What Should Go in a Collaboration Agreement?
- Jackie Atchison
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
Intro
You’re planning to collaborate on a project—maybe it’s a joint event, a bundled service, co-branded content, or a short-term partnership. It sounds like a great opportunity. But before you dive in, you need to get clear on expectations, ownership, and what happens if something goes wrong.
This post explains what a collaboration agreement is, how it differs from other legal arrangements, and what to include so your partnership works—commercially and legally.
Why It Matters
Collaborations often start with excitement—but can unravel fast if the scope is unclear, revenue sharing isn’t discussed, or one party feels like they’re doing all the work.
That’s where a collaboration agreement comes in. It defines the relationship, clarifies who’s doing what, and protects each party’s contributions. Even with a trusted partner, a written agreement brings clarity and confidence.
What You Need to Know
What Is a Collaboration Agreement?
A Collaboration Agreement is a legal document that sets the terms for working together on a specific project or initiative. It’s typically short-term and outcome-focused, with each party keeping its independence. Unlike a joint venture or partnership, there’s no new business entity or ongoing obligation.
Collaboration agreements are ideal when two or more businesses want to:
Co-host an event
Launch a joint service or product
Share marketing campaigns or branded content
Work together on research or content development
Collaboration Agreement vs Joint Venture vs Partnership
While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they’re not the same. Here’s how a Collaboration Agreement stacks up:
Collaboration Agreement - You team up on a specific project, but each party stays independent. No new entity required.
Example: A digital agency and a PR consultant create a bundled launch package.
Joint Venture (JV) - You create a new legal entity for a shared goal. Profits, losses, and control are shared.
Example: Two tech firms form a JV to develop and sell a new app.
Partnership - A longer-term business structure where parties share operations, profits, and liabilities. Example: Two professionals going into a long term business together with shared overhead and branding.
What to Include in a Collaboration Agreement
A solid agreement doesn’t need to be complicated—but it does need to cover the essentials:
Purpose and Scope - What’s the goal of the collaboration? What will each party contribute?
Ownership of Deliverables - Who owns the content, IP, or assets created during the project? Can either party reuse them?
Revenue Sharing or Cost Allocation - Are you splitting income or costs? How will profits and expenses be tracked and divided?
Decision-Making - Who gets the final say? How are approvals or changes handled?
Marketing and Branding - Can either party use the other’s brand or logo? On what terms and for how long?
Confidentiality and Data Use - Will client lists, leads, or business processes be shared? Set boundaries around use and storage.
Dispute Resolution - What happens if one party doesn’t deliver—or if you need to end things early?
Tip: If you're creating shared content or tools, get clear on IP ownership before anything goes live. Don’t rely on assumptions.
What Happens If You Don’t Have One
Without a collaboration agreement:
One party may feel they’re doing more than the other
You could end up disputing revenue or content ownership
You may be liable for something your collaborator said or did
You could lose access to shared systems, leads or IP if the relationship ends abruptly
Commercial Insight
A collaboration agreement isn’t just a legal formality—it’s how you run a partnership like a business, not a handshake.
When both parties are upfront about expectations, rights, and rewards, it avoids awkward conversations later and helps the project succeed. It also shows professionalism and commercial maturity—something your partners will respect.
What to Do Next to Get Started on a Collaboration Agreement
If you’re entering a new collaboration:
Be clear on what success looks like—and who’s doing what
Agree in writing on IP, branding, money, and deliverables
Include clauses for confidentiality, early exits, and dispute resolution
Get legal advice if shared IP, ongoing revenue, or complex terms are involved
Wrap-Up
I help business owners structure collaboration agreements that work—commercially and legally. If you’re teaming up on a project and want to get clear on the terms before you start, I can help you put the right framework in place.
