Skip to content
The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryAgency & IndustryMaster Services Agreement (MSA)

Agency & Industry

Master Services Agreement (MSA)

The overarching contract setting legal and commercial terms between client and agency, under which individual SOWs are issued.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

A master services agreement (MSA) is the overarching contract that sets the legal and commercial terms between a client and an agency or vendor. It covers areas such as fees, liability, confidentiality, intellectual property and termination. Individual projects are then issued as statements of work under it, avoiding renegotiation of core terms each time.