Free Liability Waiver Templates (2026): Download and Customize

If you run a business where customers participate in physical activities, use your equipment, or receive hands-on services, you need a liability waiver. But hiring an attorney to draft one from scratch can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and that is a tough pill to swallow when you are just getting started.

That is where templates come in. A well-built waiver template gives you a legally sound starting point that you can customize for your specific business, risks, and state requirements. Below, we have compiled ten free liability waiver templates covering the most common industries that need them. Each template is designed to include the essential legal clauses courts look for, written in plain language that your customers can actually understand.

Every template discussed in this guide is available on WaiverDrop, where you can customize it with your business name, specific risks, and branding -- and have customers sign digitally from any device. The free tier includes 30 signed waivers per month, which is plenty for small businesses and a no-risk way to try digital waivers before committing to a paid plan.

What Makes a Waiver Legally Enforceable

Before we get into the templates, it is important to understand what separates an enforceable waiver from a piece of paper that will get thrown out in court. No template, no matter how well written, is a substitute for understanding these fundamentals.

Specificity of risks. Courts consistently reject waivers that use vague language like "activities may be dangerous." Your waiver must enumerate the specific risks associated with your activity. A trampoline park waiver should mention broken bones from falls, collision injuries from other jumpers, and spinal cord injuries from improper landings. The more specific your risk disclosures, the harder it is for a signer to argue they did not understand what they were agreeing to.

Clear release language. The clause where the signer gives up their right to sue must be unmistakable. It should use the word "negligence" explicitly, because in most states a waiver that does not mention negligence will not protect you from negligence claims. The release should be visually prominent -- bolded, under its own heading, or otherwise impossible to miss.

Voluntary and informed consent. The signer must have had a genuine opportunity to read the waiver before signing. Waivers signed under pressure, or presented in a way that discourages reading, are vulnerable to challenge. Digital waivers actually help here because they can require the signer to scroll through the full text before the signature field becomes available.

Proper identification of parties. The waiver must name the business entity being protected, along with its owners, employees, agents, and affiliates. If your waiver only names the LLC but someone sues you personally, you may not be covered unless you are explicitly included.

Signature and date. A waiver without a signature is unenforceable. Electronic signatures are fully valid under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, and digital waivers that capture metadata like timestamps, IP addresses, and device information actually provide stronger evidence than a pen-and-paper signature.

Severability clause. If a court finds one provision of your waiver unenforceable, a severability clause ensures the rest of the document survives. Without it, one bad clause could sink the entire waiver.

State compliance. Waiver law varies significantly by state. Some states are more waiver-friendly than others, and specific requirements differ. Always have your final waiver reviewed by an attorney licensed in your state before putting it into use.

With those principles in mind, here are ten templates covering the most common use cases.

1. General Liability Waiver

Template: General Liability Waiver

This is the all-purpose template. If your business does not fit neatly into one of the industry-specific categories below, start here.

Who needs it: Any business where customers or participants face some degree of physical risk. Community events, volunteer organizations, workshop hosts, tour operators, and general recreation providers all fall into this category.

What it covers: General assumption of risk for participation in the described activity, release of liability for the business and its staff, indemnification clause, medical acknowledgment, and emergency contact collection.

Key clauses to include:

• A description of the specific activity, written clearly enough that there is no ambiguity about what the signer is agreeing to
• An assumption of risk section listing foreseeable injuries and hazards
• A release of liability that explicitly references negligence
• An indemnification provision covering third-party claims
• Governing law and severability provisions

The general template is deliberately broad, which makes it adaptable but also means you should spend extra time customizing the risk disclosures for your particular situation.

2. Gym and Fitness Waiver

Template: Gym & Fitness Waiver

Fitness businesses face waiver claims more frequently than almost any other industry, which makes having a thorough waiver especially critical.

Who needs it: Gyms, CrossFit boxes, yoga studios, Pilates studios, personal trainers, boot camp operators, and any business offering physical exercise programs.

What it covers: Risks inherent to physical exercise including muscle strains, joint injuries, cardiovascular events, and equipment-related injuries. Also addresses health declarations, equipment liability, and facility rules.

Key clauses to include:

• A health declaration where the member confirms they are physically capable of exercising
• Specific risk disclosures for the types of exercise offered (weightlifting risks differ from yoga risks)
• Equipment liability acknowledging proper use expectations
• A communicable disease acknowledgment for shared-facility environments
• Personal training addendum if you offer one-on-one or group training

3. Tattoo Consent Form

Template: Tattoo Consent Form

Tattooing involves breaking the skin, which introduces medical and legal considerations beyond what most waivers address. A tattoo consent form is part liability waiver, part informed consent document.

Who needs it: Tattoo artists, tattoo studios, permanent makeup artists, and piercing studios.

What it covers: Risks of infection, allergic reactions, scarring, and dissatisfaction with results. Also covers age verification, sobriety confirmation, and aftercare responsibilities.

Key clauses to include:

• Acknowledgment that tattooing involves needles penetrating the skin and carries risk of infection, allergic reaction, and scarring
• Confirmation that the client is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Age verification (must be 18 or older in most jurisdictions, or have parental consent)
• Disclosure of medical conditions including skin conditions, blood disorders, immunodeficiency, pregnancy, and allergies to ink or latex
• Aftercare instructions and acknowledgment that the client is responsible for proper wound care
• Consent to the specific design, placement, and size of the tattoo
• Acknowledgment that minor variations from the agreed design are inherent to the medium

4. Adventure Sports Waiver

Template: Adventure Sports Waiver

Adventure and extreme sports carry some of the highest injury risks of any recreational activity, which means the waiver needs to be proportionally thorough.

Who needs it: Zip line operators, rock climbing gyms, whitewater rafting companies, bungee jumping operators, skydiving centers, ATV tour companies, mountain biking outfitters, and any business offering high-adrenaline outdoor activities.

What it covers: Risks of serious bodily injury and death inherent to high-risk physical activities, equipment risks, environmental hazards, and the participant's physical fitness for the activity.

Key clauses to include:

• Explicit acknowledgment that the activity carries risk of serious injury, permanent disability, and death
• Environmental risk disclosures (weather, terrain, water conditions, wildlife)
• Equipment-specific risks and acknowledgment that the participant has received instruction on proper use
• Physical fitness declaration confirming the participant meets minimum requirements
• Emergency medical authorization allowing staff to seek medical attention on the participant's behalf
• A photo and video release if you document activities for marketing purposes

Adventure sports waivers tend to be the most detailed of any category, and for good reason. Courts scrutinize these waivers closely because the stakes are highest.

5. Salon and Spa Consent Form

Template: Salon & Spa Consent Form

Salons and spas involve direct physical contact and the application of chemicals to the body, which creates liability exposure that many business owners underestimate.

Who needs it: Hair salons, nail salons, estheticians, massage therapists, waxing studios, med spas, and any business providing beauty or body treatments.

What it covers: Risks of allergic reactions, chemical burns, skin irritation, and unsatisfactory results. Also addresses pre-existing skin conditions, medication disclosures, and pregnancy considerations.

Key clauses to include:

• Disclosure of all products and chemicals used in the treatment
• Client confirmation of no known allergies to common salon chemicals (dyes, latex, acrylics, waxes)
• Disclosure of medications that may affect treatment (blood thinners, retinoids, antibiotics)
• Pregnancy disclosure, as certain treatments are contraindicated during pregnancy
• Acknowledgment that results may vary and that the business cannot guarantee specific cosmetic outcomes
• Consent to the specific service being performed

6. Event and Party Liability Waiver

Template: Event Liability Waiver

Events introduce liability from multiple angles: the venue, the activities, the crowd, and sometimes alcohol. A single waiver needs to address all of them.

Who needs it: Event planners, party venues, bounce house rental companies, carnival and festival operators, corporate event coordinators, and anyone hosting gatherings where physical activities are involved.

What it covers: General event participation risks, activity-specific risks, venue hazards, and liability for minors. Events involving children require special attention because parental waivers for minors have varying enforceability depending on the state.

Key clauses to include:

• Description of all activities available at the event
• Assumption of risk for general event participation (crowds, uneven surfaces, weather if outdoors)
• Activity-specific risk disclosures for any physical activities (inflatables, obstacle courses, sports)
• Parent or guardian signature line for minor participants
• Photo and video release for event documentation
• Alcohol acknowledgment if applicable, including agreement not to participate in physical activities while intoxicated

7. Pet Services Waiver

Template: Pet Services Waiver

Pet businesses face a unique liability landscape because they are responsible for living animals that can be unpredictable, and the emotional bond between owners and pets raises the stakes of any incident.

Who needs it: Dog groomers, pet boarding facilities, doggy daycares, dog walkers, pet sitters, and veterinary clinics offering elective services.

What it covers: Risks to the animal during care (injury, illness, escape, adverse reactions to grooming products), risks to staff from animal behavior (bites, scratches), and owner responsibility for disclosing behavioral and medical history.

Key clauses to include:

• Owner disclosure of pet's medical history, vaccinations, behavioral issues, and known aggression
• Acknowledgment that interactions with other animals carry risk of injury or illness
• Authorization for emergency veterinary care and a spending limit for emergency treatment
• Release of liability for injuries inherent to the service (minor nicks during grooming, stress from boarding)
• Acknowledgment that the business may refuse service to animals displaying aggressive behavior
• Proof of current vaccinations (rabies, distemper, bordetella)

8. Martial Arts Waiver

Template: Martial Arts Waiver

Martial arts involve deliberate physical contact, which makes the liability profile fundamentally different from non-contact fitness activities. The waiver must address the intentional nature of the contact.

Who needs it: Martial arts studios (karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, muay thai, judo, MMA), boxing gyms, self-defense class instructors, and combat sports training facilities.

What it covers: Risks of intentional physical contact including strikes, throws, joint locks, and chokes. Also covers risks of sparring, competition, and the use of training equipment like heavy bags and pads.

Key clauses to include:

• Explicit acknowledgment that the activity involves intentional physical contact and that injuries from such contact are a foreseeable risk
• Specific injury disclosures including concussion, broken bones, joint dislocations, sprains, bruising, and lacerations
• Agreement to follow the instructor's rules and stop when instructed
• Acknowledgment that sparring is voluntary and carries elevated risk
• Health declaration with emphasis on neurological history (prior concussions), joint conditions, and cardiovascular health
• Emergency medical authorization

9. Trampoline Park Waiver

Template: Trampoline Park Waiver

Trampoline parks are one of the highest-liability recreational businesses, with injury rates that have drawn attention from consumer safety advocates and regulators. A comprehensive waiver is essential.

Who needs it: Trampoline parks, indoor jump parks, ninja warrior courses, foam pit facilities, and any venue combining trampolines with other aerial activities.

What it covers: Risks of falls, collisions, spinal injuries, broken bones, and paralysis. Also addresses facility rules, age and weight restrictions, and the inherently unpredictable nature of trampoline surfaces.

Key clauses to include:

• Explicit acknowledgment of risk of catastrophic injury including spinal cord injury, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, and death
• Specific risks from flips, somersaults, and aerial maneuvers
• Collision risks from other jumpers
• Facility rules acknowledgment (one jumper per trampoline, no flips without staff approval, no running)
• Parent or guardian signature for minors, with clear language that the parent is waiving claims on behalf of the child
• Height, weight, or age restrictions if applicable
• Acknowledgment that socks with grip are required (or provided)

Trampoline park waivers should be among the most detailed and explicit of any industry. Given the severity of potential injuries, courts hold these waivers to a high standard.

10. Equipment Rental Waiver

Template: Equipment Rental Waiver

When you rent equipment to customers, you lose control over how that equipment is used. The waiver needs to address both the inherent risks of the equipment and the customer's responsibility for proper use.

Who needs it: Ski and snowboard rental shops, kayak and canoe outfitters, bicycle rental companies, power tool rental businesses, construction equipment rental companies, and any business that rents physical equipment to customers.

What it covers: Risks of operating the equipment, customer responsibility for safe use, damage and loss liability, and return condition expectations.

Key clauses to include:

• Description of the specific equipment being rented and its intended use
• Acknowledgment that the customer has received instruction on safe operation (or has declined instruction)
• Assumption of risk for injuries resulting from use of the equipment
• Customer responsibility for inspecting the equipment at pickup and reporting any defects
• Financial liability for damage, loss, or theft of the equipment
• Agreement to use the equipment only for its intended purpose and within specified conditions
• Return requirements including condition, cleanliness, and timeline

How to Customize These Templates

Downloading a template is step one. Customizing it for your business is where the real value is created. Here is how to make any template your own.

Add your specific risks. The templates include common risks for each industry, but your business may have unique hazards. A gym with a sauna has different risks than one without. A pet grooming service that offers teeth cleaning has different risks than one that only does baths and haircuts. Go through the assumption of risk section and add anything specific to your operation.

Insert your business details. Replace all placeholder text with your legal business name, address, and entity type. Make sure the release language covers you personally as the owner, not just the business entity.

Adjust for your state. Waiver enforceability varies by state. Some states do not allow pre-injury waivers for certain types of businesses. Others have specific formatting or language requirements. Research your state's requirements or, better yet, have an attorney review your customized waiver before you put it into use.

Set the right tone. Your waiver is part of your customer experience. It should be thorough and legally sound, but it does not need to be intimidating. Clear, straightforward language builds trust rather than scaring people away.

Going Digital With Your Waivers

Paper waivers work, but they come with real operational headaches. They get lost, they get coffee-stained, the handwriting is illegible, and when you need to find a specific waiver three years later, you are digging through filing cabinets.

Digital waivers solve all of these problems. Customers sign on their phone or a tablet before they walk through your door. Every signature is stored securely with a full audit trail. You can search your records instantly. And when you update your waiver, you can require existing customers to re-sign the new version on their next visit.

WaiverDrop lets you take any of the templates above, customize them with your branding and specific language, and deploy them as digital waivers that customers can sign from any device. Every signature captures a timestamp, IP address, and device fingerprint for ESIGN Act compliance. The free tier gives you 30 signed waivers per month at no cost, which is enough for many small businesses and a low-commitment way to see if digital waivers work for your operation.

Final Thoughts

A waiver template is a starting point, not a finished product. The best waiver for your business is one that has been customized for your specific risks, reviewed by an attorney in your state, and presented to customers in a way that is clear, professional, and easy to complete.

These ten templates cover the most common industries that need liability waivers, but the principles are universal: be specific about risks, use clear language, make the release prominent, and capture a proper signature. Get those fundamentals right, and you have a strong foundation for protecting your business.