Contracts Articles

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

Master Services Agreement (MSA): What It Is And When You Need One

Master Services Agreement (MSA): What It Is And When You Need One

If you’re doing repeat work for the same client (or hiring the same supplier again and again), you’ll eventually run into the same problem: every new project seems to trigger the same...

19 March 2026
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Subcontractor Agreement Template (UK): What To Include And How To Use It

Subcontractor Agreement Template (UK): What To Include And How To Use It

If you’re hiring subcontractors to help you deliver projects (whether you’re in construction, IT, marketing, events, or professional services), it’s tempting to grab a quick subcontractor agreement template, fill in a few...

19 March 2026
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IR35 Implications For UK Startups And SMEs Hiring Contractors

IR35 Implications For UK Startups And SMEs Hiring Contractors

Hiring contractors can be a smart way to grow your team quickly, keep overheads lean, and bring in specialist skills without committing to permanent headcount. But if you’re a startup or SME,...

19 March 2026
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UK Franchise Legal Advice: Steps Before You Buy Or Sell A Franchise

UK Franchise Legal Advice: Steps Before You Buy Or Sell A Franchise

Franchising can be a smart way to grow faster (or to buy into a business model that’s already proven). But the legal side matters just as much as the brand and the...

19 March 2026
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When Your Business Needs a Contract Lawyer in the UK (and How to Choose)

When Your Business Needs a Contract Lawyer in the UK (and How to Choose)

When you’re running a small business, contracts can feel like “admin” - until something goes wrong. A customer doesn’t pay. A supplier delivers late. A freelancer claims they own the work. A...

19 March 2026
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Peripatetic Workers: UK Guidance On Contracts, Pay And Compliance

Peripatetic Workers: UK Guidance On Contracts, Pay And Compliance

If you employ people who spend their working day travelling between different sites (rather than reporting to one fixed workplace), you’ve probably come across the phrase “peripatetic worker” - and you may...

19 March 2026
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Intellectual Property Agreements: Key Clauses for UK Startups and SMEs

Intellectual Property Agreements: Key Clauses for UK Startups and SMEs

If you’re building a UK startup or growing an SME, your intellectual property (IP) is often one of the most valuable things you own - even if it doesn’t look like much...

19 March 2026
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Limit of Liability Clauses in UK Contracts: Meaning and Drafting Tips

Limit of Liability Clauses in UK Contracts: Meaning and Drafting Tips

If you’re running a small business, you’re probably signing contracts more often than you realise - with customers, suppliers, consultants, tech providers, and sometimes even collaborators. And when something goes wrong (late...

19 March 2026
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Franchising in the UK: Legal Pros, Cons and Risks for Small Businesses

Franchising in the UK: Legal Pros, Cons and Risks for Small Businesses

Franchising can feel like a shortcut to growth (or a safer way to start) - you’re buying into a proven model, brand recognition, and established systems rather than building everything from scratch....

19 March 2026
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What Is a Business Franchise? Franchising and Franchise Agreements Explained

What Is a Business Franchise? Franchising and Franchise Agreements Explained

If you’re growing a small business (or looking for a proven model to buy into), franchising can look like the best of both worlds: faster growth, a recognisable brand, and a clear...

18 March 2026
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Key Clauses Every Business Should Know In UK Lease Contracts

Key Clauses Every Business Should Know In UK Lease Contracts

Signing a new premises deal can feel like a huge milestone. You’ve found the right location, you can picture customers walking through the door, and you’re ready to invest in fit-out, signage...

18 March 2026
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Staff Handbook Contents UK Employers Should Include (And Why It Matters)

Staff Handbook Contents UK Employers Should Include (And Why It Matters)

When you’re running a small business, it’s easy to think of a staff handbook as “nice to have” paperwork you’ll get to later. But in practice, getting the contents of your staff...

18 March 2026
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“Bring Into Disrepute” Clauses in UK Employment Contracts: Key Rules

“Bring Into Disrepute” Clauses in UK Employment Contracts: Key Rules

When you’re running a small business, your reputation is one of your most valuable assets. A single social media post, a public argument in uniform, or an employee using your name in...

18 March 2026
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Simple Confidentiality Agreement (NDA) Template (Word): UK Guide To Use It

Simple Confidentiality Agreement (NDA) Template (Word): UK Guide To Use It

If you’re running a small business, you’ll almost certainly share valuable information with someone outside your core team at some point. Maybe it’s a supplier quoting on a new product line, a...

18 March 2026
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Types Of Business Acquisitions: Common Acquisition Structures For UK SMEs

Types Of Business Acquisitions: Common Acquisition Structures For UK SMEs

Buying another business can be one of the fastest ways to grow. Instead of building everything from scratch, you can acquire customers, a team, supplier relationships, systems, intellectual property (IP), and market...

18 March 2026
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What Does DD Mean In Business?

What Does DD Mean In Business?

If you’ve seen “DD” in an email thread, a contract draft, a finance spreadsheet or a funding deck and thought, “Wait… what does that mean for my business?”, you’re not alone. The...

18 March 2026
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Copyright Infringement: What It Means For Your Business And How To Avoid It

Copyright Infringement: What It Means For Your Business And How To Avoid It

When you’re running a small business, content is everywhere - your website copy, product photos, social posts, packaging design, brochures, training materials, and even the software you use. That’s why copyright infringement...

18 March 2026
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How To Start a Business in the UK: Legal Steps, Structure and Contracts

How To Start a Business in the UK: Legal Steps, Structure and Contracts

Starting a business is exciting - but if you want to start your own business in the UK with confidence, it’s worth slowing down and getting the legal foundations right from day...

18 March 2026
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6 Essential Elements Of A Contract In The UK

6 Essential Elements Of A Contract In The UK

If you run a small business, contracts are part of everyday life. They show up when you onboard a new customer, bring on a freelancer, agree payment terms with a supplier, or...

18 March 2026
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Simple Employment Contract Template: UK Compliance Checklist

Simple Employment Contract Template: UK Compliance Checklist

Hiring your first (or next) team member is a big milestone. But once you move past the excitement, most small business owners hit the same question: can you use a simple employment...

17 March 2026
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Can You Charge Interest on Late Payments in the UK?

Can You Charge Interest on Late Payments in the UK?

Late-paying customers can put real pressure on your cash flow, especially when you’re a small business juggling wages, suppliers, tax, and everything else that keeps the lights on. The good news is...

17 March 2026
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M&A Law In The UK: Buying Or Selling A Business

M&A Law In The UK: Buying Or Selling A Business

Buying or selling a business can be one of the biggest (and most exciting) moves you’ll make as a founder. But when you start Googling “M&A law”, it quickly becomes obvious that...

17 March 2026
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Sublease Agreement in the UK: Key Clauses and Common Pitfalls

Sublease Agreement in the UK: Key Clauses and Common Pitfalls

If your business has extra space you’re not using (or you need space quickly without committing to a long lease), a sublease agreement can look like the perfect solution. But subletting commercial...

17 March 2026
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Job Trials In The UK: How Employers Stay Legally Compliant

Job Trials In The UK: How Employers Stay Legally Compliant

Hiring is one of the biggest “make or break” moments for a small business. When you’re trying to find the right person quickly (without taking on unnecessary risk), running a job trial...

17 March 2026
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