An Illinois independent contractor agreement is a written contract that describes the legal relationship between an independent contractor and their client. In short, the arrangement is an exchange of services performed by the contractor for compensation made by the client. The contract outlines fundamental terms and conditions such as date of completion, amount and schedule of payment, termination options, expenses, insurance, business licenses, and indemnification.

An independent contractor is not an employee of the client, so they are free to complete the services on their own time, using their own methods (within reason). Furthermore, the contractor is responsible for things that an employer would normally take care of such as insurance, permits, licenses, and, in some cases, expenses.