What to Look for in Contract Legal Services for Your Business (and Major Red Flags to Avoid)
Are you looking for the right contract legal services for your business? I’m sharing what you should look for in legal services (and what to avoid) to get the best contracts for your business!
Your business is unique, with specialized services that are just a bit different from others in your niche. So, you need a contract that is tailored to your specific business and needs. As a lawyer myself who provides contract legal services for businesses in all types of niches like you, I can tell you exactly what makes a good contract and why templates and custom contracts from other lawyers will actually hurt your business.
In this blog post, I’m spelling out what you need to look for in proper contract legal services. In this blog post, I’ll cover:
Why just random free templates online and googling for “contract lawyers near me” or “business contract attorney near me” just doesn’t get you the best results, and what to look for in a great contract lawyer
The danger of relying on generic templates or hiring the wrong kind of contract attorney
All that in a simple overview of the 5 essential features of quality contract legal services
After learning all about what you need and what you don’t want in contract legal services, you’ll get the best contract for your specific business.
This post is all about the essentials for quality contract legal services (and why DIY templates and many custom contracts won’t cut it).
Best Contract Legal Services
5 Must-Haves: How to find the Best online legal services for individuals running solo businesses & small businesses
1. Each unique business with industry-specific expertise needs a unique contract covering that specific scope
The one thing that creates misunderstandings and conflicts with clients is a miscommunication of the actual services or deliverables provided.
You don’t want a contract that only gives a vague description of your services and deliverables. You need a contract that spells out exactly what is within your scope AND what is not in your scope.
Nowadays, generic descriptions just don’t cut it anymore. If your clients do not get exactly what they expect, they won’t be happy, and that will directly affect your reputation because they’ll talk.
That does not mean you need to go outside of your scope to make every client happy.
What you need in your contracts
That means you have to manage their expectations. You accomplish that by having the following in your client contracts:
A clear overview in your contract of what specific tasks and deliverables are within your scope
A complete list specifying what is not included in your scope
What you need in contract legal services
What you need to look for in contract legal services is the following:
You need to look for (online) lawyers who showcase that they actually try to understand the specific services of their clients in their specific niche
You need to look for lawyers who will actually list out the specific tasks included in your contract in detail
You need to look for lawyers who understand the importance of creating boundaries and managing the expectations of clients
Why most generic templates and contract attorneys won’t cut it
Here’s the problem with most templates and random attorneys you’ll find when you google “business contract attorney near me”:
Templates will just leave a blank space for you to figure out how to describe your services and deliverables and the boundaries of your services
Many contract attorneys will provide a vague general description of your work, leaving it completely open to interpretation of what’s part of your services and deliverables and what is not
Many contract attorneys won’t even do a deep dive into your business to fully understand your niche, how your business operates, and what risks are associated with your business. And that could ultimately result in your contract reflecting a completely different business than the one you run!
And that will result in miscommunications and misunderstandings, which will result in bad reviews and even legal claims and disputes!
2. You need full customization, not just “personalization”
Your contract should be crystal clear on your business model, processes, delivery methods, and pricing structure.
You also need to have specific protections that are specific to your niche and your specific services and deliverables within that niche so there are no gray areas in which clients can hold you responsible or even liable for damages.
What you need in your contracts
More specifically, this is what you need in your contracts:
A full breakdown of your processes: when can clients schedule a meeting with you? How long do meetings take? How long does it take for you to deliver the deliverables? Within what timeframe must the client provide feedback or approval? What happens when the client ghosts you? That should all be specified in your contract.
Clear pricing and payment terms: What is the client paying for? What does the client pay for anything you do outside of the agreed scope? When does the client pay? Does the client pay a deposit, or is payment based on milestones? What payment methods must the client use?
Niche and service-specific disclaimers: Every niche and every specific service comes with its own unique risks. You need contract legal services that provide custom-made disclaimers relevant to your specific service and niche so that you have an iron-clad contract that provides all-around protection!
Why most generic templates and contract attorneys won’t cut it
Many templates and custom contracts do not even include step-by-step processes for services and deliverables. That leaves your clients completely confused about when they may expect you to deliver your services or deliverables.
Many contracts will state the amount paid for services and when. However, many won’t specify what clients will pay for services/deliverables outside of the agreed scope and how that works. That could result in you missing out on thousands of dollars of income!
Many templates and too many contract attorneys will only include very generic disclaimers, like on results and outcomes and statements that no warranties or guarantees are provided. That is not enough! That leaves you exposed to major liabilities if you don’t spell out what you are not responsible for.
3. Clarity Around Process, Revisions & Fees
We’ve covered how a contract lawyer should really get your business, niche, payment terms, and processes.
Now, let’s get into what you should expect from your lawyer’s contract legal services.
Just like you need to set clear expectations with your clients, so should a contract lawyer.
What you need from your contract legal services
More specifically, you need clarity on the following:
You need to know how the lawyer’s process works: When do you need to provide input? How? Do you have a consultation beforehand? Do you need to meet them in person? When can you expect your lawyer to deliver the contract?
You need to know how much it costs to get a custom contract.
You need to know how revisions work and what it will cost you.
Red flags to watch out for in contract legal services
Here’s what you need to watch out for before you accept contract legal services from any lawyer:
Many lawyers will give you an estimate of what it might cost to create a contract for you. As a business owner, you need to know the costs of your business. An experienced lawyer should know how much time it will take them to draft a contract for you. They should know the value of their contracts. Thus, a lawyer should be able to give you a fixed fee for a custom contract. Sure, some contracts require more work than others, but if your lawyer spends a little more time on that contract, that should be their loss. Lawyers servicing businesses need to act like entrepreneurs, too, not freelancers.
A first draft will likely need revisions. You need to know how much a revision round will cost you. It’s harder for a lawyer to predict how much time each revision will cost, of course, but a decent lawyer should be able to make revision costs predictable for you, too. But a lot of them don’t, and they just charge you for their time, which could turn a $1,000 custom contract into a $3,000 contract.
A proper custom contract will take some time to draft, but you need to know when you can expect to receive your custom contract. You have a business to run, and without a proper contract, you can’t engage new clients! A major red flag is when a lawyer can’t be clear on the exact process and timelines, leaving you confused about when you’ll have a contract you can actually use to continue your business. What information do you need to prepare? When and how do you need to provide that information to your lawyer? Maybe a lawyer will tell you that you’ll receive your contract by the end of next week, but what about revision rounds? How long will those take? When will you ultimately have a finalized contract to start your business?
Not having clarity on the process and fees could result in you waiting forever for your contract and, ultimately, a very high bill at the end!
How my contract legal services can help you
Here’s what you’ll get when you choose my contract legal services
When you work with me, you’re not just getting a contract — you’re getting a powerful tool that protects your business, sets clear expectations with clients, and frees up your time to focus on what you do best.
Here’s exactly how I make sure your contract works for you:
A Contract Built Around Your Business: I take the time to actually understand your services, your process, and your client relationships — so your contract reflects how you run your business, not some generic template.
Crystal-Clear Scope, Deliverables, and Boundaries: I’ll map out exactly what’s included — and what’s not — so you avoid misunderstandings, scope creep, and time-wasting client disputes before they ever happen.
Niche-Specific Disclaimers That Actually Protect You: You’ll get disclaimers tailored to your specific services and industry risks, giving you the full protection you need.
Payment Terms That Make You More Money: No more working for free or chasing down payments. Your contract will set clear fees, payment schedules, and boundaries around extra work — so you actually get paid.
Protection for Your Time, Energy, and Business Growth: I’ll incorporate boundaries around meetings, communication, and revisions so you stay in control of your schedule and can scale your business without burning out.
Ready to get a contract that’s as strong and smart as your business?
Check out all my legal contract services on this page!
How my contract legal services work
Getting a custom, high-quality contract for your business should be simple — and with me, it is:
Step 1: Choose Your Service (or Book a Free Call!): Head to my Custom Contract Services page and purchase the service you need. Not sure which contract is right for your business or don’t see exactly what you need? No problem — you can book a free 15-minute call with me to create a tailored solution at a fixed fee.
Step 2: Fill Out a Detailed Questionnaire: Within 72 hours after your purchase, you’ll receive a detailed but easy-to-complete questionnaire. You’ll share information about your business, services, and specific needs. (And don’t worry — if anything’s missing, I’ll personally reach out to make sure I have everything I need.)
Step 3: I Create Your Custom Contract: Once I have all the necessary information, I’ll get to work creating your fully customized contract, built to protect your business and set you up for success. You’ll receive your completed contract within 7 days — or 3 days if you choose the Rush Service Add-On.
What if I’m not sure what information to provide?
No worries! My questionnaire is designed to guide you step-by-step. And if anything’s unclear or missing, I’ll personally reach out to make sure I have everything I need to create the perfect contract for your business.
What if I need changes after I get my contract?
If you’d like to make changes after receiving your contract, you can order a Revision Round Add-On at a fixed fee.
Each Revision Round Add-On includes one round of revisions based on your provided input with up to 3 changes to existing clauses or up to 2 additional clauses (such as modifying a payment schedule, updating your scope, or adding a warranty clause)
Revision delivery within 7 days — or 3 days if you choose the Rush Service Add-On.
What if I need my contract faster?
Need it ASAP? You can simply add the 3-Day Rush Service to your order and get your completed contract within 3 days instead of 7.
Can you create a contract if my business is a little different?
Absolutely! If you don’t see your exact service listed or aren’t sure which option to pick, just book a free 15-minute call. We’ll figure out the best custom solution for you at a clear, fixed price.
This post was all about the contract legal services you need for your business and what to watch out for to get the best contract for your business!
Need a consulting agreement? Read this blog post on the 7 Key Reasons Why You Need Top-Notch Consulting Agreement Services (And Why Generic Contracts Won’t Cut It)!
Learn more about all my legal contract services on this page!