A contract is a set of promises between two or more parties that have been agreed and signed by both parties.
In the UK, businesses need contracts for most transactions outside of personal agreements.
The law treats b2b contracts differently to business to consumer contracts as they are viewed as being more one-sided in favour of the business.
Businesses should have a contract in place even if you think it’s not legally required. Your b2b contract can:
- Set out terms and conditions
- Protect your business and ensure you get paid
- Avoid disagreements with business partners
- Show good practice and help you to avoid things like insolvency claims or disputes over ownership
For more on business to business contracts, see commercial law firm Crest Legal
There are three common kinds of b2b contract:
Contracts for services – this type of contract is used when one business agrees to provide a service for another business such as building work, cleaning, catering, legal advice and so on.
Contracts for goods – this type of contract is used when one business agrees to supply another with goods such as food, tools, materials and so on.
Contracts for the sale and purchase of land – this type of contract is used when one business buys land from another example, a builder buys land from a local authority.
In the United Kingdom, there are a number of legal agreements you should have in place. These documents protect your business from liability and help you take better care of your customers and partnerships.
Contracts with clients
The best way to avoid disputes with clients is to have a basic contract in place. This agreement specifies what your client expects from your company and what you expect from them.
The contract should cover a variety of elements, including payment terms, the length of the relationship and specific services you will provide for a fee. Having a contract allows you to prove that a client agreed to a set of terms, which may prevent them from going back on any verbal agreements they made with you or your staff.
Employee contracts
It’s also important to have employee contracts in place that clearly outline the expectations of both parties. For example, an employment contract can outline how much an employee will be paid, what benefits they’re eligible for and how long they’ll work for your company. These details help ensure that both parties are clear about their roles and responsibilities within the business.
Confidentiality agreements
Some companies may need confidentiality agreements or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). These documents protect proprietary information by limiting who has access to it and how it can be used.
Find out more about confidentiality agreements.
Partnership agreements
Whether you are involved in a business deal, starting a new company, or developing an overall business plan for your company, you will need to have a legal agreement. If you are planning on entering into a partnership with someone else or doing business with another company then you will need to have a legal agreement that outlines all the expectations between the two of you.
The parties who are involved in an agreement need to know when their obligations and liabilities end. This is important and is considered as one of the points that need to be highlighted in a business to business contract.
Contracts with suppliers
Negotiate with your suppliers to obtain concessions on price, quality or delivery terms. These concessions must be listed in your contract as they make it easier for you to assess if you are getting a good deal or not.
This may assist you in determining whether you will accept any new offers from your supplier or not.
If there are no such concessions, then discuss this with your buyer and try to get them to agree to relax their requirements for delivery or quality in return for concessions on price.
The payment terms and method employed by the buyer must also be listed in the contract along with any penalties that apply for late payments. It can also help you determine whether you will pay within the time frame specified by your supplier or not. You can also include other penalties such as charges for non-payment or charges for returned cheques, etc.