect on price and timeline.
The prompt
Give your agent this, adjusted to your project:
Draft a statement of work for [client] from our SOW template, under our MSA with them. Use the notes in [file or message] for objectives and deliverables. Three milestones: [names and dates]. Fixed price [amount], invoiced per milestone, 30 days payment terms. Out of scope: hosting and content. Show me the draft before sending it to [name].
With Pledge connected, the agent drafts the SOW from your template, links it to the client, and shows it in the chat to edit before you send it for signature. Developers can do the same from Codex or Cursor.
This article is not legal advice.
Questions
- What is the difference between a SOW and a contract?
- A SOW is a contract document too, but it usually describes one project under a broader master services agreement, which holds the legal terms.
- Who writes the statement of work?
- Usually the agency or consultant, since they know the scope best, and the client reviews and signs it.
- Can AI write a statement of work?
- Yes. An AI agent is good at turning project notes into deliverables and milestones. Start it from your own SOW template and review the draft before sending.
Try Pledge
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