Lawyer Fees For Contract Drafting

What Do Lawyers Charge for Contract Drafting?

Lawyer fees for writing contracts are impacted by many factors and has no standardized pricing in the industry. ContractsCounsel processes thousands of contract drafting projects and has good data insights on the cost of various projects.

Most contract drafting projects handled on the ContractsCounsel platform are between $400-$850 on a flat fee since lawyers will spend 2-3 hours of their time. Some projects can exceed this range and others can be less than $400.

You can find 220 popular contract drafting projects with the average lawyer fees below in this article.

Some considerations on factors that impact legal fees are below:

• Type of Contract. Different contract and transaction types will have different costs. Some contracts are straightforward and will not require much time from the lawyer. Others may be more complex and require lawyers to do research on specific laws, as well as structure custom language.
• Law Firm versus Solo Practitioner. If hiring a law firm, billing rates will typically be higher reflecting law firm overhead (i.e., real estate costs, staff costs, etc.). Solo practitioners are often more cost effective since their cost structure is far less than a law firm.
• Location of Lawyer. Lawyers located in major markets are typically more expensive than lawyers located in smaller markets. Major markets have more potential clients and demand, which typically drives prices up.
• Complexity of Terms. If the transaction requires complicated terms that will require the lawyer to draft custom language, the price of the project will typically be higher.
• Services Required. Depending on what you need the lawyer to do, different services can be provided. For example, you may know the contract will require multiple rounds of revisions, which will require more of the lawyers time. This will typically be reflected in a higher price structure. You also may want the lawyer to help with negotiations once the contract is presented to the counter-party, which typically require additional fees.
• Lawyer's Bandwidth. Lawyers get busy and slow, like any professional services provider. If you try to engage a lawyer with a lot of work, they may charge a premium. If you find a lawyer that is slow, they may be more willing to provide a discount to fill their unbillable time.

Different Ways Lawyers Charge Clients For Writing Contracts

Lawyer fees for contract drafting can come in a variety of structures and is highly dependent on the type of project they are working on. Below are some common pricing structures you may see:

Hourly Rates

Many lawyers will offer to provide services at an hourly rate. This is a good pricing model when the scope of work is undefined, since it gives the lawyer and the client more flexibility.

Lawyers will typically present their hourly rate to a client and log time as they complete work, typically billing in tenth of an hour intervals. Once they are ready to invoice their client, they will take their hourly rate and multiply it by the number of hours billed to come up with an invoice total.

For example, if a lawyer's hourly rate is $300 per hour and they log 5 hours of work, the final invoice will be $1,500.

Flat Fees

Many lawyers will offer clients flat fee pricing, especially for contract drafting work. This is a good pricing structure when project scopes are well defined.

The client and lawyer will agree upon a flat rate for the work, discuss what this rate includes, and this will be the invoice total once the lawyer is ready to invoice their client.

For example, if you need an operating agreement drafted and a lawyer offers to handle the work for $600. The invoice you will receive will reflect the $600 flat fee, as long as the project didn't change the scope.

Retainers

Retainers are pre-payments made by clients for future work, which lawyers will hold in a trust account until the funds are used for legal services. Lawyers will bill their hourly rate and draw out retainer funds to cover their work.

They are a tool used by lawyers to make sure their clients can pay for their services.

For example, a lawyer may tell you their hourly rate is $200 per hour but require a $2,000 retainer to start work. A client will pre-pay $2,000 to be held in a trust account, and the lawyer will bill time and withdraw funds to cover their invoices.

If lawyers do not use the entire retainer, funds are typically returned to the client – unless it was a non-refundable retainer.

Subscriptions

For on-going relationships with businesses need to draft contract routinely, lawyers may opt to charge a subscription fee.

Subscriptions are set monthly bills that include a certain amount of time or services. They are a way to make sure a client reserves time of the lawyer to work on their projects.

For example, a lawyer may bill $300 per hour normally, but may offer 20 hours a month to a client for $4,000. The client is benefiting from the reduced hourly rate and the lawyer has created guaranteed monthly income.

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Lawyer Fees for Contract Drafting by Contract Type

Given ContractsCounsel is a legal marketplace, we have lawyer fee data for a variety of projects. Below is a list of 220 projects alphabetized that shows the average hiring value. The average hiring value is reflective of all projects and all US states.

Note, fees for your project may vary based on the specific needs of the project. Please see below:

1. Acceptable Use Policy. The average cost to draft an acceptable use policy is $516.
2. Accounting Services Agreement. The average cost to draft an accounting services agreement is $435.
3. Addendum to Lease. The average cost to draft an addendum to lease is $436.
4. Advertising Agreement. The average cost to draft an advertising agreement is $683.
5. Advisory Agreement. The average cost to draft an advisory agreement is $748.
6. Affidavit of Ownership. The average cost to draft an affidavit of ownership is $395.
7. Affiliate Agreement. The average cost to draft an affiliate agreement is $619.
8. Affiliate Program Agreement. The average cost to draft an affiliate program agreement is $796.
9. Angel Investor Agreement. The average cost to draft an angel investor agreement is $1,375.
10. Apartment Rental Agreement. The average cost to draft an apartment rental agreement is $545.
11. Art Consignment Agreement. The average cost to draft an art consignment agreement is $300.
12. Artist Management Agreement. The average cost to draft an artist management agreement is $775.
13. Asset Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft an asset purchase agreement is $1,276.
14. Assignment of Partnership Interest. The average cost to draft an assignment of partnership interest is $545.
15. Bill of Sale. The average cost to draft a bill of sale is $662.
16. Brand Licensing Agreement. The average cost to draft a brand licensing agreement is $927.
17. Broker Carrier Agreement. The average cost to draft a broker carrier agreement is $912.
18. Building Lease. The average cost to draft a building lease is $565.
19. Business Associate Agreement. The average cost to draft a business associate agreement is $706.
20. Business Contract. The average cost to draft a business contract is $765.
21. Business License Application. The average cost to draft a business license application is $350.
22. Business Partnership Agreement. The average cost to draft a business partnership agreement is $1,042.
23. Business Plan. The average cost to draft a business plan is $410.
24. Business Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a business purchase agreement is $940.
25. Buy Sell Agreement. The average cost to draft a buy sell agreement is $666.
26. Buyout Agreement. The average cost to draft a buyout agreement is $841.
27. Cease and Desist Letter. The average cost to draft a cease and desist letter is $441.
28. Channel Partner Agreement. The average cost to draft a channel partner agreement is $1,433.
29. Child Custody Agreement. The average cost to draft a child custody agreement is $428.
30. Cloud Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a cloud services agreement is $777.
31. Coaching Agreement. The average cost to draft a coaching agreement is $475.
32. Codicil. The average cost to draft a codicil is $624.
33. Cofounder Agreement. The average cost to draft a cofounder agreement is $865.
34. Cohabitation Agreement. The average cost to draft a cohabitation agreement is $499.
35. Commercial Lease. The average cost to draft a commercial lease is $825.
36. Commercial Lease Agreement. The average cost to draft a commercial lease agreement is $672.
37. Commercial Loan. The average cost to draft a commercial loan is $1,033.
38. Commission Agreement. The average cost to draft a commission agreement is $599.
39. Common Stock Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a common stock purchase agreement is $859.
40. Compensation Agreement. The average cost to draft a compensation agreement is $662.
41. Confidential Information Release Agreement. The average cost to draft a confidential information release agreement is $848.
42. Confidential Settlement Agreement. The average cost to draft a confidential settlement agreement is $950.
43. Confidentiality Agreement. The average cost to draft a confidentiality agreement is $363.
44. Construction Agreement. The average cost to draft a construction agreement is $1,067.
45. Construction Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a construction services agreement is $612.
46. Consulting Agreement. The average cost to draft a consulting agreement is $786.
47. Consulting Services Contract. The average cost to draft a consulting services contract is $496.
48. Content Creator Agreement. The average cost to draft a content creator agreement is $609.
49. Content License Agreement. The average cost to draft a content license agreement is $764.
50. Contract Manufacturing Agreement. The average cost to draft a contract manufacturing agreement is $1,029.
51. Contractor Agreement. The average cost to draft a contractor agreement is $909.
52. Convertible Note. The average cost to draft a convertible note is $990.
53. Cookies Policy. The average cost to draft a cookies policy is $1,325.
54. Co-ownership Agreement. The average cost to draft a co-ownership agreement is $652.
55. Copyright License Agreement. The average cost to draft a copyright license agreement is $660.
56. Copyright Transfer Agreement. The average cost to draft a copyright transfer agreement is $600.
57. Corporate Bylaws. The average cost to draft corporate bylaws is $849.
58. Customer Contract. The average cost to draft a customer contract is $734.
59. Data Processing Agreement. The average cost to draft a data processing agreement is $898.
60. Debt Settlement Agreement. The average cost to draft a debt settlement agreement is $438.
61. Deed of Trust. The average cost to draft a deed of trust is $549.
62. Demand Letter. The average cost to draft a demand letter is $368.
63. Dental Associate Contract. The average cost to draft a dental associate contract is $431.
64. Design-Build Contract. The average cost to draft a design-build contract is $477.
65. Developer Agreement. The average cost to draft a developer agreement is $616.
66. Development Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a development services agreement is $1,125.
67. Distribution Agreement. The average cost to draft a distribution agreement is $926.
68. Divorce Settlement. The average cost to draft a divorce settlement is $1,017.
69. Egg/ Embryo Donation Contract. The average cost to draft an egg/embryo donation contract is $650.
70. Employee IP Agreement. The average cost to draft an employee IP agreement is $337.
71. Employee Non-Disclosure Agreement. The average cost to draft an employee non-disclosure agreement is $362.
72. Employee Separation Agreement. The average cost to draft an employee separation agreement is $1,091.
73. Employee Stock Options Agreement. The average cost to draft an employee stock options agreement is $641.
74. Employment Contract. The average cost to draft an employment contract is $748.
75. Employment Handbook. The average cost to draft an employment handbook is $709.
76. Employment Offer. The average cost to draft an employment offer is $1,206.
77. End User License Agreement. The average cost to draft an end user license agreement is $1,216.
78. Equipment Lease. The average cost to draft an equipment lease is $863.
79. Equity Compensation Agreement. The average cost to draft an equity compensation agreement is $713.
80. Estate Planning Package for Couple. The average cost to draft an estate planning package for a couple is $1,000.
81. Event Services Agreement. The average cost to draft an event services agreement is $782.
82. Event Space Rental Agreement. The average cost to draft an event space rental agreement is $682.
83. Exclusive Distribution Agreement. The average cost to draft an exclusive distribution agreement is $1,253.
84. Exclusivity Agreement. The average cost to draft an exclusivity agreement is $688.
85. Executive Employment Contract. The average cost to draft an executive employment contract is $1,083.
86. Finance Lease. The average cost to draft a finance lease is $1,350.
87. Founders Agreement. The average cost to draft a founders agreement is $985.
88. Franchise Agreement. The average cost to draft a franchise agreement is $1,425.
89. Freelance Contract. The average cost to draft a freelance contract is $569.
90. GDPR Compliance. The average cost to draft a GDPR compliance document is $1,025.
91. General Contractor Contract. The average cost to draft a general contractor contract is $750.
92. Gross Lease. The average cost to draft a gross lease is $775.
93. Ground Lease. The average cost to draft a ground lease is $958.
94. Hold Harmless Agreement. The average cost to draft a hold harmless agreement is $668.
95. Immigration Compliance. The average cost to draft an immigration compliance document is $4,750.
96. Indemnity Agreement. The average cost to draft an indemnity agreement is $420.
97. Independent Contractor Agreement. The average cost to draft an independent contractor agreement is $600.
98. Intellectual Property License Agreement. The average cost to draft an intellectual property license agreement is $669.
99. Intellectual Property Transfer Agreement. The average cost to draft an intellectual property transfer agreement is $622.
100. Investment Contract. The average cost to draft an investment contract is $869.
101. Investment Management Agreement. The average cost to draft an investment management agreement is $733.
102. Investment Subscription Agreement. The average cost to draft an investment subscription agreement is $700.
103. Investor Disclosure Documents. The average cost to draft investor disclosure documents is $105.
104. IP Assignment Agreement. The average cost to draft an IP assignment agreement is $354.
105. Joint Operating Agreement. The average cost to draft a joint operating agreement is $747.
106. Joint Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a joint purchase agreement is $625.
107. Joint Venture Agreement. The average cost to draft a joint venture agreement is $872.
108. Land Contract. The average cost to draft a land contract is $559.
109. Land Lease Agreement. The average cost to draft a land lease agreement is $739.
110. Land Use Restriction Agreement. The average cost to draft a land use restriction agreement is $825.
111. Last Will and Testament. The average cost to draft a last will and testament is $925.
112. Lease Agreement. The average cost to draft a lease agreement is $582.
113. Lease Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a lease purchase agreement is $611.
114. Lease To Own Agreement. The average cost to draft a lease to own agreement is $734.
115. Legal Opinion. The average cost to draft a legal opinion is $250.
116. Legal Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a legal services agreement is $623.
117. Letter of Intent. The average cost to draft a letter of intent is $742.
118. Liability Waiver. The average cost to draft a liability waiver is $634.
119. Licensing Agreement. The average cost to draft a licensing agreement is $1,058.
120. Lien. The average cost to draft a lien is $316.
121. Living Trust. The average cost to draft a living trust is $648.
122. LLC Operating Agreement. The average cost to draft an LLC operating agreement is $731.
123. Loan Agreement. The average cost to draft a loan agreement is $742.
124. Maintenance Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a maintenance services agreement is $495.
125. Manufacturing Agreement. The average cost to draft a manufacturing agreement is $718.
126. Marketing Agreement. The average cost to draft a marketing agreement is $624.
127. Master Promissory Note. The average cost to draft a master promissory note is $366.
128. Master Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a master services agreement is $779.
129. Membership Agreement. The average cost to draft a membership agreement is $641.
130. Memorandum of Understanding. The average cost to draft a memorandum of understanding is $459.
131. Mortgage Note. The average cost to draft a mortgage note is $1,025.
132. Multi Member LLC Operating Agreement. The average cost to draft a multi-member LLC operating agreement is $567.
133. Non-Compete Agreement. The average cost to draft a non-compete agreement is $595.
134. Non-Disclosure Agreement. The average cost to draft a non-disclosure agreement is $434.
135. Non-Solicitation Agreement. The average cost to draft a non-solicitation agreement is $312.
136. Note Payable. The average cost to draft a note payable is $507.
137. Note Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a note purchase agreement is $623.
138. Offering Memorandum. The average cost to draft an offering memorandum is $498.
139. OnlyFans Management Contract. The average cost to draft an OnlyFans management contract is $420.
140. Operating Agreement. The average cost to draft an operating agreement is $740.
141. Operational Level Agreement. The average cost to draft an operational level agreement is $518.
142. Options Contract. The average cost to draft an options contract is $393.
143. Partnership Agreement. The average cost to draft a partnership agreement is $835.
144. Phantom Stock Agreement. The average cost to draft a phantom stock agreement is $957.
145. Photography Service Agreement. The average cost to draft a photography service agreement is $325.
146. Physician Employment Agreement. The average cost to draft a physician employment agreement is $593.
147. Postnuptial Agreement. The average cost to draft a postnuptial agreement is $965.
148. Power of Attorney. The average cost to draft a power of attorney is $393.
149. Prenuptial Agreement. The average cost to draft a prenuptial agreement is $882.
150. Privacy Policy. The average cost to draft a privacy policy is $977.
151. Private Label Agreement. The average cost to draft a private label agreement is $1,019.
152. Private Placement Memorandum. The average cost to draft a private placement memorandum is $2,206.
153. Production Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a production services agreement is $525.
154. Professional Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a professional services agreement is $750.
155. Profit Share Agreement. The average cost to draft a profit share agreement is $656.
156. Project Collaboration Agreement. The average cost to draft a project collaboration agreement is $665.
157. Promissory Note Agreement. The average cost to draft a promissory note agreement is $701.
158. Property Deed. The average cost to draft a property deed is $551.
159. Property Management Agreement. The average cost to draft a property management agreement is $747.
160. Property Sale Agreement. The average cost to draft a property sale agreement is $800.
161. Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a purchase agreement is $751.
162. Purchase And Sale Agreement. The average cost to draft a purchase and sale agreement is $556.
163. Purchase Contract. The average cost to draft a purchase contract is $928.
164. Quitclaim Deed. The average cost to draft a quitclaim deed is $656.
165. Real Estate Investment Agreement. The average cost to draft a real estate investment agreement is $853.
166. Real Estate License Agreement. The average cost to draft a real estate license agreement is $250.
167. Real Estate Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a real estate purchase agreement is $888.
168. Real Estate Sale Agreement. The average cost to draft a real estate sale agreement is $688.
169. Recruiting Services Agreement. The average cost to draft a recruiting services agreement is $800.
170. Referral Partner Agreement. The average cost to draft a referral partner agreement is $1,411.
171. Release Form. The average cost to draft a release form is $258.
172. Release of Liability. The average cost to draft a release of liability is $413.
173. Release of Lien. The average cost to draft a release of lien is $325.
174. Rental Agreement. The average cost to draft a rental agreement is $635.
175. Rental Lease Agreement. The average cost to draft a rental lease agreement is $573.
176. Repayment Agreement. The average cost to draft a repayment agreement is $690.
177. Residential Lease. The average cost to draft a residential lease is $490.
178. Residential Real Estate Lease Agreement. The average cost to draft a residential real estate lease agreement is $612.
179. Residential Service Contract. The average cost to draft a residential service contract is $950.
180. Retainer Agreement. The average cost to draft a retainer agreement is $573.
181. Revenue Sharing Agreement. The average cost to draft a revenue sharing agreement is $728.
182. Roofing Contract. The average cost to draft a roofing contract is $573.
183. SaaS Agreement. The average cost to draft a SaaS agreement is $1,195.
184. SaaS Reseller Agreement. The average cost to draft a SaaS reseller agreement is $1,000.
185. SAFE Note. The average cost to draft a SAFE note is $545.
186. Sales Agreement. The average cost to draft a sales agreement is $697.
187. Sales Commission Agreement. The average cost to draft a sales commission agreement is $574.
188. Separation Agreement. The average cost to draft a separation agreement is $1,109.
189. Service Agreement. The average cost to draft a service agreement is $802.
190. Settlement Agreement. The average cost to draft a settlement agreement is $382.
191. Severance Agreement. The average cost to draft a severance agreement is $722.
192. Share Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a share purchase agreement is $1,175.
193. Shareholder Agreement. The average cost to draft a shareholder agreement is $1,009.
194. Single Member LLC Formation. The average cost to draft a single-member LLC formation is $775.
195. Single Member LLC Operating Agreement. The average cost to draft a single-member LLC operating agreement is $400.
196. Software Agreement. The average cost to draft a software agreement is $740.
197. Software Development Agreement. The average cost to draft a software development agreement is $828.
198. Software Licensing Agreement. The average cost to draft a software licensing agreement is $1,544.
199. Software Subscription Agreement. The average cost to draft a software subscription agreement is $1,558.
200. Statement of Work. The average cost to draft a statement of work is $564.
201. Stock Option Agreement. The average cost to draft a stock option agreement is $775.
202. Stock Purchase Agreement. The average cost to draft a stock purchase agreement is $1,090.
203. Subcontractor Agreement. The average cost to draft a subcontractor agreement is $1,284.
204. Sublease. The average cost to draft a sublease is $463.
205. Subscription Agreement. The average cost to draft a subscription agreement is $1,466.
206. Term Sheet. The average cost to draft a term sheet is $645.
207. Terms and Conditions. The average cost to draft terms and conditions is $891.
208. Terms of Service. The average cost to draft terms of service is $953.
209. Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. The average cost to draft terms of service & privacy policy is $1,204.
210. Trademark Application. The average cost to draft a trademark application is $1,450.
211. Triple Net Lease. The average cost to draft a triple net lease is $575.
212. Trust. The average cost to draft a trust is $983.
213. User Agreement. The average cost to draft a user agreement is $1,150.
214. Vehicle Lease Agreement. The average cost to draft a vehicle lease agreement is $738.
215. Vendor Agreement. The average cost to draft a vendor agreement is $575.
216. Waiver. The average cost to draft a waiver is $452.
217. Warranty Deed. The average cost to draft a warranty deed is $500.
218. Website Design Agreement. The average cost to draft a website design agreement is $498.
219. Wholesaler Agreement. The average cost to draft a wholesaler agreement is $656.

Tips for Keeping Lawyer Fees Down

Making sure you are effective at keeping legal fees down is important. If you have ever hired a lawyer, you will know that costs can escalate quickly and often unintentionally. Here are some tips to consider to keep lawyer fees down for drafting contracts:

• Request a flat fee proposal. Flat fees are common for writing contracts and most lawyers will offer them. Make sure you request a flat fee proposal so you have price certainty on your project.
• Get what is included in writing. If you agree on a flat fee, make sure you are clear on what the fee includes. Does it include a round of revisions? Does it include a call to go over the final contract? Make sure you get everything you need included in the fee and get it in writing.
• Get competing proposals. Use a marketplace like ContractsCounsel to get multiple bids to review and compare. You can also use Google search. Competing offers will allow you to see different prices and negotiate, if needed.
• Send consolidated feedback. If you get a round of revisions in your fee, make sure to send all feedback together. Sending multiple emails with feedback will only lead to more billable time, so consolidate communication.
• Have a kick-off call. Have a call before the lawyer drafts anything to go over all terms you want in the contract. If you do not, you risk getting a first draft that needs a lot of work which can lead to additional fees.
• Do your homework. Research the type of contract you need and understand what’s typically included and top considerations. This will allow you to use less of the lawyer’s time and make better decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard turnaround time for contract drafting projects?

Writing contracts will typically take a lawyer 2-3 business days to complete, but can often take longer as they will need information from their client to include in the contract. If clients are prepared with all information, projects can move quickly. If lawyers wait on information or need to handle revisions after the first draft, the turnaround time can be closer to 5-8 business days.

Conclusion

Lawyers fees for contract drafting have no set rates and are highly dependent on the contract type and complexity of the transaction. We hope our pricing data has been helpful to give you a frame of reference so you can better budget.

If you're in need of a lawyer to help write a contract, feel free to post a project in our marketplace to get competing quotes from lawyers.