Describe your consulting engagement in plain language. SignAI generates a complete, California-compliant Consulting Agreement — then sign and send it to the other party. No templates, no lawyers, no hassle.
Consulting Agreement
State of California
60s
Average creation time
$0
Free to create & sign
100%
100% Legally binding in CA
0
Templates to search
California enforces the ABC test under Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), codified at Labor Code § 2775, which presumes all workers are employees unless the hiring entity proves three conditions: the worker is free from control (A), performs work outside the usual course of business (B), and operates an independently established trade (C). This is one of the strictest independent contractor tests in the country, making a well-drafted consulting agreement essential.
Whether you're engaging a tech consultant in San Francisco, hiring a management advisor for a Los Angeles entertainment company, or bringing on a biotech specialist in San Diego, your agreement must demonstrate compliance with AB5's ABC test. Certain professional services — including marketing, HR consulting, and financial advising — may qualify for exemptions under Business & Professions Code § 7026, but the agreement must document the qualifying relationship.
SignAI generates your California consulting agreement with provisions designed for AB5 compliance — including independent contractor status clauses reflecting the ABC test, IP assignment terms valid under California law (which prohibits broad non-compete agreements under Business & Professions Code § 16600), confidentiality protections under California's Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Civ. Code § 3426 et seq.), and proper governing law clauses.
How it works
No templates, no forms, no lawyers. Just describe what you need.
Type something like "I need a Consulting Agreement for California" — no legal jargon needed. Answer a few quick follow-up questions and you're done.
AI generates a complete, California-specific Consulting Agreement in seconds — with proper headings, numbered sections, and signature blocks. Edit anything you want, then type your name to sign.
Enter the other party's email and hit send. They review and sign without creating an account. Both parties get a copy. Done.
What's included
Every Consulting Agreement generated by SignAI for California includes these essential provisions — automatically.
Clearly defined consulting services, deliverables, timelines, and milestones — establishing the project-based nature of the work and prong B compliance.
Hourly rates, project-based fees, retainer structures, payment schedules, and expense reimbursement — documented to reflect the consultant's independent business.
Explicit contractor classification with provisions addressing all three prongs of California's ABC test and applicable professional services exemptions.
Clear IP ownership terms with assignment clauses valid under California law, including compliance with Labor Code § 2870 protecting employee inventions.
Trade secret protections under California's UTSA. Note: California bans non-compete clauses (B&P Code § 16600), so agreements use non-solicitation and confidentiality instead.
Governing law clause specifying California jurisdiction, venue selection for California courts, and dispute resolution procedures.
Use cases
People in California use SignAI to create Consulting Agreements for a wide range of situations. Here are the most popular:
Engage software architects, data scientists, and product consultants for Silicon Valley and San Francisco tech companies. Define code ownership, milestone deliverables, and AB5-compliant engagement terms.
Try it: “I need a consulting agreement for a machine learning consultant for my San Francisco startup”
Hire creative consultants for film, television, and digital media projects in Los Angeles. Address content ownership, residual rights, and guild considerations within the agreement.
Try it: “I need a consulting agreement for a creative strategy consultant for my LA production company”
Bring on scientific advisors for biotech firms in San Diego and the Bay Area. Cover research IP, regulatory strategy deliverables, and confidentiality for pre-patent discoveries.
Try it: “I need a consulting agreement for a regulatory affairs consultant for my San Diego biotech company”
Engage management consultants for corporate restructuring, process improvement, and growth strategy across California's diverse industries. Ensure AB5 exemption qualifications are documented.
Try it: “I need a consulting agreement for a management consultant advising my Sacramento business on expansion”
FAQ
Yes. A consulting agreement is a legally enforceable contract under California law. With clear terms, mutual consideration, and valid signatures, California courts will uphold it. SignAI's e-signatures are valid under California's Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (Civ. Code § 1633.1 et seq.) and the federal ESIGN Act.
AB5 (Labor Code § 2775) presumes workers are employees unless the hiring entity satisfies the ABC test: the worker is free from control and direction (A), performs work outside the company's usual business (B), and has an independently established trade or business (C). Certain professional services qualify for exemptions that apply a less strict Borello test instead. Your consulting agreement must clearly document the factors that support contractor status.
No. California Business & Professions Code § 16600 prohibits non-compete agreements with very limited exceptions (such as the sale of a business). Your consulting agreement can include non-solicitation of employees and clients, confidentiality obligations, and IP assignment clauses — but not a restriction on the consultant's right to work for competitors.
Without a written agreement, the consultant typically owns the IP they create. California Labor Code § 2870 also protects certain inventions made on a worker's own time. Your consulting agreement should include a clear IP assignment clause, and under California law, it must carve out inventions developed entirely on the consultant's own time without company resources.
Not if they are properly classified as an independent contractor. You do not withhold California income tax, federal income tax, Social Security, or Medicare. You must issue a 1099-NEC if you pay $600 or more in a tax year. California's Employment Development Department (EDD) actively audits contractor classifications, making a solid consulting agreement essential.
Free NDA
California
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Free Letter of Intent
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Free Non-Compete Agreement
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Florida Consulting Agreement
Free · FL
Georgia Consulting Agreement
Free · GA
Illinois Consulting Agreement
Free · IL
Michigan Consulting Agreement
Free · MI
New York Consulting Agreement
Free · NY
North Carolina Consulting Agreement
Free · NC
Ohio Consulting Agreement
Free · OH
Pennsylvania Consulting Agreement
Free · PA
Texas Consulting Agreement
Free · TX
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