Legal documents for business

Starting your Business

Below you will find contracts for when you start a new business.

If you wonder why you should bother with business contracts, think for a moment: whether or not you write down the terms, you will be entering into contracts with other people all the time – with your suppliers, your customers or clients and your employees and /or consultants. In addition, unless you are a one-person business, you will need an agreement with your partners or fellow shareholders on how the business will be financed and managed and how decisions will be taken.

Your new business will benefit because professionally drafted contracts will:

• protect you in your dealings with other people;
• give your business a professional, established image when you use standard terms for buying and selling goods and services;
• help you meet legal requirements, in particular with regard to employees and the regulatory and tax authorities.

If you need something that is not listed here, have a look in the alternative contract collections indicated or use our search facility. We can also supply custom contracts for you - see the Legal Services section.

A199	Acceptance of Order (Goods)	£9.00 + VAT
Form for use by a Supplier to confirm an order for the sale of goods.  This document is a template in Word format and can be adapted by you for your company's purposes
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A112	Appointment of a Consultant Contract Template	£35.00 + VAT
This is a solid and straightforward consultancy appointment in the form of letter. It is for appointing an individual as a consultant or freelancer to provide services to a company over a limited period in return for a fee. The fee is either fixed or calculated by reference to hourly/daily rates. The 15 paragraphs in this letter can be adapted for a great variety of consultancy appointments - particularly useful for short-term appointments where a consultant is engaged for a few months on a particular project. The letter covers • services to be provided • length of appointment • minimum term • provision of office space • changes to the service • fees and reimbursement of expenses • invoicing • standard of work • relationship with the Company • responsible for any tax, national insurance contributions • confidentiality • relationships with Company customers and suppliers • copyright and intellectual property • subcontracting • termination • scope of the agreement You may also want to look at our Consultant's Legal Pack, which contains an array of legal template documents designed for use in a consultancy business. You need this document if you want to appoint an individual or freelancer to provide consultancy services to your business over a limited period of time.
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A153	Appointment of Sales Consultant	£37.00 + VAT
This agreement appointing a sales consultant is suitable for use by a company that wishes to appoint an individual to provide services as a self-employed consultant promoting the products sold by the Company in return for agreed fees and expenses (and, perhaps, commission on sales). The sales consultant agreement is prepared in the form of a letter to be issued on the company's notepaper and countersigned by the consultant. This five page letter contains 21 clauses covering • services and territory • commencement and duration • working time • office facilities (as applicable) • consultation and change to services • fees and expenses • invoices • obligations of consultant • independence and authority • company obligations • taxation • confidentiality • intellectual property • assignment and subcontracting • termination • restrictions after termination • indemnity • notices • language • resolution of disputes • governing law A schedule is appended, detailing products to be covered by the agreement, services to be provided by the consultant, territory and fees, commission and expenses. The Consultant is not an agent and has no authority to make sales on the Company's behalf. You need this letter if you want to appoint a self-employed sales consultant in return for fees, commission or expenses, and formally set out the terms of your agreement.
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F100	Business Forms Pack	£9.50 + VAT
This pack of forms contains a collection of one-page forms  suitable for a small business. Ideal for office management, they are in Word format ready for you to customise. The pack includes: Purchase Order  - Confirmation of Purchase Order  - Invoice  -  Statement of Account - Time Recording Form  - Expenses Claim Form - Mileage Claim Form -  Petty Cash Voucher -  Message Recording Form  - Overtime Claim Form
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A120	Conditions of Sale	£43.00 + VAT
The file contains a package of documents consisting of the Conditions of Sale and explanatory notes, together with a duplicate set of Conditions in a format suitable for provision to customers by inclusion in quotations, invoices or otherwise. These conditions are drafted in favour of the seller and include some language suitable for cross-border sales. This is a six page document with 16 main clauses covering • definitions • formations of contract • prices • delivery • payment • property and risk • storage and installation • warranties and liability • force majeure • intellectual property • notices • assignment and subcontracting • customer default • severance • governing law • disputes These conditions are drafted in favour of the seller and include some language suitable for cross-border sales. You need this document if you are a company looking for standard terms and conditions with can be used for the sale of your products to customers.
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A200	Confirmation of Order (Services)	£9.00 + VAT
For use by a Supplier to confirm an order for the supply of services.  This is a one page document in Word format providing a standard form for a supplier to use when confirming or acknowledging an order.
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A113	Consultant Standard Terms of Business Contract Template	£35.00 + VAT
These Terms of Business are for professional consultants and freelance agents, and offer a standard set of terms and conditions for dealing with clients. Designed as a template for use by a consultant when submitting a proposal to a client, these terms could be used by a wide range of consulting firms, from engineers to PR consultants. There are 11 main clauses covering: • scope of services • duration • fees and expenses (by reference to a separate quotation/contract) • information and approval • standard of care • intellectual property • personnel • liability (with alternative clauses) • termination • assignment and subcontracting • law and jurisdiction This document has recently been updated to include an appointment letter to clients and a Schedule detailing the scope of services, fees and expenses payable. You may also want to look at our Consultant's Legal Pack, which contains a low-cost collection of legal template documents that would be useful to a consultancy business.
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A145	Equipment Hire Agreement	£40.00 + VAT
This agreement for the hire of equipment is suitable for use where one party, the owner, rents equipment to another party, the hirer. This five page document contains 10 clauses covering • definitions • hire agreement • delivery of equipment, by either Owner or Hirer • hirer’s general obligations • owner’s general obligations • hire charges and payment • indemnity • termination • assignment • governing law and disputes A schedule is also included, detailing equipment to be hired, hire charges, hire period and hirer’s premises. You need this document if you are an Owner or Hirer looking to protect your interests when loaning out equipment to other businesses. In the UK many hire agreements, when the hirer is an individual, are covered by the Consumer Credit Acts.  This Agreement is not written subject to the Consumer Credit Act and is intended for commercial hiring, and not for hiring to consumers.
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A108	Heads of Agreement Template	£33.00 + VAT
This is a three party agreement, suitable for three individuals proposing to set up a new company in which each of them will be a shareholder and a director. This is a 4 page document with 14 clauses covering • objectives • company formation • initial capital • additional capital • profits policy • directors • management of business • matters requiring unanimity • bankers • accountants • deadlock • good faith and non-competition • preparation of a formal shareholders’ agreement • governing law and disputes You need this document if you’re looking to ensure clarity and safeguard the interests of shareholders. Also see our Checklist for Shareholders Agreement. For a two party shareholders’ agreement template, see Document A107.
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P101L	Licence to Occupy Offices	£40.00 + VAT
This document is designed to create a licence of business premises, i.e. a relatively flexible, short term agreement of less than six months where the licensee does not have a right of exclusive occupation and does not get the same protection as a tenant of business premises under English law.
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A109	Loan Agreement Contract Template (to a limited company)	£30.00 + VAT
This agreement sets out a loan to a limited company in connection with its business, repayable with interest over a fixed term. This is a five page document with 14 clauses covering • the loan amount and initial drawdown • repayments of interest • repayments of principal • prepayment • due date for payment • warranties • information to be supplied • borrower’s undertakings • default • change of ownership • assignment • waiver • notices • governing law and disputes A Schedule is also included, allowing parties to exchange bank details. You need this document if you want to formalise a loan agreement to a limited company, detailing the terms of your loan.
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A116	Loan Agreement Form Template (to an individual)	£28.00 + VAT
This letter details the terms of a personal loan to an individual. There are 10 paragraphs covering • loan amount • payment of interest • repayment of capital • prepayment • payment dates • default • undertakings • notices • assignment • waiver You need this document if you are making a personal loan and want to formalize the arrangement and have clear arrangements for repayments.
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P102L	Option for the Purchase of Freehold Property	£40.00 + VAT
An agreement for the purchase of freehold property where the purchase price is fixed and where a written notice is required to be served on the seller within a specified period.
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A148	Partnership Agreement (2 partners)	£48.00 + VAT
This partnership agreement is suitable either for the establishment of a new partnership or for formalising an existing partnership. It deals with partnership capital, profits and losses, drawings by partners, conduct of partnership business and decision-making including provisions relating to deadlock. This eleven page document contains 21 clauses covering • definitions and interpretations • establishment of partnership • principal office and property • capital • profits and losses • drawings • partnership loans • conduct of partnership business • good faith • restriction on partners • partnership bank • accounts • holidays • insurance • termination, retirement and death • post termination provisions • notices • disputes, deadlock and governing law • the scope of the agreement • severability • waiver You need this contract if you want to establish a two-person partnership, or formalize an existing partnership, and want to set out your relationship to the other parties, your mutual obligations, and the rules governing the conduct of your partnership.
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A149	Partnership Agreement (3 partners)	£50.00 + VAT
The Agreement is suitable either for the establishment of a new partnership or for formalising an existing partnership of three partners. It deals with partnership capital, profits and losses, drawings by partners, conduct of partnership business and decision-making. This fourteen page document contains 24 clauses covering • definitions and interpretations • establishment of partnership • principal office and property • capital • profits and losses • drawings • partnership loans • conduct of partnership business • good faith • restriction on partners • partnership bank • accounts • holidays • insurance • termination, retirement and death • consequences of retirement, expulsion or death • former partner’s share • dissolution • restriction of former partner • notices • disputes and governing law • scope of the agreement • severability • waiver You need this contract if you want to establish a three-person partnership, or formalize an existing partnership, and want to set out your relationship to the other parties, your mutual obligations, and the rules governing the conduct of your partnership.
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A150	Partnership Agreement (4 or 5 partners)	£50.00 + VAT
The Agreement is suitable either for the establishment of a new partnership or for formalising an existing partnership. It deals with partnership capital, profits and losses, drawings by partners, conduct of partnership business and decision-making. This fifteen page document contains 24 clauses covering • definitions and interpretations • establishment of partnership • principal office and property • capital • profits and losses • drawings • partnership loans • conduct of partnership business • good faith • restriction on partners • partnership bank • accounts • holidays and leave • insurance • termination, retirement and death • consequences of expulsion, retirement or death • former partner’s share • dissolution • restriction of former partner • notices • disputes and governing law • the scope of the agreement • severability • waiver You need this contract if you want to establish a four- or five-person partnership, or formalize an existing partnership, and want to set out your relationship to the other parties, your mutual obligations, and the rules governing the conduct of your partnership.
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Z155	Preparing a Business Plan - Free Document	£0.00 + VAT
This free 24-page document, supplied to ContractStore by Cantium Consulting Ltd will help you with the preparation of a Business Plan.
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A201	Purchase Order & Acceptance of Order Forms Collection	£20.00 + VAT
This is a suite of four forms in Word format, consisting of a Purchase Order for Goods, a Purchase Order for Services, an Acceptance of Order (Goods) and Acceptance of Order (Services). These forms can also be purchased separately– see Documents A197, A198, A999, A200
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A197	Purchase Order (Goods)	£9.00 + VAT
This is a one page document in Word format providing a standard form for a company to use when placing an order with a supplier
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A137	Purchase Order (including Terms & Conditions)	£35.00 + VAT
A short Purchase Order Form for use by a business when ordering goods, with terms and conditions included. This is a simplified version of document A129 running to only 9 short clauses covering: • the scope of the agreement • quality and description • delivery • warranty • payment • variations • risk and ownership • installation • law and disputes You need this document to give your suppliers, if you are a buyer of goods, and you want detail in writing of the terms and conditions of your purchase.
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A198	Purchase Order (Services)	£9.00 + VAT
This is a one page document in Word format providing a standard form for a company to use when placing an order with a supplier
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P109L	Rent Deposit Agreement	£32.00 + VAT
This document is designed for use with a lease, where a rent deposit is paid to the landlord by the tenant and the deposit is placed in a bank account and held on trust by the landlord for the tenant.  The landlord can use the deposit if the tenant defaults but otherwise the deposit must be returned to the tenant at the time specified in this document and the tenant is entitled to the interest earned on the deposit account.
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A107	Shareholders Agreement Template - Two Parties	£48.00 + VAT
This shareholders' agreement is suitable for two individuals who set up a limited company to run a new business in which each of them will have 50% of the shares. This is an eight page document with 18 clauses covering • interpretation • the nature of the company's business • capital • profits policy • the company’s directors, chairman and secretary • meetings • day to day conduct • the company’s bank account • accountants and registered office • matters requiring the consent of both shareholders • shares • exercise of voting rights • non-competition • default • deadlock procedure • death of a shareholders • a miscellaneous clause addressing partnership, assignment, notices, waiver, ambiguity and governing law. This agreement is useful as a basic document to ensure clarity and safeguard the interests of shareholders. Also see our Checklist for Shareholders Agreement. For a three party form of this shareholders’ agreement, see Document A166.
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A129	Standard Terms & Conditions For Purchase of Goods & Equipment	£47.00 + VAT
This package includes Terms & Conditions of Purchase, a form of Purchase Order (incorporating the Terms and Conditions) and explanatory notes. While reasonably balanced, these conditions are designed from the purchaser's perspective and are intended for general use by a company when placing orders for goods and equipment. This is a four page document with 15 clauses covering • definitions • acceptance of order • quality and description • inspection and testing • delivery • rejection • warranty • payment • variations • installation and services • risk and property • indemnity • force majeure • assignment and subcontracting • law and disputes • a miscellaneous clause addressing notice, amendment and waiver These Terms & Conditions of Purchase are suitable for use by a company when placing orders for goods and equipment.
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A221	Website & Email Legal Notices	£13.50 + VAT
Did you know that under English law you must display certain information about your business on your website? This document contains template wording to ensure you are up to date. It includes the information that every company is required to provide under English law, plus a Disclaimer Notice, a Copyright Notice, Privacy Policy, Notices concerning links to and from the website and useful legal phrases for your email signature.
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PK003	Consultant's Business Pack	£49.00 + VAT
This consultant's business pack contains a collection of legal documents and statements for use when setting up a website to supply consultancy services as well as various helpful guidance documents for someone setting up a new business. The pack is suitable for a wide range of consulting businesses.
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PK002	Online Retailer's Business Pack	£49.00 + VAT
This online retailer's business pack contains a collection of legal documents and statements for use when setting up an e-commerce website to sell goods online as well as various helpful guidance documents for someone setting up a new business. The online retailer's business pack includes: A Non-Disclosure (Confidentiality) Agreement Notes on Preparing a Business Plan Terms of Sale of Goods online Website & E-mail Legal Notices Terms of Business for Advertising Online In addition there are some useful advisory notes, especially for anyone setting up a new business, and these include a Guide to Starting a Business, a Checklist for a Shareholders Agreement and Explanatory notes on Employment Contracts.  Scroll down for full details and explanatory notes of the contents of this pack.
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