Contracts Articles

Expert articles and practical legal guides on contracts for uk businesses.

Kitchen Supplier Goes Bust: Protect Contracts, Deposits And Deadlines

Kitchen Supplier Goes Bust: Protect Contracts, Deposits And Deadlines

Few things throw a project off course faster than finding out your kitchen supplier has gone bust halfway through a fit-out. If you run a construction business, property development company, hospitality venue,...

27 April 2026
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What Happens To A Business When The Owner Dies In The UK?

What Happens To A Business When The Owner Dies In The UK?

If you run a small business, it’s natural to focus on growth, customers, funding, and keeping the day-to-day moving. But there’s one uncomfortable “what if” that can quickly turn into a very...

27 April 2026
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Franchise Partnership Agreements: Key Terms, Risks and Structure

Franchise Partnership Agreements: Key Terms, Risks and Structure

Running a franchise can be a great way to grow faster than you could on your own - but it can also get messy quickly if you’re trying to do it with...

27 April 2026
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UK Crypto Regulation: What Businesses And Startups Need To Know (2023)

UK Crypto Regulation: What Businesses And Startups Need To Know (2023)

If you’re building anything in crypto (or even just accepting crypto as payment), you’ve probably felt the ground shift under your feet in the last few years. That’s because the UK has...

26 April 2026
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Commercial Units for Rent: UK Legal Checks Before You Sign

Commercial Units for Rent: UK Legal Checks Before You Sign

Commercial units can raise very different lease, use and fit-out issues depending on the premises. This guide covers the main UK legal checks to work through before you sign.

25 April 2026
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How To Start A Fragrance Business In The UK: Legal Essentials

How To Start A Fragrance Business In The UK: Legal Essentials

Starting a fragrance business can feel like the perfect mix of creativity and commercial opportunity. You get to build a brand, craft a product customers genuinely connect with, and (if you get...

25 April 2026
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Exit Strategy: Legal Steps For A Business Sale, Merger Or Closure In The UK

Exit Strategy: Legal Steps For A Business Sale, Merger Or Closure In The UK

Most small business owners spend years thinking about how to build the business - finding customers, hiring the right people, improving margins, and getting your operations running smoothly. But when it comes...

25 April 2026
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Deed of Variation for a Commercial Lease: Costs and Key UK Considerations

Deed of Variation for a Commercial Lease: Costs and Key UK Considerations

If you’re running a small business from leased premises, chances are your commercial lease will need to change at some point. Maybe you’re renegotiating rent, tweaking your repairing obligations, updating a break...

24 April 2026
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Private Companies In The UK: Definition, Structure, And Legal Requirements

Private Companies In The UK: Definition, Structure, And Legal Requirements

If you’re starting (or scaling) a business, you’ve probably heard people say “just set up a private company”. But “private companies in the UK” can mean a few different things in practice,...

24 April 2026
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Terminating a Contract in the UK: How to End Agreements Legally

Terminating a Contract in the UK: How to End Agreements Legally

At some point, most small businesses have to end a commercial relationship. Maybe a supplier keeps missing delivery dates, a customer stops paying, or a contractor simply isn’t the right fit anymore....

24 April 2026
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What Is Conciliation? Resolving Workplace And Contract Disputes In The UK

What Is Conciliation? Resolving Workplace And Contract Disputes In The UK

Disputes are part of running a business. A contractor doesn’t deliver on time, a client won’t pay, or a workplace issue escalates into a formal grievance. When you’re busy trying to keep...

24 April 2026
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Heads Of Terms Template (PDF): Key Clauses And Common Pitfalls For UK SMEs

Heads Of Terms Template (PDF): Key Clauses And Common Pitfalls For UK SMEs

If you’re negotiating a big deal for your business - buying or selling a business, taking on investment, signing a major supplier contract, or agreeing a commercial lease - it’s normal to...

24 April 2026
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Are Verbal Contracts Legally Binding In Scotland?

Are Verbal Contracts Legally Binding In Scotland?

You’re running a small business, things move fast, and not every deal happens with a neat PDF attached. Maybe you agreed a price over the phone with a supplier. Maybe a client...

24 April 2026
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UK Seed Funding Rounds: What Founders Must Know Before Raising Capital

UK Seed Funding Rounds: What Founders Must Know Before Raising Capital

Raising money can feel like a huge milestone - and it is. But seed funding rounds also have a habit of moving fast, with founders juggling pitch decks, investor calls, product timelines,...

24 April 2026
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Investor Contract Essentials: Key Terms, Pitfalls And How To Protect Your Startup

Investor Contract Essentials: Key Terms, Pitfalls And How To Protect Your Startup

Raising money is exciting. It can also feel like you’ve suddenly been dropped into a world of term sheets, cap tables, “standard” clauses and documents you’re expected to sign quickly. If you’re...

24 April 2026
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Do Shares Have To Be Sold On Death? UK Company Owners’ Guide

Do Shares Have To Be Sold On Death? UK Company Owners’ Guide

If you run a UK limited company with one or more shareholders, it’s completely normal to wonder what happens if one of you dies. From a business owner’s perspective, this isn’t just...

24 April 2026
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Heads Of Terms Template (Word): What To Include And When You Need One

Heads Of Terms Template (Word): What To Include And When You Need One

If you’re negotiating a deal for your business (a new supplier, a partnership, a property lease, a business sale, investment, or a big customer contract), you’ll often hit the same question early...

24 April 2026
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UK Competition Law: Staying Compliant And Avoiding Anti-Competitive Conduct

UK Competition Law: Staying Compliant And Avoiding Anti-Competitive Conduct

If you’re running a small business, competition probably feels like a daily reality - winning customers, negotiating with suppliers, and trying to stand out without racing to the bottom on price. But...

24 April 2026
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Contracting Agreement in the UK: Key Clauses and How to Draft One

Contracting Agreement in the UK: Key Clauses and How to Draft One

If your business uses freelancers, consultants, or contractors (even just occasionally), having a well-drafted contracting agreement in place is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself from cost blow-outs, scope creep,...

24 April 2026
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Opting Out Of The 48-Hour Work Week In The UK: Employer Implications

Opting Out Of The 48-Hour Work Week In The UK: Employer Implications

If you run a small business, busy periods can arrive fast - a new client lands, a big project hits, or peak season suddenly ramps up. When that happens, you might find...

24 April 2026
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How To Exit A Commercial Lease Early Without Costly Mistakes

How To Exit A Commercial Lease Early Without Costly Mistakes

If your business has outgrown its premises (or the premises have outgrown your budget), you might be thinking about ending a commercial lease early. It sounds simple in theory: you move out,...

23 April 2026
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How To Change Terms And Conditions In Business Contracts Safely

How To Change Terms And Conditions In Business Contracts Safely

You’ve launched your business, you’ve got customers coming in, and your operations are finally running smoothly. Then reality hits: your pricing needs to change, your delivery model evolves, you’re adding subscriptions, or...

23 April 2026
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How To Start A Restaurant Business In The UK: Legal Steps

How To Start A Restaurant Business In The UK: Legal Steps

Opening a restaurant is exciting - you’ve got a concept, a menu, and (hopefully) a location you can picture full of customers. But if you’re researching how to start a restaurant business...

23 April 2026
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Shareholders’ Responsibilities: Duties, Rights And Key Risks

Shareholders’ Responsibilities: Duties, Rights And Key Risks

If you run a UK SME or startup, it’s easy to think of shareholders as the “names on the cap table” and directors as the people who actually do the work. In...

23 April 2026
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