Are templates for independent contractor agreements okay?

There are no set fees that are in an independent contractor agreement. Generally, what is covered are the fees or costs associated with the work or project and they may also include expenses incurred related to the work or project, such as travel and/or accommodations.

There are several potential pitfalls that can be mitigated or removed by addressing them in the contract. These include: whether the contract calls itself an independent contractor agreement but yet fails the test for an independent contractor and therefore brings in matters such as workers compensation coverage (depending on number of employees), liability for contractors acts or omissions, unemployment tax, tax withholding v 1099 and several others. These can be eliminated via proper drafting.

The agreement should be as detailed as possible, including details on how to dissolve the contract for various reasons. The scope of work should be included - if it's likely to change once in a while, include that as an addendum and note that it will change from time to time. Whenever it's going to change, execute a new addendum that both parties sign and date. It is your job to protect yourself, not the independent contractor - write the contract so that it strongly favors you; if the independent contractor wants to change it before signing, that is a question of negotiation.

You're correct that your agreement should be fair and beneficial to both parties involved. Often, however, when an independent contractor receives an agreement from a company, that proposed agreement has been drafted to be favorable to the company, because that's the company's primary interest. In order to ensure the agreement is fair and equitable, you'd need to identify the business and legal provisions that are drafted in a way that protects the company but not you, and either strike those provisions entirely (if the terms are unreasonable), or suggest they be written in a mutual form. Some common examples of these provisions are warranty disclaimers, indemnity, limitation of liability, and exclusivity.

While an independent contractor agreement is not absolutely required to include terms and conditions regarding confidentiality, including such terms and conditions can help protect both the hiring party and the contractor. An independent contractor agreement that does not address confidential information can potentially exposes the contractor to unnecessary risk and liability. For example, the hiring party could claim that the contractor improperly disclosed or used its confidential information, although the parties have not agreed to what would constitute improper disclosure or use. If you have already signed an independent contractor agreement, you can attempt to negotiate an amendment to the agreement. A North Carolina attorney who is knowledgeable in independent contractor agreements and confidentiality clauses should be able to advise about amendments or even help negotiate additional or amended terms and conditions.