How to Write a Simple Contract Between Two People

A short agreement can help record a modest one-off exchange, such as clearly defined services for a fixed price. It should explain who promises what, when performance happens and how payment is handled. Short should mean focused—not missing the details that matter.

A loan, land transaction, guarantee, employment relationship, family arrangement or substantial intellectual-property transfer may require specialized terms or formalities. Do not use a one-page example merely because the transaction involves only two people.

Two signatures do not automatically make every promise binding. Consent, capacity, lawful purpose and applicable formation or writing requirements matter. California Courts describes offer, acceptance, consideration and other formation issues in its jurisdiction; that is not a complete statement of every Canadian province or US state’s law. Quebec requires separate civil-law treatment.

Use legal names and useful contact details. Explain whether someone contracts personally or for a business, and confirm signing authority where relevant. Do not name a brand as the party if you do not know which person or entity operates it.

Describe the work or item in measurable terms. Identify quantity, location, format, completion date and acceptance criteria where relevant. List materials or access the other person must supply. A promise to do “some work soon” leaves both performance and timing uncertain.

For payment, state amount, currency, deposit, balance, due date and method. Identify approved expenses and any taxes where applicable. If a condition remains unresolved, say what must happen before performance starts rather than hiding it in a vague side conversation.

The following is a teaching example for a modest service arrangement, not a ready-to-use document guaranteed to meet local law:

Sam agrees to assemble one customer-supplied desk at Taylor’s address on November 12 between 10 a.m. and noon. Taylor will provide the unopened desk kit and a clear work area. The fee is CAD $120, payable after assembly and the agreed completion check. Additional furniture or missing-part return visits require a separate agreed price. If either person needs to reschedule, they will contact the other before the appointment. Both will keep the completed agreement and any written changes.

The example identifies work, time, inputs and payment. It does not settle every consumer, insurance, injury or liability question. If Sam operates a business, consumer protections may apply even though the document is short. Add terms appropriate to the real risk rather than treating this paragraph as a universal template.

Use actual dates and addresses in the final record, and check that the agreed price includes or excludes applicable taxes clearly.

• “Pay me later”: specify the amount and exact due date or defined payment event.
• “Finish quickly”: identify a date and the conditions needed to meet it.
• “Make it good”: describe the deliverable and completion criteria.
• “Extras cost more”: require agreement on the added work and price before starting it.
• “We can cancel”: explain notice, completed work and any lawful refund treatment.

Precise terms do not need to be hostile. They help people discover disagreements before performance begins. Avoid legal-sounding wording you cannot explain; an unclear sentence becomes no better merely because it uses formal vocabulary.

If the agreement depends on a proposal, photograph or schedule, identify it and attach it. Decide which document governs if terms conflict, with advice where needed.

State how additional work is approved and what happens if access, materials or information are missing. Avoid relying on informal assumptions about whether a new request is free. Record the changed scope, price and delivery date together.

Describe a proportionate discussion or correction process if performance is disputed. Do not assume a contractual cancellation clause replaces mandatory consumer rights. Ontario’s consumer guidance and California’s contract guidance illustrate why transaction type and jurisdiction matter.

Some agreements need writing, witnesses, notarization or other formalities; others may be formed orally. Do not say witnesses are always necessary or never necessary. For unusual documents or substantial money, seek local advice before using a short form.

Read the complete agreement, not only the signature page. Compare every amount and date with the proposal or messages you agreed on. Remove placeholders, identify attached schedules, and make sure both parties have the same version. A signature should record agreement to settled terms rather than postpone difficult decisions.

Check whether the document or your jurisdiction requires particular execution, witnessing, notarization, disclosure or filing steps. Electronic signing does not remove those separate requirements. For ordinary documents, retain the agreed PDF and relevant communications in a form you can access later. Do not silently edit a signed version: document subsequent changes in an amendment accepted by the relevant parties.

See our guide to signing a PDF online for the practical signing stage. A signed document is evidence of an arrangement, not a guarantee that every provision is enforceable.