A lightweight agreement protects both sides before a weekly retainer starts. You do not need a 20-page legal doc — you need clarity on scope, confidentiality, and payment.

1. Scope of work

Define:

Tasks included — inbox triage, support tickets, bookkeeping, etc.
Tasks excluded — licensed work, strategic decisions, client-facing sales
Weekly hours — expected range and flexibility rules
Tools — Gmail, Notion, Zendesk, QuickBooks access boundaries

2. Communication norms

Primary channel (Orca Messages, Slack, email)
Response time expectations (e.g. 4-hour reply on weekdays)
Weekly sync format (15-minute Loom or written status)

3. Confidentiality

Cover:

NDA or confidentiality clause for customer data, financials, passwords
Device security — 2FA, no personal email for work accounts
Data retention — delete local copies when engagement ends

4. Payment terms

Hourly rate and currency
Invoice cadence (weekly/biweekly)
Payment method (Wise, PayPal, Stripe escrow on Orca)
Late payment and pause-work policy

5. Termination

Notice period (e.g. 2 weeks)
Final deliverables and access revocation checklist
Ownership of work product (you own outputs; VA keeps general skills)

6. Trial period

Start with Orca's $30 escrow trial on a bounded deliverable before signing a longer agreement. You'll learn communication fit faster than a contract negotiation.

Quick checklist

[ ] Scope document or SOP attached
[ ] Rate and hours agreed in writing
[ ] Confidentiality acknowledged
[ ] Tool access documented
[ ] Trial completed or waived with eyes open

Related: [VA vs employee](/blog/virtual-assistant-vs-employee) · [Onboarding checklist](/blog/virtual-assistant-onboarding-checklist) · [Hire guide](/hire-virtual-assistant)

Virtual Assistant Contract Checklist for Founders