Independent contractor application (free template)

Finding the right contractor is a combination of due diligence and paperwork. 

The good thing is that paperwork doesn’t have to be a headache. If you make a solid independent contractor application form, it will do the heavy lifting so you can focus on vetting talent instead of deciphering emails. 

In this post, you'll find a free, customizable contractor application template with over 30 questions designed to help you gather the right details quickly and securely.

Let’s take a closer look!

30+ contractor application questions to simplify onboarding

This collection of 34 focused questions is built to help you gather the right details and create a frictionless onboarding experience for independent contractors. You can adjust the sections and wording to better align with your workflow or area of specialization.

Tip: We’ve included screenshots to show how these questions might appear when using Content Snare to create your commercial lease application form.  With hundreds of 5-star ratings on platforms like G2 and Capterra, Content Snare is a trusted tool for secure document collection and automated onboarding. You can explore all our templates at no cost in the built-in form library.

Basic information

The first section collects personal and contact details, so you can maintain clear records and ensure quick follow-ups.

1. Full name

2. Email address

3. Phone number

4. Mailing address

5. Date of birth

Work eligibility

Confirm that the contractor is legally permitted to work and clarify their employment classification.

6. Are you legally authorized to work in this country?

7. Will you require sponsorship now or in the future?

8. What is your professional status:

• Independent business 
• Sole proprietor

Do you have a valid business license or certification (if applicable)? 

Professional background

In this section, you will ask about the contractor’s skills and prior work engagements relevant to the services offered.

9. Describe your area(s) of expertise.

10. How many years have you been providing this service?

11. List relevant past projects or clients.

12. What tools, software, or platforms do you typically use?

13. Do you carry any industry certifications or licenses?

If yes, please clarify which ones. 

Availability

For planning purposes, it’s also necessary to determine the contractor’s current bandwidth and preferred schedule.

14. Are you currently available for new work?

15. What is your weekly availability?

16. What is your ideal start date?

17. Are there any blackout dates or scheduling restrictions we should know about?

Compensation and billing

These questions will help you clarify payment expectations and invoicing practices to avoid future misunderstandings.

18. What is your standard hourly rate?

19. Do you charge for travel or expenses?

20. How do you prefer to invoice?

Options: Weekly, biweekly, monthly.

21. What is your preferred method of payment?

Compliance and insurance

The following set of questions protects both parties and helps validate that proper coverage is in place.

22. Do you carry general liability or professional insurance?

23. Have you ever been involved in a legal dispute related to your services?

If yes, please clarify.

24. Do you understand and accept the responsibilities of independent contractor status?

25. Can you provide a W-9 or other tax documentation upon request?

Tech stack and communication preferences

You also need to learn about the contractor’s communication preferences and technology readiness in order to ensure smooth collaboration.

26. Do you have reliable access to email and video conferencing?

27. What is your preferred method of communication?

28. Are you comfortable using our project management or tracking systems?

29. How quickly do you typically respond during business hours?

Onboarding details

Capture final setup information for account creation, documentation, and internal tracking. These responses prepare the contractor for integration into your systems.

30. What name should appear on your payments?

31. Please provide your EIN or SSN for tax purposes.

32. Upload any required documents.

For example, your license, W-9, insurance, and similar.

33. Who referred you or how did you hear about us?

Take the stress out of contractor onboarding with Content Snare

It may feel tempting to manually manage the entire questionnaire, but it’d be a fast track to burnout. On the other hand, a professional form builder like Content Snare helps you stay in control with its easy-to-use interface, ready-made contractor onboarding forms, automated follow-ups, built-in chat, secure file uploads, and a whole range of other advanced features.

Here’s how Shane Scott, Head of Operations at illumin8, describes their Content Snare experience:

“We absolutely love it because we can go ahead and gather all the information in one form and do that in a way where we're not having to go back to the client in a bunch of different ways for missing information.”

It’s a smart system that does the heavy lifting on your behalf, so you won’t engage in back-and-forth emails or miss out on important info.

Try it free now and improve your contractor onboarding process with Content Snare.

FAQ

What should be included in an independent contractor application form?

A contractor application form should include sections for personal details, legal work eligibility, professional background, availability, compensation expectations, and compliance documentation.

How does Content Snare help with contractor onboarding?

Content Snare simplifies contractor onboarding by automating document collection, sending reminders, and providing an easy-to-follow form interface that contractors can complete at their own pace. According to customer feedback, businesses using Content Snare see up to a 71% reduction in time spent gathering information and a 67% decrease in stalled onboarding processes.

Who can use the independent contractor onboarding questionnaire?

The independent contractor onboarding questionnaire can be used by businesses of all sizes—including agencies, accounting firms, legal practices, real estate teams, and HR departments—looking to streamline how they collect and verify information from contractors. It's especially useful for teams managing multiple freelancers or vendors, ensuring consistency, compliance, and faster onboarding through tools like Content Snare.

Is Content Snare secure for collecting contractor information?

Yes, Content Snare uses military-grade encryption and secure forms to protect sensitive contractor data like W-9s, IDs, and tax information. It's widely used by over 1,600 businesses globally, including accounting and legal firms where data protection is critical. The platform is also ISO 27001 certified, confirming its status of meeting internationally recognized standards for information security management.