Free Printable Non-Solicitation Agreement Templates [Word, PDF]

When employees depart to work for a competitor, businesses have reason to worry about losing customers or staff. Non-Solicitation Agreements establish boundaries to prevent confidential data use and recruitment of former colleagues. Though sometimes controversial, these contracts aim to protect company interests following an employee’s exit.

This topic explores how Non-Solicitation Agreements work, details their legal limitations, and provides editable templates to craft enforceable agreements. With proper guidelines and narrow focus on legitimate business interests, Non-Solicitation Agreements balance employee mobility and corporate protection. Thoughtful consideration, rather than boilerplate templates, allows tailoring reasonable agreements that withstand legal scrutiny. By understanding the interests at stake and constructive approaches, businesses can protect their organization without overreaching.

Table of Contents

What Is a Non Solicitation Agreement?

A non-solicitation agreement is a contractual commitment in which one party agrees not to pursue, engage, or solicit the clients, customers, or employees of another party, typically after termination of a business relationship or employment.

These agreements are commonly used in employment contracts, business sale contracts, and partnership agreements to protect the company’s relationships with its clients and employees and prevent former associates or employees from diverting or taking away business for a specified period of time.

Non-Solicitation Agreement Templates

A non-solicitation agreement is a contract between an employer and employee that restricts an employee from soliciting clients, customers or other employees when they leave the company. It aims to protect the employer’s business relationships and staff. The agreement outlines details and limitations about contacting or communicating with the company’s clientele or employees for a set period of time.

Non-solicitation agreement templates provide standardized language to create these binding contracts. Sections may include definitions of confidential information, non-solicitation periods, scope of restricted activities, obligations, and enforcement. Templates are typically drafted by legal teams to align with current regulations. They provide a legally sound foundation that employers can customize to suit their specific needs.

Employers and employees should carefully review all sections of the non-solicitation agreement template before signing. Employers need to ensure the template provides adequate protections for their business assets. Employees should confirm the agreement’s restrictions are reasonable. Understanding the terms thoroughly allows both parties to enter the agreement willingly. Solid non-solicitation agreement templates effectively balance employer protections and employee rights.

When are Non Solicitation Agreements Used?

Non-solicitation agreements are utilized in a variety of contexts to protect a business’s valuable relationships and assets. Here’s a detailed breakdown of when they are used:

1. Employment Contracts:
   • When hiring a new employee, particularly in roles that involve significant interaction with clients, customers, or other employees, companies often incorporate non-solicitation clauses. This is to ensure that, upon leaving the company, the employee does not lure away clients or recruit former colleagues to a new venture or competitor.
2. Business Sale or Mergers:
   • If someone sells their business or merges with another entity, they may be required to sign a non-solicitation agreement. This protects the purchaser or the new merged entity from the seller starting a new, competing business and attempting to draw away the original business’s clients or employees.
3. Vendor or Independent Contractor Relationships:
   • Businesses may require vendors or independent contractors to sign non-solicitation agreements to prevent them from targeting the business’s customers directly. This is especially common when vendors have intimate access to client lists or when their services can be directly offered to the company’s clients.
4. Partnership Agreements or Joint Ventures:
   • When partners come together to form a business or engage in a joint venture, they might include non-solicitation clauses in their agreements. This ensures that if the partnership dissolves, partners refrain from poaching clients or employees for their individual benefits.
5. Employee Exit or Termination:
   • When an employee exits the company, especially in an unplanned or unfriendly manner, they might be asked to sign a non-solicitation agreement as part of a severance package or exit agreement. This is to ensure that they do not leverage their relationships built during their tenure to harm the company post-departure.
6. Trade Secrets or Proprietary Knowledge:
   • For employees or contractors who have access to critical company information or trade secrets, non-solicitation agreements may be coupled with non-disclosure or non-compete clauses. This trifecta ensures the former employee or associate does not misuse the proprietary knowledge they gained while associated with the company.
7. Franchise Agreements:
   • Franchisors often require franchisees to sign non-solicitation agreements to protect the broader franchise network. This ensures that if a franchisee leaves the network, they won’t entice other franchisees to break away or start a competing business.

Importance of a Non Solicitation Agreement

The importance of a non-solicitation agreement lies in its ability to protect a company’s intangible assets and maintain the stability and integrity of its operations. Here are some key reasons that underscore its significance:

1. Protects Customer Relationships:
   • A company invests significant time and resources in building and nurturing relationships with its customers. Non-solicitation agreements ensure that departing employees or business associates don’t leverage these relationships to their advantage or to the detriment of the company.
2. Secures Employee Stability:
   • Non-solicitation agreements prevent former employees or partners from poaching current employees. This helps maintain stability within the workforce and prevents a mass exodus of talent, which can be disruptive and costly.
3. Maintains Competitive Advantage:
   • By preventing former employees or business partners from immediately targeting the company’s clients or employees, non-solicitation agreements help businesses maintain their competitive positioning in the market.
4. Protects Investments in Employee Training and Development:
   • Companies often spend substantial resources on training and developing their staff. Non-solicitation agreements ensure that competitors cannot easily benefit from these investments by luring away trained employees.
5. Acts as a Deterrent:
   • The mere presence of a non-solicitation agreement can act as a deterrent, making potential breaches of trust or contractual obligations less likely.
6. Provides Legal Recourse:
   • In the event of a breach, the company has a legal framework to pursue damages or corrective action, making the agreement a valuable tool in protecting its interests.
7. Upholds Business Goodwill:
   • Businesses thrive on reputation and the goodwill they maintain in the market. Ensuring that departing personnel don’t exploit the company’s relationships aids in preserving this goodwill.
8. Facilitates Business Transactions:
   • During mergers, acquisitions, or sales, non-solicitation agreements can bolster confidence in the transaction. The buyer or merging entity can be more assured that the business’s value won’t be eroded by former owners or employees post-transaction.
9. Ensures Fair Play:
   • In collaborative ventures, such as partnerships or joint ventures, non-solicitation agreements ensure all parties play fair, focusing on the venture’s success rather than individual gains at the expense of others.

In sum, non-solicitation agreements are essential tools for businesses to safeguard their relationships, maintain their competitive edge, and ensure continuity and stability in their operations.

Enforcing a Non-Solicitation Contract

Enforcing a non-solicitation contract often involves a nuanced legal process, dependent on the specific wording of the contract, evidence of breach, and jurisdictional laws and precedents. At its core, these agreements aim to balance the protection of legitimate business interests with an individual’s right to earn a living.

When a company believes a former employee or business associate has violated a non-solicitation agreement, the first step typically involves gathering concrete evidence of the breach. This can range from communications showing the former employee directly soliciting clients or colleagues to data illustrating unusual contact or transactions with key clients shortly after the employee’s departure. Solid proof is essential because ambiguities can diminish the company’s standing in court.

However, even with evidence in hand, the company must also demonstrate that the non-solicitation agreement itself is enforceable. Many jurisdictions require that these contracts be reasonable in scope and duration. For instance, an agreement that indefinitely bars someone from contacting any company client might be deemed overly broad and, thus, unenforceable. On the other hand, an agreement that limits solicitation of specific high-value clients for a year might be more likely to stand.

If a court determines that a breach has indeed occurred and the agreement is enforceable, remedies might include damages, injunctions preventing further breaches, or both. However, pursuing these remedies can be expensive and time-consuming. Hence, companies often weigh the potential harm from the breach against the cost and potential public relations implications of legal action before proceeding.

Key Terms in a Non Solicitation Agreement

A non-solicitation agreement can be a crucial tool to protect a company’s assets and interests. If you’re looking to craft or understand one, it’s vital to recognize and understand the key terms within these agreements. Here’s a detailed guide on the essential terms found in most non-solicitation agreements:

1. Parties Involved:
   • This specifies who is bound by the agreement. Typically, this will include the company or entity seeking protection (often the employer) and the person or entity from whom protection is sought (usually the employee or contractor).
2. Scope of Non-Solicitation:
   • This defines what exactly is being prohibited. Commonly, it covers:
     • Clients/Customers: The agreement may prohibit the solicitation of current clients, past clients, and even potential clients known to the bound party.
     • Employees: The individual might be restricted from recruiting or soliciting employees of the company to leave or join another venture.
3. Duration:
   • The period for which the agreement remains in force after the termination of the relationship. It must be reasonable, often ranging from several months to a few years, depending on the industry and role.
4. Geographic Limitation:
   • Some agreements specify a geographic range where the non-solicitation applies. This needs to be reasonable and relevant to the business’s operations.
5. Consideration:
   • This is what the employee receives in return for agreeing to the non-solicitation terms. For new hires, the job itself might be the consideration. For existing employees, additional compensation or benefits might be required.
6. Exemptions or Exceptions:
   • Some agreements might list specific scenarios or relationships that are exempt from non-solicitation clauses, ensuring that certain actions aren’t unfairly restricted.
7. Breach Consequences:
   • Details the repercussions if a party violates the agreement. This can range from financial penalties to injunctions preventing further breaches.
8. Severability:
   • This clause states that if one part of the agreement is found to be unenforceable, the rest of the agreement still stands. It ensures that minor issues with one provision don’t invalidate the entire contract.
9. Governing Law:
   • Specifies the jurisdiction or set of laws that will be used to interpret and enforce the agreement. Since the enforceability of non-solicitation clauses varies by jurisdiction, this is a crucial term.
10. Confidentiality:
    • While distinct from the primary non-solicitation clause, these agreements often contain provisions that prevent the bound party from disclosing or using the company’s confidential information.
11. Non-Compete Clauses:
    • Separate from non-solicitation but often found in the same agreement, a non-compete clause restricts an individual from engaging in a business that competes with their former employer.
12. Assignment:
    • This term discusses if and how the agreement can be transferred. For instance, if the company is sold, the agreement might be assignable to the new owners.
13. Waiver:
    • A provision stating that if one party doesn’t promptly enforce its rights under the agreement, it doesn’t waive its right to do so later.

Who Signs a Non Solicitation Agreement?

Non-solicitation agreements are typically signed by employees of a company who have access to proprietary information, high-level operations, or extensive client relationships by virtue of their role. Common categories of employees asked to sign these agreements include executives, sales personnel, engineering/R&D staff, product development teams, marketing employees, and client services representatives. Essentially, any employee who could damage the company’s business interests by taking customers, downline staff, or confidential data to a competitor is likely to be presented with a non-solicitation contract. New employees may sign these agreements as a condition of employment, while existing employees may be asked to sign when taking on a higher level position. Consultants, contractors, vendors, and temporary staff may also be required to sign non-solicitation clauses to protect the company.

Legal Requirements For A Nonsolicitation Agreement

Non-solicitation agreements, like other contractual instruments, are subject to varying rules based on jurisdiction. However, there are common legal principles and requirements that many jurisdictions adhere to for these agreements to be enforceable. Here’s a detailed guide on the legal requirements for a non-solicitation agreement:

1. Valid Contractual Elements:

• Offer and Acceptance: There must be a clear offer of the non-solicitation terms and an unequivocal acceptance by the other party.
• Consideration: Something of value must be exchanged for the agreement to be binding. For new hires, the employment opportunity itself can serve as consideration. For existing employees, additional benefits or compensation might be necessary.
• Mutual Assent: Both parties should genuinely understand and agree to the terms.

2. Reasonableness:

• Duration: The non-solicitation period should be as short as possible while still protecting the company’s interests. What’s deemed “reasonable” varies by industry and role, but periods of 6-24 months post-termination are common.
• Geographical Scope: If a geographic limit is included, it should not be overly broad. For example, restricting a former salesperson from soliciting clients worldwide might be unreasonable if their sales territory was only one country.
• Scope of Prohibition: The agreement should be specific about who the employee cannot solicit (e.g., existing clients, past clients within a certain timeframe, potential clients, etc.).

3. Protectable Interest:

• The company must demonstrate that it has a legitimate business interest that the non-solicitation agreement is designed to protect. This might include client relationships, trade secrets, or goodwill.

4. No Public Policy Violations:

• The agreement should not infringe on public interests. For instance, it shouldn’t restrict an individual’s ability to earn a living to an unreasonable extent or result in a shortage of a particular skill in a region.

5. Clarity and Precision:

• The terms should be explicit and unambiguous, ensuring both parties understand their obligations and rights. Vague agreements can be deemed unenforceable.

6. Blue-Pencil Doctrine (where applicable):

• Some jurisdictions allow courts to modify or “blue-pencil” overly broad clauses to make them reasonable. Others might invalidate the entire clause or agreement if any part of it is overly broad.

7. Current Relationship:

• Non-solicitation agreements are typically enforceable when there’s an existing employment or contractual relationship. They’re less likely to be enforced if presented after employment or the business relationship has ended unless accompanied by new consideration.

8. Confidentiality and Trade Secrets:

• If the primary concern is the use of proprietary information to solicit business, the company should ensure they also have confidentiality agreements or clauses in place. Some jurisdictions might inherently protect trade secrets even in the absence of a specific agreement.

9. Governing Law and Jurisdiction:

• Specify which state’s or country’s laws will govern the interpretation and enforcement of the non-solicitation agreement. This provision is essential since laws regarding non-solicitation can vary widely.

10. Severability:

• To ensure the rest of the agreement stands even if one part is deemed unenforceable, include a severability clause.

11. Remedies:

• Clearly state the remedies available to the injured party in case of a breach. This might include financial damages, injunctions, or both.

12. Legal Counsel:

• While not a requirement per se, it’s a good practice for both parties, especially the one bound by the non-solicitation terms, to seek independent legal advice. This ensures that both parties understand the implications of the agreement, and it might be used as evidence of the agreement’s fairness in some jurisdictions.

How Do You Write A Non Solicitation Agreement?

Crafting an effective non-solicitation agreement requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this process:

Step 1: Identify the Parties Involved

Begin your agreement by clearly naming and defining the parties. Typically, one party is the company or employer (“the Company”), and the other is the employee or contractor (“the Employee”). Ensure you provide full names and addresses for both. This initial step establishes the key players in the agreement and sets the foundation for the terms that follow.

Step 2: Clarify the Purpose

Articulate the intent of the agreement. Explain why a non-solicitation agreement is necessary. This could be to protect the company’s business relationships, trade secrets, or investment in training and development. This section helps clarify the rationale for the subsequent terms and may strengthen the agreement’s enforceability in some jurisdictions.

Step 3: Define the Scope of Non-Solicitation

Detail the specific actions or behaviors you’re aiming to prevent. Are you prohibiting the solicitation of clients, employees, or both? Also, be explicit about what constitutes ‘solicitation.’ For example, does merely speaking to a client or employee count, or does there need to be a direct invitation to engage in business or leave the company? The clearer you can be here, the less room there is for ambiguity.

Step 4: Set the Duration

Establish a time frame during which the agreement is in effect post-termination of the relationship. This needs to be reasonable. For many roles, 6-12 months might be justifiable, but it largely depends on the industry, the nature of the relationships, and jurisdictional norms. Remember, courts often frown upon excessively lengthy durations that seem to stifle someone’s ability to earn a living.

Step 5: Specify Geographic Limitations

If relevant, define the geographic scope of the agreement. This can range from specific cities or regions to entire countries. However, the broader the range, the more essential it is that a compelling business reason justifies it.

Step 6: Address Consideration

In legal terms, ‘consideration’ refers to something of value exchanged for the agreement. If the non-solicitation agreement is signed at the start of employment, the job itself might suffice. For existing employees, you may need to provide additional compensation, benefits, or training.

Step 7: Describe Consequences of Breach

Clearly define what will happen if the non-solicitation terms are violated. This might involve financial penalties, requirements to pay legal fees, or obligations to notify the company of breaches. However, these consequences should be proportionate and fair.

Step 8: Add Severability and Governing Law Clauses

Include a severability clause, which states that if a part of the agreement is deemed unenforceable, the rest remains in effect. Also, specify the governing law or jurisdiction that will interpret and enforce the agreement. This is vital as the enforceability of non-solicitation clauses can vary greatly across jurisdictions.

Step 9: Consider Confidentiality and Non-Compete Clauses

While distinct from non-solicitation, these clauses can be closely related and may be necessary depending on the nature of the work or business. Make sure to clearly define any additional obligations or restrictions.

Step 10: Review and Revise

Before finalizing, review the agreement in its entirety for clarity, coherence, and completeness. Ensure that it’s both protective of the company’s interests and fair to the employee. It’s wise to have the document reviewed by a legal professional to ensure compliance with local laws.

Step 11: Execute the Agreement

Once both parties have agreed to the terms, ensure the document is signed and dated by all relevant parties. Both the company and the employee should keep copies for their records.

FAQs

Can a non-compete limit my career options after I leave a company?

Yes, non-competes are meant to limit an employee’s ability to work for or start a directly competing business for a certain period of time. However, restrictions must be reasonable in scope in order to be legally enforceable.

What happens if I violate a non-compete agreement?

If you violate a lawful non-compete, your former employer can seek civil remedies like monetary damages or injunctive relief to stop the competitive actions. This could potentially impact new employment.

Can a non-compete prevent me from making a living after leaving a job?

No, most states will not allow non-competes that impose an undue hardship on an individual’s ability to earn livelihood. Some limitations are permitted but cannot be overly restrictive.

Do non-compete agreements apply if I am laid off or fired?

Typically yes, the restrictions in a non-compete apply regardless of whether you voluntarily resign or are terminated. There are some exceptions though, like being fired without cause.

Can my employer require me to sign a non-compete after I’ve started working?

In many states, continued employment can be sufficient consideration for signing a non-compete even after you’ve started work. However, changes to existing employment terms require mutual agreement.

What happens if only part of my non-compete is unenforceable?

Courts will often strike only the unenforceable portions of a non-compete if possible, while upholding the remaining reasonable restrictions.

How long do non-compete restrictions usually last?

Typical post-employment restriction periods are 6-12 months. Longer durations tend to be viewed as unreasonable and unenforceable in most cases.

Can I negotiate the terms of a non-compete agreement?

Yes, you may be able to negotiate certain aspects like scope, duration, or geographic limits. Consult an attorney to assist with ensuring favorable terms.

Are non-competes enforceable across state lines?

Whether a non-compete will be upheld depends on the laws of the state where you are working. Some states outright ban employee non-competes.