Before you sign a customer agreement, a vendor contract, an employment offer or a commercial lease, have it reviewed by an attorney who also understands the numbers behind it. You get a plain-English summary of what the contract really says and what to push back on.
Business owners sign contracts every week: customer agreements, supplier terms, software subscriptions, leases, contractor agreements. Most are written by the other side, and most contain terms that shift risk onto you. Automatic renewals, personal guarantees, one-sided termination rights, broad indemnities and unclear payment terms are common examples.
A good contract review tells you three things: what the agreement obligates you to do, where the risks are, and which changes are worth asking for. You receive a short written summary in plain English, along with suggested revisions you can send to the other side or that we negotiate for you.
Payment timing, price escalators, late fees, revenue-sharing terms and lease pass-through charges all affect your cash flow and your taxes. Because Justin is also a CPA, those provisions get the same attention as the legal clauses.
A commercial lease is often the largest long-term commitment a small business makes. Common area maintenance charges, renewal options, assignment rights, personal guarantees and build-out allowances can be negotiated, but only before you sign.
Terms and conditions, master service agreements and statements of work that protect your payment and limit your liability.
Pricing, delivery, warranties, auto-renewals and termination rights.
Office, retail and industrial leases, including CAM charges, renewal options and personal guarantees.
Offer letters, compensation terms and severance provisions.
Agreements that reflect a true contractor relationship and reduce misclassification risk.
NDAs, non-solicitation and non-compete terms that are reasonable and more likely to be enforced.
Non-binding and binding terms that set the stage for a purchase, sale or partnership.
Updating or exiting an existing agreement on the best available terms.
Payment schedules, escalators and fees are reviewed for their real effect on your cash flow, not only their legal wording.
Contractor classification, revenue recognition and lease terms can affect your taxes. Those issues are pointed out before they become problems.
You get a clear explanation of the risks and recommended changes, so you can make the business decision.
Share the agreement and tell us your deadline and goals.
You receive a plain-English summary of key terms, risks and recommended changes.
We prepare revisions and, if you wish, negotiate them with the other side.
You sign knowing what you agreed to, with a summary to keep on file.
It depends on the length and complexity of the agreement. When you send the contract, we give you a timeline up front so you can plan around your signing deadline.
Many contract reviews are quoted as a flat fee agreed in writing before work begins, so you know the cost in advance.
Automatic renewals, personal guarantees, one-sided termination rights, broad indemnification clauses, unclear payment terms and limits on your ability to assign or sell the agreement.
It depends on how much control the business has over how the work is done, among other factors. Misclassifying employees as contractors can lead to back taxes and penalties with the IRS and the State of Michigan, so it is worth reviewing before you sign.
Yes. Many clients ask for their own customer agreement or terms of service so they are not always signing the other side’s paper.
Yes, and the earlier the better. Lease terms are much easier to negotiate before signing than after you have moved in.
Tell us briefly about your business and what you need. We’ll reply within one business day.