How to Make a Custom NDA with LegalZoom or Nolo.

There’s a moment every business owner or freelancer eventually faces: you’re about to send over a proposal, maybe pitch a new product, or hand off private access to a developer or contractor. And just before you hit “send,” a flicker of worry creeps in.

What’s stopping them from taking this idea and running with it?

That’s where a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) comes in, not just as a legal safeguard, but as a quiet reassurance that your ideas, your hard work, and your trust won’t be used against you.

The good news? You don’t need to hire a lawyer to get one. With tools like LegalZoom and Nolo, you can create a custom NDA that fits your business, without the billable hours.

What Is an NDA and Who Needs One?

An NDA is a legally binding contract that prevents someone from sharing information that isn’t meant to be public. Whether you’re a freelancer sending sensitive client documents, a startup founder sharing code with a developer, or even a landlord discussing private lease terms, NDAs are how you say, “This stays between us.”

They’re used by all kinds of people: solo consultants, real estate professionals, tech founders, marketing agencies. And now that online legal services are becoming more widely trusted (yes, they’re legit, see: Are Online Legal Services Legit? What the Law Says in 2025), drafting one doesn’t require expensive legal counsel.

Need a broad comparison? Start here: Best Legal Document Services in 2025: What They Offer and Who They’re For.

Why Free NDA Templates Usually Aren’t Enough

You can find thousands of NDA templates online with a quick search and at first glance, they seem like a quick fix. Download, plug in your name, sign, and move on. But here’s the problem: most of these templates are overly generic.

They’re not designed for your specific business, your industry, or the risks you’re actually facing.

Some of them don’t clearly define what qualifies as “confidential information,” leaving critical loopholes. Others fail to include a time frame for how long the agreement is valid, or worse, they omit any mention of legal remedies if someone violates the terms.

Even seemingly small omissions, like not specifying the jurisdiction or governing law can render your NDA ineffective in court.

In short, what you’re left with is a document that looks professional but doesn’t hold up when you need it most. And by then, it’s too late.

That’s why platforms like LegalZoom and Nolo are such game-changers. Rather than offering cookie-cutter PDFs, they help you build NDAs that reflect your actual situation, whether you’re hiring a developer, pitching an investor, or onboarding a freelance marketer.

These services walk you through the process step by step, ensuring the final agreement is both thorough and enforceable.

If you’re unsure whether you actually need professional tools to draft something as “simple” as an NDA, it’s worth pausing to ask: Do you really need a lawyer to write a contract? You might be surprised by the answer. Find out here: [Do You Really Need a Lawyer to Write a Contract? Here’s the DIY Alternative].

How to Create a Custom NDA with LegalZoom

If you’re looking for convenience, LegalZoom offers a streamlined, guided process. You start by selecting the type of NDA you need, whether it’s mutual or one-way, then answer a short series of questions. These include who’s involved, what kind of information is being protected, and how long the confidentiality obligation should last.

Once you complete the form, LegalZoom generates your NDA automatically. You can review and edit the agreement, and if you want extra peace of mind, there’s an option to have it reviewed by an attorney. When you’re satisfied, you simply download the file or use LegalZoom’s digital signature tool to send it out.

For entrepreneurs already using the platform to form a business or draft wills and powers of attorney, LegalZoom makes it easy to keep everything in one place. (Related: Where to Create a Legally Binding Power of Attorney Online and Affordable Estate Planning with Nolo: Worth It.)

Creating an NDA with Nolo: For the DIY Crowd

If you’re someone who likes to understand exactly what you’re signing or if you just prefer a bit more control over your legal documents – Nolo might be the right fit for you.

Unlike platforms that rely on fill-in-the-blank builders, Nolo takes a more classic approach. You download a customizable NDA template and work through it yourself, guided by detailed instructions written in plain, accessible language.

The guide that comes with each NDA template does a lot of the heavy lifting. It explains what to include, how to word things clearly, and why certain clauses matter.

You’ll learn how to define confidential information in a way that holds up legally, decide how long the NDA should last, and lay out what happens if someone breaks the agreement. And because you’re in full control, you can tailor it to your industry, your working style, and the unique relationships you’re trying to protect.

The templates are fully editable, you can open them in Word, Google Docs, or most common editing tools. That means you can make real-time changes, add your business name or branding, and even tweak the tone of the language to suit your professional voice.

Want to include a specific clause about subcontractors or social media use? You can. The structure is there, you just make it yours.

This kind of hands-on process is especially appealing to freelancers, consultants, solo entrepreneurs, and even small real estate firms, anyone who wants legal protection without handing over creative control. It’s also significantly more affordable than hiring a lawyer or subscribing to a full legal service suite.

There’s no option for legal review, so it’s best suited to people who are comfortable managing basic contracts. But for those who want to learn as they go and save money while doing it – Nolo is one of the smartest and most flexible options out there.

Still deciding? Get the full breakdown here: [Is Nolo Worth It for DIY Legal Contracts].

egalZoom vs. Nolo: Which Is Right for You?

Choosing between LegalZoom and Nolo really comes down to how you like to work and how much time you want to spend on the legal side of your business.

LegalZoom is designed for speed. It’s intuitive, polished, and ideal for people who want to get things done quickly without wading through pages of legalese.

The platform walks you through the NDA-building process with simple prompts and offers the option to have a real attorney review your agreement. For many entrepreneurs and busy professionals, that kind of support is reassuring, especially if you’re juggling five other things at once.

Nolo, on the other hand, is all about control. You get a downloadable NDA template and a plain-English guide that explains how to customize it. There’s no wizard or questionnaire, you’re in charge of the structure, the wording, and the final details.

It’s perfect for people who want to slow down, understand what they’re signing, and adjust each section to fit their own voice and business needs.

If you tend to favor a more hands-off, get-it-done-for-me approach, LegalZoom is probably the better match. But if you’re the type who likes to learn, tweak, and fine-tune every clause, Nolo will give you the freedom to do exactly that.

Still weighing your options? You might also want to look at how both stack up against Rocket Lawyer. Here’s a deeper dive: [LegalZoom vs. Rocket Lawyer: Which Legal Service Is Right for You].

When You Need an NDA (Even If You Don’t Think You Do)

It’s easy to assume that NDAs are only for big tech deals or celebrity contracts, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you’re a freelancer handling client data, a startup sharing strategy with potential investors, or even a landlord discussing lease terms with a new partner, you should strongly consider putting an NDA in place.

These documents are especially important when you’re sharing sensitive info like login credentials, financial projections, proprietary methods, or unreleased product details. For context, see 5 Things Freelancers Should Know About Online Legal Forms and Best Legal Services for Landlords in 2025.

What a Strong NDA Should Include

Whether you’re building your NDA with LegalZoom, customizing a Nolo template, or working through a different platform entirely, there are a few key elements no solid agreement should ever go without.

These aren’t just formalities, they’re the foundations that determine whether your NDA will actually hold up when challenged.

First, the agreement should clearly identify who’s involved. That means full legal names of the individuals or businesses signing the NDA. It’s a basic step, but a critical one—without this, the document might not even be enforceable.

Next, you’ll need to define exactly what counts as confidential information. Don’t assume everyone’s on the same page. Spell it out. Are you protecting financial data? Product plans? Client lists? Proprietary code? Anything that matters should be named clearly and unambiguously.

Vague language is one of the fastest ways to render an NDA useless in a dispute.

A good NDA also sets a clear timeframe – both for how long the confidentiality applies and how long the agreement itself is valid. Some run indefinitely; others are limited to a year, five years, or the duration of a project. What matters is that both sides understand the boundaries from the beginning.

And then there’s the enforcement piece, what happens if someone breaches the agreement? A strong NDA outlines remedies, whether that’s injunctive relief, monetary damages, or both.

This is where many DIY contracts fall apart: they don’t say what happens next. You can’t just assume a breach will sort itself out, you have to put it in writing.

Finally, you need to include governing law (which state’s laws apply) and signatures with dates. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to actually sign the document or think an email confirmation is enough.

If you’re not sure how to structure these parts or you’re worried you might miss something, take a look at [Top Mistakes to Avoid When Using Online Legal Templates]. It’s a quick read that could save you from a major headache later on.

Protect First, Share Second

There’s something empowering about creating a document that protects your ideas. It tells everyone you work with: this matters. And whether you go with LegalZoom or Nolo, the important thing is that you’re protecting what you’ve built before problems arise.

If you’re setting up a business, you’ll also want to check out How to Start an LLC with Incfile: Step-by-Step Guide and Why Incfile Is Popular for First-Time Entrepreneurs.

And for other contract needs or compliance help, explore:

How to Make a Custom NDA with LegalZoom or Nolo