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

Consumer Credit Act 1974: Impact on Business Agreements and Customer Payments
If your business lets customers pay later, pay in instalments, or “spread the cost”, you might be touching UK consumer credit rules without realising it. That’s where the Consumer Credit Act 1974...

What Is Crowdfunding? Legal Considerations For UK Businesses
If you’re building a startup or growing a small business, you’ve probably heard founders talk about raising money “from the crowd”. It can sound simple: post your idea online, tell your story,...

Commercial Solicitors: What They Do And When Your Business Needs One
Running a small business means you’re constantly making decisions that have legal consequences - even when it doesn’t feel “legal”. Maybe you’re signing a supplier deal, taking on a new business partner,...

Business Continuity and Contract Clauses for Blackouts in the UK
Blackouts can feel like the kind of disruption that only “big infrastructure” businesses need to worry about. But if you’re an SME, even a short power outage can hit you where it...

Commercial Property Solicitor: When UK SMEs Need One and What to Expect
Taking on a shop, office, warehouse, salon space, café unit or industrial site can be a huge step forward for your business. But commercial property deals are also where many small businesses...

What Is an Escrow Account? How Escrow Works in Commercial Deals
If you’ve ever been in a deal where you’re thinking, “I don’t want to pay until I know I’m getting what I paid for,” you’re not alone. Whether you’re buying a business...

Zero-Hours Contract Meaning: What UK Employers Need to Know
If you’re running a small business, there are plenty of times when you need “hands on deck” without being able to guarantee steady hours every week. That’s where zero hour arrangements often...

Invoice Discounting: UK Funding, Contracts And Legal Risks
Cash flow is one of those business problems that can sneak up on you - especially if you’re doing well. You might have a strong order book and reliable customers, but if...

How To Register A Business In The UK: Step-By-Step Guide
If you’re starting a new venture, one of the first big “adulting” moments is working out how to register a business properly in the UK. It can feel a bit daunting at...

Partnership Agreements In The UK: What To Include And Avoid Disputes
Starting a business with a co-founder (or a few co-founders) can be exciting. You can split the workload, share costs, and build something bigger than you could alone. But a partnership can...

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) In The UK: What Businesses Should Know
If you’re about to share something valuable - your pricing model, product roadmap, customer list, or a new business idea - it’s normal to feel a bit exposed. In a fast-moving small...

Restrictive Covenants in Employment Contracts in the UK: What to Know
If you’ve ever had a great employee leave and immediately start working for a competitor (or take your customers with them), you’ll know how quickly that can turn into a serious business...

Corporate Law Essentials For UK Small Businesses And Startups
When you’re building a small business or startup, it’s easy to focus on the exciting stuff first: your product, your customers, your marketing, your next hire. But at some point (usually sooner...

Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996): Key Rules for UK Employers
If you employ staff in the UK (or you’re about to hire your first team member), the Employment Rights Act 1996 (often shortened to ERA 1996) is one of the key laws...

UK Business Plan Template: Key Inclusions And Legal Considerations
When you’re starting (or growing) a small business, it’s easy to think a business plan is just for investors, banks, or “serious” startups. But in practice, a solid business plan is also...

IR35 Assessment: Check Contractor Status And Reduce Risk In The UK
If you hire contractors (especially for IT, marketing, design, construction, consultancy, or project work), IR35 can feel like one of those “we’ll deal with it later” issues. But the reality is: carrying...

Sick Leave In The UK: Employer Rights And Employee Entitlements
Sick leave is one of those workplace issues that can feel straightforward right up until it isn’t. On a good week, it’s a quick message from an employee, a shift cover swap,...

Boilerplate Clauses in Contracts: Meaning, Examples and UK Risks
When you’re running a small business, it’s normal to focus on the “commercial” parts of a contract first: price, payment terms, delivery dates, scope of work, and what happens if a customer...

EMI Share Options In The UK: A Practical Guide For Startups & SMEs
If you’re building a UK startup or scaling an SME, you’ve probably had the same thought most founders eventually have: how do we attract and keep great people when cash is tight?...

How To Choose The Right Law Firm For Your UK Startup Or Small Business
Picking a law firm can feel like one of those “I’ll deal with it later” tasks - right up until you’re about to sign a big client contract, hire your first employee,...

Angel Investors: What They Look For And Startup Legal Documents
Raising money from angel investors can be one of the fastest ways to turn a promising startup into a real, scalable business. But here’s the catch: most angel investors aren’t just backing...

What “Confidential” Means in Business Contracts and How to Protect It
“Confidential” is one of those words that shows up everywhere in business - proposals, emails, supplier agreements, employment paperwork, investor discussions and even WhatsApp messages. But in a contract, “confidential” isn’t just...

What Is Venture Capital Funding? UK Startup Investment Guide
If you’re building a startup with big growth ambitions, you’ve probably heard founders talk about “raising VC” like it’s a rite of passage. But when you’re the one actually doing it, venture...

Crowdcube Fundraising for UK Startups: Key Legal Checks Before Launching
If you’re building a startup, fundraising can feel like the moment everything “gets real”. Equity crowdfunding (including campaigns run through Crowdcube) can be a powerful way to raise capital, validate your idea,...
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