NDA Use Cases & Real-World Examples
Discover when and how to use different NDA templates for your business needs
Startup Fundraising
You're a startup founder preparing to pitch your business idea to potential investors. You need to share sensitive financial projections, proprietary technology details, and strategic business plans.
Why You Need This:
Investors will see your confidential information during due diligence. An Investor NDA protects your intellectual property and business strategies from being shared with competitors or used without permission.
Hiring Contractors
You're hiring a freelance developer, designer, or consultant who will have access to your codebase, customer data, or proprietary processes during the project.
Why You Need This:
Contractors often work with multiple clients, including potential competitors. A Contractor NDA ensures your confidential information stays protected and won't be reused in other projects.
Strategic Partnership
Your company is exploring a partnership with another business. Both parties will share proprietary information, customer lists, and business strategies to evaluate the collaboration.
Why You Need This:
When both parties share confidential information, a Mutual NDA protects everyone. If the partnership doesn't work out, neither party can use the other's information competitively.
Job Candidate Interviews
You're interviewing candidates for a senior role that requires discussing unreleased products, company strategy, or confidential financial information during the interview process.
Why You Need This:
Even candidates who don't get hired will learn about your business. An Interview NDA prevents them from sharing what they learned with competitors or on social media.
New Employee Onboarding
You're onboarding a new employee who will have access to trade secrets, customer databases, proprietary software, or sensitive business information as part of their role.
Why You Need This:
Employees can leave and join competitors. An Employee NDA protects your company's confidential information both during and after their employment, preventing them from taking your secrets to the next job.
Vendor/Supplier Relationships
You're sharing product specifications, pricing structures, or customer requirements with a supplier or vendor who will manufacture or provide services for your business.
Why You Need This:
Vendors often work with multiple companies in your industry. A One-Way NDA ensures they can't share your specifications, pricing, or business requirements with competitors.
Quick Selection Guide
| Your Situation | Recommended Template | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Pitching to investors or seeking funding | Investor NDA | Protects business plans and financials |
| Hiring freelancers or consultants | Contractor NDA | Prevents reuse in other projects |
| Exploring business partnerships | Mutual NDA | Both parties protected equally |
| Interviewing job candidates | Interview NDA | Protects unreleased information |
| Onboarding new employees | Employee NDA | Post-employment protection |
| Working with vendors/suppliers | One-Way NDA | Unilateral disclosure protection |
Looking for other business tools? Check out QuickRef.dev for Interactive developer reference and code playground.