Service agreement in Norway: Template, Key Clauses and Local Law (2026)

What a service agreement is in Norway A service agreement is a business to business contract where one party provides services to another for payment: IT, consulting, marketing, facilities, maintenance and the rest. Norway has no single statute dictating the form of a commercial service agreement between businesses, so freedom of contract is wide and the parties largely set their own terms. The background law comes from general contract principles and, for sales adjacent arrangements, statutes like the Sale of Goods Act, but for pure services the written contract is king. Because Norway is part of the European Economic Area, EU derived rules on data protection and consumer matters apply, and a service agreement has to account for them where relevant. This page is general information, not legal advice. ## The local rules that shape a Norwegian service agreement - VAT (merverdiavgift, MVA). The standard VAT rate in Norway is 25 percent. Most services supplied by a VAT registered business are subject to VAT, so the contract should state whether the fee is inclusive or exclusive of VAT. A business must register in the VAT Register once taxable turnover passes the statutory threshold.

• Data protection. Through the EEA, the EU General Data Protection Regulation applies in Norway, implemented by the Personal Data Act (personopplysningsloven). Where the supplier processes personal data for the customer, a data processing agreement is required.
• Freedom of contract, with good faith. Parties set their own terms, but Norwegian contract law includes a general requirement of loyalty and good faith between the parties, and unreasonable terms can be set aside under section 36 of the Contracts Act.
• Contractor status. If the supplier is an individual, there is a risk of the relationship being treated as employment under the Working Environment Act, which brings strong protections the parties cannot waive. ## A service agreement template you can adapt ``` SERVICE AGREEMENT Date: [date] Supplier: [name, organisation number, address] Customer: [name, organisation number, address] 1. SERVICES The Supplier will provide: [clear description, or a reference to an Appendix or Statement of Work]. 2. TERM This agreement starts on [date] and runs [until completion / for [period] / until terminated under clause 9]. 3. FEES AND VAT The Customer pays [amount or rate]. Fees are [inclusive / exclusive] of VAT at 25 percent. Invoices are payable within [number] days; late payment interest applies under the Late Payment Interest Act. 4. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS The Supplier performs with professional skill and care and meets [any service levels in the Appendix]. 5. CUSTOMER OBLIGATIONS The Customer provides [access, information and materials] the Supplier needs to perform. 6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY [Ownership of deliverables assigned to the Customer on payment, or licensed; the Supplier keeps background IP.] 7. CONFIDENTIALITY Each party keeps the other's confidential information private during and after the term. 8. DATA PROTECTION Where the Supplier processes personal data for the Customer, the parties enter a data processing agreement compliant with the GDPR and the Personal Data Act. 9. LIABILITY AND TERMINATION [Liability cap and exclusion of indirect loss, reasonable and clearly stated.] Either party may terminate on [period] notice or for material breach not remedied within [number] days. 10. GOVERNING LAW This agreement is governed by Norwegian law, with disputes referred to [the ordinary courts / arbitration]. Signed: Supplier ____________ Customer ____________ Date ______