Ten Reasons Why You Need a Contract

Often times I meet with entrepreneurs who have started conducting business with third parties without a contract. After getting over my shock, I explain to them how important it is to protect their business. Although you don’t need to have a set of terms and conditions for your business, it would be foolish not to – you should never do business without them.  Below, I've put together a list of the top ten reasons why your business should have a legal framework in place.

A contract will help you to navigate the law

Many people find the law complex and confusing. A contract will help to make the law more accessible and allow you to navigate it correctly. It’s extremely common for businesses to fall foul of the law because they don’t understand it, so a contract drafted by a specialist will ensure that you always stay on the right side of the law. Of course there are DIY contract templates available online, but these will not reflect your business and offer you full protection.

A contract helps you to get paid

In your list of business priorities, getting paid will be one of the top, so if your clients don’t pay then you lose out.  A contract can communicate to clients when they can expect an invoice and when they need to pay their bills. Should they decide not to cooperate, the legally enforceable contract will support any legal action you take to recover the debt.

A contract helps to minimise disputes or problems

Whilst a contract won’t completely stop disputes or problems, a contract can help to minimise them. Should you have a dispute on your hands a contract can help to protect you in many different ways. It encourages your client to cooperate, but if this doesn’t happen a contract allows you to mediate to try and resolve the problem, rather than paying expensive legal fees. Of course if mediation fails then the contract is a legally enforceable document so it will support you with any legal action or debt recovery.

A contract protects your intellectual property

Protecting your business and its assets is extremely important. Intellectual property can often confuse clients because they believe they have full ownership once they have paid for a service. This is incorrect so a contract will communicate how the intellectual property is to be used. It’s a valuable part of your business and you need to ensure that it cannot be stolen or misused.

A contract limits liability

A legal framework helps you to manage your business and limit liability. It helps to resolve disputes, helps you to get paid and protects valuable business assets.

A contract creates certainty

Yes things can be agreed verbally, or by email, but how much legal standing do they have? The answer is very little. A contract will outline the operational and sale processes of a business and explain how the customer or client can use the services. By communicating this information you are creating certainty – all parties know how to act and what is expected from them.

A contract provides in-depth coverage of your business

A contract will help your clients to understand your business, how it works and how they can use the services. It will provide an understanding of your operational and sales processes so that clients can manage their expectations. It’s good business practice to communicate with your clients.

A contract helps you to give good customer service

Should a client have a problem, they can refer to the contract and it will give them all the information they need to try and resolve it. It will explain returns, refund and repair policies, warranties, intellectual property, and complaints procedure – all the things a client needs to know! By providing this information in a document that can be referred to, the client will feel they are getting a good service.

A contract helps to build trust and give peace of mind

By putting a legal framework in place you are showing clients that you care about them, as well as your business. A contract gives you and the client peace of mind because you know any transactions and work are protected. By providing this to clients you are allowing them to have trust in the business.

A contract allows you to manage expectations

When you communicate the terms and conditions of sale to a client you then have the ability to manage their expectations. A contract will communicate all the information they need to do business with you, so they understand what to expect. Managing your client’s expectations allows you to give them good service and encourage them to use your business again.

If you need help creating contracts for your business. Contact KMP Business Consulting Services.

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