Contract

[jenjen]

This might be a silly or unappropriate question but, where do all of you get your contracts for your customer to sign? Did you have a lawyer drawl it up? I'm trying to start my own business as a side job because i'm a stay at home mom. Is there a place to go where there is sample ones? Or can someone email me a sample one? I was curious because most lawyers are telling me it's $300 and our money is a little tight. Well thanks!

Jen

[Jim Conway]

No question is silly or unappropriate - but I can pass on a tip that might save you a few hundred dollars in legal fees. You don't need a contract just an order form.

This is the 100th anniversary year for our business and in all those years, we have never used contracts --just a four part order form that is signed by the customer. I've got three lawyers in the family so it wouldn't cost me a dime if I thought one was needed and we have jobs that run from single prints to over $10K.

A contract of any kind is likely to cost you clients (they would wonder what you are afraid of) but to paint the dark side here even darker, suppose that you had an airtight contract of some kind and the client told he didn't like your work - would you be prepared to spend five or six thousand to take him to court?

Jim Conway
Timemark Photo Conservators