Closed Captioning / Subtitling Services Agreement Template
You're providing professional captioning services, but handshake deals and vague emails leave you exposed when clients dispute accuracy, demand endless revisions, or refuse to pay. This agreement sets clear quality standards, defines what you're actually responsible for, and protects you from scope creep that kills profitability.
Last Updated: Feb. 26, 2026
What Is the Closed Captioning / Subtitling Services Agreement?
This template is a comprehensive service contract between captioning providers and clients. It defines exactly what services you're delivering, what technical standards and accuracy benchmarks you'll meet, how many revision rounds are included, and what happens when clients change requirements midstream.
The agreement covers closed captioning, open subtitles, SDH, foreign language translation, and transcription services. It includes built-in protections against common disputes including unlimited revision demands, compliance liability, payment delays, and confidentiality breaches when handling unreleased content.
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Is This Closed Captioning Services Agreement Right for You?
You need this agreement if you're:
- Running a captioning or subtitling service business
- Freelancing as a transcriptionist or translator
- Providing accessibility services for video content
- Working with production companies, agencies, or content creators
- Offering foreign language translation and subtitling
- Captioning for broadcast, streaming platforms, or web content
You definitely need this agreement if:
- Clients demand unlimited revisions without additional payment
- Scope keeps expanding after you've quoted the project
- Clients blame you when their content isn't ADA-compliant
- You're handling unreleased content without confidentiality protections
- Payment is always delayed or disputed over subjective quality issues
Still unsure?
If you provide captioning services and don't have written terms defining accuracy standards, included revisions, and compliance disclaimers, you need this agreement.
Why Thousands Trust Legal GPS Templates
Save Money: Attorneys charge $2,000-$4,000 to draft service agreements. This template costs $35.
Save Time: Download instantly and customize in 20 minutes instead of weeks of attorney back-and-forth.
Look Professional: Enterprise clients expect formal contracts. This gives you credibility with agencies and production companies.
Keeps You Out of Court: Built-in protections limit revisions, cap liability for compliance claims, and require upfront deposits. The Accuracy Standards article defines objective quality benchmarks. The Accessibility Compliance Disclaimer shields you from legal guarantee liability.
What's Inside This Template?
Scope of Services and Technical Specifications
Defines exactly what captioning services you're providing, what file formats you'll deliver, and which accessibility standards you'll meet (FCC, WCAG, ADA). This prevents clients from claiming you promised something you didn't.
Quality Standards and Revision Process
Sets objective accuracy benchmarks (99% transcription accuracy, timing synchronization tolerances) and limits included revisions to genuine errors, not stylistic preferences or scope changes. Protects you from endless unpaid revision cycles.
Fees and Payment Terms
Structures pricing as per-minute, hourly, or project-based depending on your business model. Includes deposit requirements, rush fees, and late payment interest. Clarifies what triggers additional charges beyond the base fee.
Intellectual Property and Work-for-Hire
Confirms the client owns completed captions while you retain portfolio rights (if desired). The work-for-hire provision prevents future ownership disputes and allows clients to freely use and modify captions without additional permissions.
Confidentiality and Data Security
Protects unreleased video content with confidentiality obligations and data security requirements. Specifies how you'll handle, store, and delete client video files. Critical for entertainment, corporate, and sensitive content clients.
Accessibility Compliance Disclaimer
Clarifies you're providing technical captioning services, not guaranteeing legal ADA compliance. Protects you when clients face accessibility lawsuits despite having your captions. Explains the difference between meeting technical standards and ensuring full compliance.
| Premium Template Single-use Template |
Legal GPS Pro Unlimited Access, Best Value |
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$35
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$39/ month
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| Buy Template | Explore Legal GPS Pro |
| Trusted by 1000+ businesses | |
Get Protected in 3 Simple Steps
Step 1: Secure Checkout
Complete your purchase through our encrypted payment system. Receive instant email confirmation.
Step 2: Instant Download
Download your template immediately as an editable document. No waiting, no follow-up emails required.
Step 3: Fill In the Highlighted Fields
Follow the bracketed guidance to customize for your services and pricing. The template walks you through choosing service types, setting accuracy standards, structuring payment terms, and defining revision policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this template multiple times?
Yes. You purchase once and can use the template for unlimited client projects. Customize it for each engagement based on service scope and pricing.
Is this contract legally binding?
Yes, when properly executed. The template uses attorney-standard language that courts and clients recognize. Sign it, have your client sign it, and you've created an enforceable agreement.
Does this work for both closed captioning and foreign language subtitling?
Yes. The template includes options for closed captions, open subtitles, SDH, transcription, and foreign language translation. Select the services you provide and customize pricing accordingly.
How does this protect me from unlimited revision demands?
The Quality Standards and Revision Process article defines exactly what revisions are included (typically one round for accuracy errors and technical issues) and what requires additional fees (client preference changes, scope expansion). This prevents clients from demanding five rounds of free revisions.
What if a client says my captions didn't make them ADA-compliant?
The Accessibility Compliance Disclaimer clarifies you're providing technical captioning services to specified standards, not guaranteeing legal compliance. ADA compliance depends on many factors beyond caption quality. This protects you from liability when clients face accessibility lawsuits.
Does this cover confidentiality for unreleased content?
Yes. The Confidentiality and Data Security article requires you to protect client video content, implement encryption and access controls, and delete files after project completion. This satisfies entertainment industry clients and agencies handling sensitive content.
| Premium Template Single-use Template |
Legal GPS Pro Unlimited Access, Best Value |
|
|
|
$35
|
$39/ month
|
| Buy Template | Explore Legal GPS Pro |
| Trusted by 1000+ businesses | |