What information goes in a SaaS Order Form?

Order Forms typically include subscription plan, pricing, billing frequency, term length, start date, usage limits (or seats), and the customer’s legal entity information.

How does an Order Form relate to an MSA?

The Order Form usually references and incorporates the MSA. The MSA sets the legal framework, while the Order Form applies that framework to a specific purchase.

Why do SaaS companies separate legal terms from commercial terms?

Separating legal and commercial terms makes contracts easier to manage. The legal framework can remain consistent, while pricing and subscription details can vary by customer without rewriting the full agreement.

Explainer

What is a SaaS Order Form?

A SaaS Order Form is the document that contains the commercial details of a software subscription. It typically works together with a Master Subscription Agreement (MSA), which contains the legal terms.

The short answer

In many SaaS contracts, the legal framework and the business details are separated into two documents:

The MSA contains the legal terms.
The Order Form contains the commercial terms.

The Order Form usually references the MSA and incorporates it by reference.

What typically goes in a SaaS Order Form

An Order Form usually includes the practical details of the subscription:

subscription plan or product name
number of seats or usage limits
subscription term
pricing and billing frequency
start date and renewal structure
customer legal name

These terms define the specific deal between the vendor and the customer.

Why SaaS contracts separate legal and commercial terms

Separating legal and commercial terms makes contracts easier to manage over time.

Instead of renegotiating the entire agreement for every deal, companies can keep the legal framework consistent and change only the commercial details.

For example:

The MSA stays the same across customers.
Each customer signs a different Order Form.

This approach reduces legal overhead and simplifies contract administration.

How Order Forms are typically used

In many SaaS sales processes:

The MSA defines the legal relationship.
The Order Form applies the MSA to a specific purchase.

Some companies allow customers to sign only the Order Form. The Order Form incorporates the MSA automatically.

If you're unfamiliar with the MSA structure, see:

A common SaaS contract structure

Many software companies use a three-layer structure:

Terms of Service for self-serve users
MSA for customers who require a signed contract
Order Forms for individual subscriptions

This allows the same product to support different types of sales processes while maintaining a consistent legal framework.

The practical advantage

Using Order Forms allows pricing and subscription terms to change between customers without rewriting the entire contract.

The legal terms stay stable, while the business terms can vary depending on the deal.

Prefer a ready-to-use contract structure?

Baseline Terms provides a standardized SaaS contract bundle that includes:

Master Subscription Agreement
Order Form template
Terms of Service
Data Processing Addendum
Security Addendum
Privacy Policy and AUP

The bundle also includes a short implementation guide explaining how to use the documents together.

Get the Pack — $179