When you’re starting a business, legal documents can feel like a luxury. But skipping legal protections can cost you much more down the line. Three essential agreements for startups are the NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), MSA (Master Services Agreement), and SOW (Statement of Work). These documents create structure and define expectations as you grow.
What is an NDA?
An NDA protects sensitive information like your intellectual property, financials, and business ideas when shared with others.
When to use it:
Before pitching your product
When hiring contractors or vendors
If you’re sharing anything confidential with outside parties, an NDA can help you stay protected. Even at the early stages, your ideas have value.
What is an MSA?
An MSA outlines the standard terms between you and another party — typically a client or vendor. It creates a reusable agreement for future work.
When to use it:
For ongoing client or vendor relationships
To avoid renegotiating terms for each project
Once signed, you can issue multiple SOWs under the same agreement, saving time and reducing risk.
What is a SOW?
A Statement of Work defines project-specific details — scope, timeline, deliverables, and payment.
When to use it:
For project-based work
When hiring for a specific outcome
A strong SOW ensures clarity, prevents scope creep, and keeps payments on track.
The Startup Legal Hub Difference
At Startup Legal Hub, we’ve made it simple to generate these documents quickly and affordably. Just answer a few questions, and your customized doc is ready to download.
No legal jargon. No law firm retainer. Just attorney-reviewed, startup-friendly templates to help you move forward with confidence.
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