Protecting Your Business

Being a business owner is fantastically rewarding, but it can be almost too easy to run into legal issues. It’s important to protect your business in order to prepare yourself for the unpredictable, for what we don’t think would actually happen to us.

When you protect your business, you also have better processes in place, which ensures that your business runs more smoothly. Whether you’re dealing with vendors or clients, you’ll have more seamless relationships.

Why Should You Use a Contract?

Without a good contract, you could be setting yourself up for all kinds of legal trouble. Unfortunately, it can be easy to run into clients who don’t pay or those who try to get more out of you than what you originally agreed to. With a contract, you’re making sure there are boundaries in place.

If you don’t have a contract, you’ll have much greater risk and liability. Making sure you’re prepared doesn’t mean you aren’t reliable. You’re making sure you maintain a well-run business. It’s also better for your client to know that everyone’s on the same page. Running into issues and setting boundaries in place after the fact can interrupt your business and impact your client relationships.

Setting Up Business Contracts

It’s important to make sure that a lawyer is involved when it comes to contracts. A lawyer can make sure you’re protecting against everything that you might not have thought of on your own.

It’s okay to use online contract templates as long as you make sure that you’re in touch with a lawyer or using a lawyer-approved file. Remember you’ll also need to adjust your contracts according to the specific terms for each project.

Set your contracts up with custom fields so that you can add new information into your project. For instance, you can set up a custom field to add your client’s location and set it as a "must-fill" item so it isn’t skipped.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate your terms. Even if you have template contracts in place, changing the terms can be better for everyone.

Sending Your Contracts Out

When you’re ready to send your contracts, there are several ways you can make sure to save time and stay professional. The good news is that there are tools that let you automate much of the contract process.

Auto Expire Is Your Friend

You can set up your contracts to expire automatically if it takes your client too long to sign. If this happens, you’ll need to revisit the contract terms if your client still wants to proceed.

Make Sure Your Contract and Payment is Signed

Your work doesn’t start as soon as you send the contract. If something goes wrong or your clients’ priorities shift, it could impact the contract terms. That’s why you should auto-expire contracts just in case something happens that wasn’t a part of the plan.

While you’re waiting for your client to sign, don’t start the project work or turn away new business. Make sure your client knows that you’ll wait until you have the signed contract to know that the project is officially underway. This way, your client will know to sign sooner rather than later. It’s also best to make sure the contract is signed before you accept any payments. To combine your contract and invoice into one process, use a proposal software that helps you fast-track the booking process.

No matter how your client signs the contract, be sure to send them a digital copy. This way, everyone has a record of what was agreed upon.

Send Automatic Reminders

You can free up time by scheduling automated contract and payment reminders throughout the project. Instead of having to remind your clients about making a payment, you can use a client workflow automation software to build an automatic workflow that is triggered as soon as they sign the contract. Your automated emails can also include other reminders, such as office hours and cancellation policies.

Set Your Business Up For Success

When you set your business up for success, you ensure smooth processes and longevity

I write about the tools of crms to help other small businesses and freelancers who are getting started themselves or just want to gain more knowledge. I hope that the information I provide helps you grow your business!