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Hiring a Fort Pierce business transactions & planning lawyer can help with contract drafting and negotiation which is often the best way to ensure your business interests are protected.

One of the difficulties faced by individuals who run or even work for a business is the drafting and/or negotiation of contracts. Larger businesses may have an in-house legal team to handle these complex situations, but small or medium-sized companies often do not. Very small or new companies may not even have a Florida business lawyer on retainer to help with legal matters.

At Apfelbaum Law, we sometimes meet clients who believe they are protected by a contract they drafted themselves, asked a non-lawyer employee to draft, or printed off from a website. Unfortunately, that is not always the best course of action. It is easy to miss things when drafting a contract, especially if you’re an expert in your industry but not on business law.

4 Common Situations to Draft & Negotiate Contracts

These are some common situations where contracts need to be drafted and negotiated:

1. Real estate/property management.

As businesses grow, they may have real estate transactions, even if they are not in the real estate business. Any type of company may need to buy a bigger building for manufacturing or warehouse needs. Some may want to rent out property they own but no longer use. A Florida business attorney can help you understand any potential liability in a lease or sale agreement, and make suggestions to help you avoid that liability, if possible.

2. Sales contracts.

These may be used for individual consumers or business-to-business sales, usually for high-value sales. (In other words, you probably do not need a contract to sell your customer a burger and fries, but you would want one when selling a herd of cattle or a potato farm.) A Florida business lawyer may draft a general contract you can use for routine sales, and specialized contracts for less common situations. These can reassure buyers while helping to protect your business from liability.

3. Vendor contracts.

Good relationships with vendors can make or break a business, so it’s important to start off on the right food. Your Florida business attorney will help by drafting a solid contract to protect both your interests and the vendor’s.

4. Employment contracts.

A hard-working, dedicated employee is another person who can have a large influence on your company’s success. Employment contracts protect both of you by spelling out what is expected of the employee, so there is no confusion.

Depending on the nature of your business, you may also consider adding other agreements, like a non-disclosure agreement to protect proprietary information, or a non-compete agreement to prevent employees from learning the business and setting up shop across the street.

There’s More Steps Than Just Drafting A Contract

Drafting the contract is only the first step. After your contract is drafted and presented to the potential vendor, employee, customer, or business partner, two things can happen: The other party accepts and signs the agreement; or, the other party suggests one or more changes they would like to make in the contract. If it is the latter, it will be up to you to decide if you are willing to negotiate.

Your Florida business lawyer will explain the potential ramifications of any changes, so you can make an informed decision. He or she can also continue negotiations after you decide what you are or are not willing to compromise on.

If you have questions or concerns about contracts, business law, real estate, or other Florida legal services, please contact Apfelbaum Law for a consultation. We can be reached at 772-236-4009, or contactus@alawfl.com.

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