Master Services Agreement(MSA)
A framework contract that sets the overall legal and commercial terms between two parties for an ongoing services relationship, with specific projects governed by separate Statements of Work.
What it means
A Master Services Agreement (MSA) establishes the standing terms — payment, IP ownership, liability, confidentiality, indemnification, termination — under which a service provider and client will do business over time. Individual engagements are then documented in Statements of Work (SOWs) that reference the MSA and define the specific scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees for each project.
Read more
- What Is an MSA? Master Service Agreement Guide (2026) — A master service agreement sets IP, liability, and dispute rules once for every future project. Learn which clauses fight hardest, and the AI IP gap costing vendors thousands.
- MSA vs SOW: What's the Difference? — MSA vs SOW: understand the difference, when to use each, and how to pair them correctly—so your next engagement starts with the right paperwork in place.
- How to Write a Services Agreement (2026 Guide) — Learn how to write a services agreement that protects both parties. Covers scope of work, payment terms, IP ownership, and key clauses in plain English.