Tips for making bulletproof contracts as a business owner

If you have recently started your own business or become CEO of a startup, you will already know the importance of having contracts in place. Making huge financial decisions on the basis of someone's word is reckless because there is nothing in place to hold the person to their word, and this could lead to a disaster for your business.

Contracts essentially reduce the risk for all parties involved by creating an agreement and putting a plan in place for how to move forward when one party does not fulfill the demands of the contract. Knowing how to effectively draft and implement contracts is a key way to save both time and money as an entrepreneur, and it is a sure-fire way to set your business up for success.

Keep the contract simple

Complexity only makes mistakes more likely. Always aim to keep a contract as simple as possible. Use plain language and structure in a way that is easy to understand. If your contract is ambiguous, you will not be able to easily enforce the terms.

Make sure that each party is correctly identified

If a person is incorrectly identified in a contract, the contract may no longer be legally enforceable. It is paramount that you include the correct legal names of the relevant parties.

Agree on how disputes will be resolved

Contracts should always have a backup plan. As well as stating the agreement, you must also include details about what must happen in the event that the demands of the contract are not fulfilled by either party.

Choose a state law that will govern the contract

If this contract involves people in different states, you should specify which state law will govern the contract. This will make things easier if you need to go through litigation in the future.

If you are a business owner you should make sure that all of your contracts are written well and reviewed so that you can avoid future legal complications.