Terms and conditions of business
Set out how you quote, deliver, charge and handle changes or cancellations.
Explore contract draftingSME contracts in Ireland
Everyday contracts for Irish SMEs and sole traders
A handshake can start a deal. It cannot settle what happens when payment is late or the work changes.
Róisín's Bespoke Contracts helps sole traders, independent professionals, family businesses and growing SMEs put clear terms around everyday trading. Start with the documents your business uses most.
- Plain-English drafting
- Fixed-scope proposals
- Ready-to-use documents
A useful starting set
The documents most small businesses need
Start with the agreements that shape daily work: how you sell, buy, deliver and get paid. Start with the basics.
Customer agreements
Define the work, delivery dates, acceptance process and payment obligations for each engagement.
Review customer termsSupplier agreements
Record specifications, delivery expectations, quality standards and what happens when goods or services fall short.
Discuss supplier termsConsultancy and contractor contracts
Make the scope, responsibilities, confidentiality and working arrangements clear from the outset.
Discuss a contractor contractWebsite terms and privacy documents
Support online trading with terms suited to how customers browse, order and engage with your business.
Ask about online documentsConfidentiality and IP provisions
Set boundaries for sensitive information, business methods and ownership of work created for clients.
See how protection worksTerms built around your trading
Payment terms that protect your cash flow
Clear customer contracts say when invoices are due and what happens if they are not paid. Cash flow needs clear terms.
- Set invoice dates, payment deadlines and accepted payment methods.
- Use deposits, staged billing or project milestones where the work calls for them.
- State late-payment interest, reminder steps and when work may be suspended for non-payment.
- Address deductions, set-off and recovery costs so the position is clear before a dispute.
A practical clause checklist
Make the payment path explicit
The right schedule depends on the work and the agreement.
At bookingDeposit or initial payment, where appropriate
During deliveryStaged invoices tied to agreed milestones
On completionFinal invoice, due date and acceptance process
If payment stopsReminder, interest and suspension provisions
Protecting work and information
Keep ownership clear
Contracts can separate the work made for a customer from the methods and materials your business already owns. Clear boundaries help prevent disputes later.
Agree when rights transfer
State whether deliverables transfer to the customer or are licensed for an agreed purpose.
Plain-English clause note
Link any transfer or licence to the agreed payment and explain what the customer may do with the work.
Keep background IP distinct
Identify existing tools, materials and know-how that remain with your business.
Plain-English clause note
Where a customer needs to use embedded materials, the agreement can set out the scope of that permission.
Protect confidential information
Cover pricing, client lists, business methods and supplier arrangements shared during the work.
Plain-English clause note
Define what is confidential, who may see it and how it should be handled or returned.
Choose the right level of detail
Adapted templates or bespoke documents?
A short document may suit a simple, low-value arrangement. Greater risk, longer commitments or unusual terms call for closer drafting. Fit matters more than length.
When an adapted template may suit
A narrow agreement with familiar terms can be a sensible starting point.
- The value and duration are limited.
- The work follows a repeatable, simple process.
- The clauses match how your business actually trades.
When bespoke drafting is worth considering
Commission tailored terms when the arrangement carries meaningful risk or differs from your usual work.
- The project has high value or runs over a longer period.
- Ownership, confidentiality or payment terms need careful detail.
- Documents in your set need to agree with one another.
Build your document set in stages
Review the documents you already use, identify the agreement with the greatest exposure and address that first. Then add customer, supplier or contractor terms as your trading needs grow. Copying clauses from unrelated templates can create conflicts across the set.
A clear next step
Get your business contracts in order
List the documents you use now and the gaps you have spotted. Róisín's Bespoke Contracts can help you decide which contracts to address first. Start with one document.