Service agreements govern more of a business's day-to-day relationships than almost any other document, which makes it worth getting the core terms right instead of reusing a generic template for every client or vendor.
Scope of work, specifically
Vague scope language is the single biggest source of service agreement disputes. Specific deliverables, timelines, and what's explicitly out of scope prevent the 'I thought that was included' conversation later.
Payment terms and what triggers them
Milestone-based or invoice-based payment terms should tie clearly to deliverables or dates, with late payment consequences spelled out — ambiguity here is what turns a slow payment into a legal dispute.
Termination and what happens on exit
A good agreement addresses how either party can end the relationship, what notice is required, and what happens to work in progress and payment for it if the engagement ends early.
IP ownership and confidentiality
Who owns the work product, and what obligations survive after the engagement ends, need to be explicit — especially for service providers doing creative, technical, or strategic work.