BMAD-METHOD/docs/deliverables/service-agreement.md

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# Deliverable: Service Agreement
**Formalize stakeholder commitment with a clear contract - protecting the outcomes they care about**
---
## About WDS & the Service Agreement
**WDS (Whiteport Design Studio)** is an AI agent framework module within the BMAD Method that transforms how designers work. Instead of creating documentation that gets lost in translation, your design work becomes **powerful prompts** that guide AI agents and development teams with precision and intent.
**The Service Agreement** formalizes the commitment you secured with your Project Pitch. It protects both parties, defines clear scope around the outcomes they told you they need, and establishes the foundation for a healthy working relationship where everyone's expectations are explicitly aligned.
---
## What Is This Deliverable?
The Service Agreement is your formal contract that:
- Defines scope of work around the outcomes they need (what's included, what's not)
- Establishes clear deliverables that serve their desired results
- Protects both parties with terms and conditions
- Provides legal foundation for the project
- Makes explicit what success looks like (their definition)
**Created by:** Saga the Analyst
**When:** Phase 1 (Module 03) - After pitch is accepted, before work begins
**Format:** Markdown document converted to contract/PDF format
---
## Why This Matters
**Without a formal agreement:**
- ❌ Scope creep around "I thought you meant..." becomes unmanageable
- ❌ Payment becomes contentious when outcomes aren't clear
- ❌ No protection if client stops paying
- ❌ Unclear who owns the final work
- ❌ The outcomes they care about aren't explicitly protected
**With a service agreement:**
- ✅ Protected scope tied to their desired outcomes
- ✅ Clear payment terms
- ✅ Legal recourse if needed
- ✅ Professional credibility
- ✅ Foundation for healthy client relationships
- ✅ Both parties know exactly what success looks like
---
## What's Included
- **Scope of Work:** What's included (tied to outcomes they need) and what's explicitly not
- **Deliverables:** Tangible outputs you'll produce that serve their desired results (with links to examples)
- **Timeline:** Key milestones and completion dates
- **Payment Terms:** Cost structure, payment schedule, late fees
- **Change Management:** How scope changes are handled (change order process) - protecting focus on agreed outcomes
- **Acceptance Criteria:** When work is considered complete (based on their definition of success)
- **Intellectual Property:** Who owns what (code, designs, content)
- **Termination Clause:** How either party can exit the agreement
- **Warranties & Limitations:** What you guarantee (and don't)
---
## The Dialog with Your Thinking Partner: Saga the Analyst
**The Process (30-45 minutes):**
Saga the Analyst helps you formalize the agreement based on what they told you they need:
```
Saga the Analyst: "Let's protect this project with a solid agreement that
serves the outcomes they care about. What exactly is in scope?"
You: "Landing page redesign, mobile responsive, 5 pages total. They need
to reduce cart abandonment by making checkout clearer."
Saga the Analyst: "Good - scope tied to their desired outcome. What's explicitly
OUT of scope?"
You: "No backend work, no e-commerce functionality changes, no third-party
integrations. We're focused only on the clarity improvements they need."
Saga the Analyst: "Perfect - that clarity prevents scope creep and keeps focus
on the outcomes they told you matter. Now, what are your
deliverables?"
You: "Page specifications, design system, WordPress-ready content,
interactive prototype - all focused on checkout clarity."
Saga the Analyst: "Excellent! What's your timeline and payment structure?"
```
As you talk, Saga the Analyst creates:
- ✅ Clear scope boundaries (protecting their desired outcomes)
- ✅ Specific deliverables list (tied to what they need)
- ✅ Milestone timeline
- ✅ Payment terms
- ✅ Change order process (protecting focus on agreed outcomes)
- ✅ IP ownership terms
- ✅ Acceptance criteria (based on their definition of success)
Then you review together:
```
Saga the Analyst: "Here's your Service Agreement. Does this protect both
of you and keep focus on the outcomes they care about?"
You: "Yes! But add a 50% deposit requirement before work starts."
Saga the Analyst: "Added to payment terms. ✅ Agreement is ready."
```
**Result:** Service Agreement that protects both parties and keeps everyone focused on the outcomes that matter to them
---
## Example
See the [WDS Presentation Project - Service Agreement](#) *(Coming soon)*
---
## Agent Activation
To start creating your Service Agreement:
```
@saga I need to create a Service Agreement for [Your Project Name].
```
Saga the Analyst will begin the conversation and guide you through the process.
---
## How to Create This
**Hands-on Tutorial:** [Module 03: Alignment & Signoff](../module-03-alignment-signoff/tutorial-03.md)
**Workflow Reference:** [Alignment & Signoff Workflow](../src/workflows/1-project-brief/alignment-signoff/)
---
## Getting Started with WDS
New to WDS? Install the complete AI agent framework to unlock all capabilities:
👉 **[Install WDS & Get Started](../../getting-started/getting-started-overview.md)**
---
**Previous Deliverable:** [Project Pitch](project-pitch.md) - Get stakeholder buy-in first
**Next Deliverable:** [Product Brief](product-brief.md) - Define what you're actually building