Contract law impacts every part of your business nearly every day. Whether you put together agreements with suppliers, employees, or clients, contract law should be at the forefront of your mind as you put together binding documents with others to move your operations forward.
As attorneys who deal with contract law, we want to make sure your business’ contracts are legally binding and enforceable. When writing new contracts for your business, keep these tips in mind:
- Get everything in writing—An agreement is hard to prove unless you have written proof that outlines the specific terms for every party. Although oral agreements are a great starting point, remember that they are difficult to enforce, and the terms can easily be misinterpreted.
- Include details—Your business contracts should leave minimal room for interpretation. Use specific language that outlines the obligations of everyone involved in the contract. For example, if you need deliveries by the 30th of every month, include this specific date instead of merely saying “by the end of the month.”
- Include details for ending the contract—No contract is designed or meant to last forever. Make sure that in your contracts, you outline steps to terminate a contract if one party fails to uphold their end of the bargain.
- Add clauses for confidentiality—Those who come into a contract with your business will likely gain insights into your business practices. If you are worried about exposing trade secrets or other important information, include clauses that prevent the other party from disclosing your business’ information.