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

Online Legal Documents UK Small Businesses Need (And How to Get Them Right)
When you’re running a small business, it’s easy to treat legal paperwork as something you’ll “sort later”. You’re busy finding customers, delivering work, managing cashflow, and trying to grow. But the truth...

IR35 And Overseas Contractors: Does It Apply To Your Business?
Hiring overseas talent can be a game-changer for small UK businesses. You can scale faster, access specialist skills, and keep costs predictable. But if you engage overseas contractors (especially via personal service...

Group Company Definition: Meaning for Business Structure and Contracts
If you’re growing a business, it’s common to end up with more than one entity in the mix. Maybe you’ve set up a new company for a second venture, brought in investors...

Standard Essential Patents (SEPs): Licensing And Compliance For UK Startups And SMEs
If your product connects to Wi‑Fi, 4G/5G, Bluetooth, video codecs, smart meters, IoT devices, or any other widely adopted “industry standard”, there’s a good chance you’ll come across standard essential patents (SEPs)...

Legally Required HR Policies in the UK (ACAS Guidance)
If you’re hiring your first employee (or even your fifth), it’s completely normal to wonder what HR paperwork you actually need - and what’s just “nice to have”. From an employer’s perspective,...

Company Equity Explained: What Equity Means For UK Startups And SMEs
If you’re building a startup or growing an SME, “company equity” is one of those terms you’ll hear constantly - from co-founders, investors, accountants, and even potential hires. But equity isn’t just...

Alienation in a Commercial Lease: Assignments and Subletting
If you’re running your business from leased premises, your commercial lease isn’t just paperwork - it can shape how flexible (or stuck) you are if your business changes direction. One of the...

Finance Lease Definition (UK): Meaning, Implications And Key Terms
If you’re looking at getting equipment, vehicles, or machinery without paying a big lump sum upfront, you’ve probably come across the phrase “finance lease”. The problem is that the meaning of a...

Commercial Property Rent For Tenants In the UK
If you’re taking on a shop, office, studio, warehouse or hospitality space, the rent is usually the biggest fixed cost you’ll commit to. But commercial property rent isn’t just a single number...

UK Website Terms And Conditions Template: What To Include
If you run a small business website, it’s tempting to treat your website terms and conditions as a “nice to have” and grab a quick UK terms and conditions template from the...

What Happens To Shares When Someone Dies In The UK?
If you run a small company, it’s easy to focus on growth, sales and hiring the right people - and not spend much time thinking about what happens if a shareholder dies....

Letter Of Intent Template (UK): What To Include And When You Need One
If you’re negotiating a new deal - buying a business, bringing in an investor, signing a major supplier, or agreeing key commercial terms - you might reach the point where you’re thinking:...

Share Purchase Agreements In the UK: Buying Or Selling Company Shares
Buying or selling shares in a company can be an exciting milestone - whether you’re bringing in a new investor, buying out a co-founder, or selling your business (or part of it)...

Restocking Fees: Returns, Refunds And Terms & Conditions In The UK
If you sell physical products (especially online), returns can be a real cost centre. You’re not just dealing with “sending it back” - you might be paying for inbound shipping, inspecting the...

Manufacturing Contracts In The UK: Key Terms And Risks To Address
If you’re scaling a product business, choosing the right manufacturer can feel like a huge milestone. But the contract you sign is what really determines whether that milestone becomes a smooth growth...

How To Pay Employees In The UK: Legal Basics For Employers
Hiring your first employee (or scaling from one to five, or five to fifty) is a huge milestone. But once you’ve got someone on the team, the day-to-day reality kicks in: you...

Pre-Construction Services Agreements: Key Terms to Include
If you’re an SME or startup gearing up for a build (a new premises, a fit-out, an extension, or even a multi-site rollout), it’s tempting to jump straight to “when can you...

Do UK Employers Have to Pay Mileage? Business Mileage and Expenses
If you employ staff who drive as part of their role, mileage can quickly become one of those “small admin tasks” that turns into a recurring headache. Employees ask whether their employer...

How To Sell A Business Privately In The UK: Key Legal Steps
Selling your business is a big moment - especially if you’re doing it without an agent or broker. A private sale can save you fees and keep things discreet, but it also...

How To Write An NDA For Your UK Business: Key Clauses And Mistakes
If you’re running a small business, you’ll probably share sensitive information more often than you realise - with potential customers, suppliers, contractors, investors, freelancers, and even collaborators you’re still “testing out”. That’s...

Collaboration Agreement Template: Key Clauses for UK Startups and SMEs
Collaborations can be one of the fastest ways to grow a startup or SME. You might team up with another business to co-create a product, run a joint marketing campaign, share distribution...

How To Run A Limited Company In The UK: Key Legal Steps
Running a limited company can feel like a huge milestone - you’ve set up a proper structure, you’re ready to grow, and you’ve got that extra layer of separation between you and...

Do Companies Have To Pay Redundancy In the UK? Employer Obligations
Redundancy is one of those business decisions you never want to rush - but when trading conditions change, costs rise, or a contract ends, you may not have much choice. As a...

International Franchising: Legal Considerations For UK Businesses Expanding Abroad
International franchising can be a seriously exciting growth move. You’ve built a brand that works in the UK, you’ve nailed your systems, and now you’re thinking: “Could this work overseas too?” The...
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