What to put in writing.
WHY
Verbal arrangements are remembered differently by each party, and the difference surfaces during a dispute.
WHAT TO COVER
What you provide, specifically What it costs and when payment is due What is excluded Support hours and response expectations Backup arrangements Who owns the domain and the site Notice period for ending the arrangement What happens to data at the end
LENGTH
A page. Two at most.
A document nobody reads protects nobody.
THE CLAUSES THAT PREVENT MOST DISPUTES
- Backups: what exists, how long, and whether restoring costs anything
- Scope: what is included and what is quoted separately
- Ownership: the domain and the site are theirs
SENDING IT
At onboarding, before work begins. Not after a disagreement.
GETTING ACCEPTANCE
An email reply saying they agree is sufficient for most small arrangements.
For anything substantial, a signed document.
TAKING ADVICE
For significant contracts, proper legal advice is warranted.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Copy another business's agreement. It describes their arrangement, not yours.
