When establishing a consulting relationship with a client, what do you typically do contract-wise? Do you call up your lawyer and have something prepped on a per-client basis, do you use a slightly modified template, or do you operate on a more casual handshake sort of agreement? How specific are the terms you generally work out?
FWIW my firm uses a set of standard terms drawn up by our lawyer. They're very carefully thought through and it means we know exactly what we're getting into with each client.
Doing this once wasn't that expensive. We try and avoid renegotiating with each client on anything important, because it tends to be an expensive, time consuming process and nevertheless changes are never in your favours:(
Where we've done work without a contract it has a much higher probability of problems arising.
Comments
When establishing a consulting relationship with a client, what do you typically do contract-wise? Do you call up your lawyer and have something prepped on a per-client basis, do you use a slightly modified template, or do you operate on a more casual handshake sort of agreement? How specific are the terms you generally work out?
FWIW my firm uses a set of standard terms drawn up by our lawyer. They're very carefully thought through and it means we know exactly what we're getting into with each client.
Doing this once wasn't that expensive. We try and avoid renegotiating with each client on anything important, because it tends to be an expensive, time consuming process and nevertheless changes are never in your favours:(
Where we've done work without a contract it has a much higher probability of problems arising.