Owner / Architect · ALA Contract Documents

Pre-Design Services Agreement (Hourly)

A short, clear agreement for feasibility studies, site analysis, programming, and other pre-design work billed by the hour — so you get paid for early thinking instead of giving it away while chasing the commission.

Format Editable Microsoft Word document, delivered by email after checkout
Price $75 · free for ALA members
Drafted by Husch Blackwell construction-law attorneys for the Association of Licensed Architects
Who this document is for
  • Architects doing feasibility, programming, or site studies before design begins
  • Firms that bill early-phase work hourly before scope is defined
  • Anyone who wants paid discovery instead of free proposals
Frequently asked

How is this different from other industry-standard forms?

Unlike forms written for the whole construction industry, the Pre-Design Services Agreement is drafted specifically from the architect’s perspective, in plain language your clients can read without their own attorney translating every clause.

Can I edit it for my project?

Yes. It arrives as an editable Microsoft Word file, so you can adapt names, scope, fees, and project-specific terms while keeping the attorney-drafted structure intact.

Part of the ALA contract library — attorney-drafted agreements in clear language, written for the way architects actually work. Four contracts cost more than a year of ALA membership, which includes every document free.