Free Contingency Fee Agreement Template

A contingency fee agreement is a written contract where payment depends on the outcome. The provider only earns a fee if they secure a result, such as a recovery or a settlement.

This is often called a “no win, no fee” arrangement. Instead of billing by the hour, the provider takes an agreed share of whatever the client recovers.

The structure shifts the risk. The client pays little up front, and the provider is rewarded only when the work pays off.

That trade-off makes the written terms especially important. Because the fee is a share of the result rather than a fixed bill, both sides need to agree in advance on how that share is calculated.

You do not need to draft this from scratch. With a guided contingency fee agreement template, you set the percentage and terms and get a clear contract in minutes. The result is a document both sides can trust before any work begins.

Use a contingency fee agreement when payment should follow a successful result. It fits work where the outcome, not the hours, is what both sides care about.

Common situations include when you:

• Hire help to recover a debt or an unpaid invoice.
• Engage a specialist on a claim paid only if money is recovered.
• Set a success fee for closing a funding round or a sale.
• Reward a recruiter or broker when a deal completes.
• Replace an hourly arrangement with a results-based one.

The appeal is shared risk. Because the fee depends on success, both sides are motivated to reach the same outcome.

It also lowers the barrier to getting help. A client who could not pay by the hour can still pursue a claim, since the fee only comes due once money is actually recovered.

Tip: Be clear about what counts as a “win.” Defining the trigger for payment upfront is the single best way to avoid a dispute later.

A strong contingency fee agreement leaves no doubt about how and when the fee is earned. The percentage and the payment trigger deserve the most attention.

Parties and Matter

Name both parties and describe the matter clearly. Explain the claim, debt, or deal the arrangement covers.

Contingency Fee Percentage

State the exact percentage the provider will earn. Note whether it changes at different stages, such as before or after a formal process.

What Triggers Payment

Define the result that earns the fee. Spell out what counts as a recovery, settlement, or completed deal.

Costs and Expenses

Explain who pays out-of-pocket costs and when. Clarify whether expenses come out of the recovery or are billed separately.

Payment and Disbursement

Describe how funds are handled once recovered. Cover how the fee is calculated and when the client receives their share.

Termination

Set out how either side can end the arrangement. Note what, if anything, is owed if the matter ends early.

Writing a contingency fee agreement is straightforward when you settle the key numbers first. Rather than starting cold, you decide the percentage and trigger, then fill in the rest.

1. Identify the parties and matter. Name both sides and describe what the arrangement covers.
2. Set the percentage. State the fee share and whether it changes by stage.
3. Define the trigger. Spell out exactly what result earns the fee.
4. Handle costs. Decide who pays expenses and how they are recovered.
5. Review and sign. Read the full agreement, then have both parties sign and keep a copy.

A guided template keeps the math clear. It prompts you for the percentage, the trigger, and the cost terms, so the payment rules are never left vague.

It also reminds you to address what happens if the matter fails. Spelling out that no fee is owed on an unsuccessful result is what makes a no-win, no-fee deal trustworthy for both sides.

Tip: Show a quick example of how the fee is calculated. A simple worked figure removes any confusion about who gets what from a recovery.

A contingency fee agreement becomes binding once both parties sign. Many are signed electronically, which is fast and accepted for most business contracts.

Contingency arrangements carry specific rules in some fields, and those rules vary widely. A few checks are important before you sign.

Confirm the details that apply to your situation:

• Check your state’s official website for rules on contingency or success-based fees.
• Ask the relevant professional body whether limits apply to your type of work.
• Confirm how any recovered funds should be held and disbursed.

Contingency fees in legal matters are especially regulated, and the rules differ by state and profession. For those, or for any high-value claim, have a licensed professional review the agreement first.

Keep the signed version somewhere both sides can find it, too. Since payment depends on a future result, a clear record of the agreed percentage and trigger protects everyone when the matter finally resolves.

You do not need expensive software or a drafting service to start. Document Genius makes it simple to build a professional contingency fee agreement from a customizable template.

Answer a few guided questions, and the online form sets out the percentage, trigger, and costs for you. You stay in control of every term in the deal.

The moment it is ready, download your agreement as a PDF or Word file. Sign it online, print it, or adjust it as the matter develops.

Start yours in minutes, and tie payment to results with terms both sides trust.