Contracts Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on contracts for uk businesses.
Negative Pledge Clause: Meaning, Examples And When You Need One
If you’re raising finance, negotiating a loan, or signing a commercial agreement that involves credit risk, you might come across a negative pledge clause and wonder what a negative pledge is - ...
31 March 2026
Share Structures for UK Startups: Pros and Cons for Founders and Investors
If you’re building a UK startup, it won’t be long before shares come up in conversations with co-founders, early hires, angel investors, and advisors. Shares can be a powerful way to raise...
31 March 2026
What Is A Collaboration Agreement? (2026 Updated)
Collaborations can be exciting. You've got a shared vision, complementary skills, and (hopefully) a plan to build something bigger than what either of you could do alone. But when a collaboration starts...
31 March 2026
Software Licence Agreements: What Is Included And Why (2026 Updated)
If you're building, selling, or rolling out software in the UK, your product might be brilliant - but your legal foundations still need to be solid. A Software Licence Agreement is one...
31 March 2026
Anti-Social Working Hours in the UK: Employer Scheduling and Staff Rights
If you run a small business, you’ll probably come across anti-social hours at some point - whether it’s evening shifts, early mornings, weekends, bank holidays, or overnight work. For some businesses (hospitality,...
31 March 2026
Can a Fixed-Term Contract Be Extended in the UK?
Fixed-term contracts can be a great tool for small businesses. They let you hire for a specific project, cover maternity leave, manage seasonal demand, or test whether a role needs to become...
31 March 2026
Debt Investments In The UK: Legal Considerations For Startups And SMEs
If you’re running a startup or SME, there’s a good chance you’ll hit a point where growth is limited by cash flow, hiring capacity, or the timing gap between spending money and...
31 March 2026
Client Assets Explained: Holding, Protecting And Returning Customer Funds In The UK
If your business ever holds money or other property for a customer (even briefly), you may be dealing with client assets - sometimes called “client money” in specific regulated contexts. This comes...
31 March 2026
Sweat Equity Shares In The UK: How They Work And Startup Risks
If you’re building a startup, cash is often your scarcest resource. So it’s no surprise that many founders look for ways to reward key people (co-founders, early hires, advisers or consultants) without...
31 March 2026
What UK SMEs Must Include In Their Contracts (And When To Get Legal Help)
If you run a small business, you’re probably making agreements every week - with customers, suppliers, contractors, partners, venues, platforms, and more. The tricky part is that many of those “agreements” are...
31 March 2026UK GDPR International Data Transfers: SME Compliance Checklist
If your business uses overseas suppliers, cloud software, or remote teams, there’s a good chance you’re making an international data transfer without even realising it. For many UK SMEs, international data transfers...
31 March 2026Negotiating A Commercial Lease: Key Terms, Pitfalls And Tips
Signing a commercial lease is one of those “big moment” milestones for a small business. It’s exciting (you’ve found your space), but it can also feel a bit daunting because you’re committing...
31 March 2026Auto Renew Meaning In UK Business Contracts: What To Know And Avoid
If you run a small business, you’ve probably signed up to software tools, marketing platforms, memberships, maintenance services, or supplier arrangements that “just keep going” unless you cancel. That’s the whole point...
30 March 2026
How To Remove A Shareholder From Your UK Company: Legal Options
When you’re building a company, bringing in shareholders can be a great way to raise capital, reward early contributors, or build a strong founding team. But sometimes, relationships break down, priorities change,...
30 March 2026
Witness Signature: When You Need One And How To Do It Correctly
If you’re running a small business, you’ll eventually sign something that needs more than just your signature. It might be a deed, a shareholder document, a lease-related document, or a settlement agreement....
30 March 2026
Rolling Break Clauses in UK Commercial Contracts: What to Know
If you’ve ever signed a supplier agreement, a services contract, or a commercial arrangement that “just keeps renewing”, you’ll know how quickly a good deal can turn into an expensive one. That’s...
30 March 2026
Term Loan A: What UK SMEs Should Know Before Signing A Business Loan Agreement
If you’re growing your business and a lender has offered you a term loan A, it can feel like a big milestone. But before you sign anything, it’s worth slowing down and...
30 March 2026
Commercial Lease Clauses And Risks: What To Check Before You Sign In The UK
If you’re about to take on premises for your business, you’ve probably realised a legal lease isn’t just “renting a unit”. It’s a long-term commercial commitment that can shape your costs, your...
30 March 2026PLC Licence for Alterations: When You Need One and Key Terms to Negotiate
If you’re fitting out new premises, refurbishing your shop, or making your workspace work better for your team, you’ll often run into one key legal document: a licence for alterations. This is...
30 March 2026UK Business Record Retention: How Long to Keep Paperwork
If you run a small business, paperwork can build up fast. Invoices, receipts, payroll reports, contracts, HR records, emails, customer messages – it all adds up. At some point, you’ll ask the...
30 March 2026How To Register As A Sole Trader In The UK (Step-By-Step)
Starting a small business can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time - especially when you’re trying to get the legal setup right from day one. If you’ve been searching for...
30 March 2026
How To Draft A Contract In The UK: Clear, Enforceable Agreements
If you run a small business, contracts probably show up everywhere - quoting a customer, onboarding a supplier, hiring a freelancer, or partnering with another business. And yet, “we’ll just put something...
30 March 2026
Working During Annual Leave in the UK: Employer Obligations and Risks
Annual leave is meant to be a genuine break from work. But in a small business, real life can get in the way - a key client needs an urgent answer, a...
30 March 2026
Contract Offers: How To Make, Accept And Formalise Them Safely
If you run a small business, you’ll make and receive contract offers all the time - even when it doesn’t feel like you’re doing anything “legal”. A quick email with a price,...
30 March 2026
Need help with your business legals?
Speak with Sprintlaw to get practical legal support and fixed-fee options tailored to your business.