What Should Go in Your Standard Business Terms?
- Jackie Atchison
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Intro
You send out proposals. Clients say yes. Work begins. But what happens when something changes—or someone forgets what was agreed?
Your day-to-day terms should cover the basics of how you work, get paid, and resolve issues. This post covers what to include in your standard business terms—the ones you rely on with clients, suppliers, or collaborators every week.
Why It Matters
When your terms are vague (or missing), misunderstandings creep in. Scope blows out. Invoices get questioned. Expectations drift.
Clear, written business terms protect your time, revenue, and relationships. And they keep you out of trouble when things go sideways.
What You Need to Know
Your standard terms don’t need to be complex—but they do need to be clear. They should reflect how your business actually works, not how a template was written. At minimum, cover the following key areas:
Scope and Deliverables - Spell out what you’re responsible for, what’s excluded, and how changes are handled.
Payment Terms - Include timing, method, late fees, and when deposits are due. If you work on milestones or retainers, say so.
Confidentiality and IP - Make it clear who owns what—and that sensitive info stays confidential. This is especially important when you’re sharing know-how or using third-party content.
Termination - Clients walk away. Suppliers ghost. Be ready for both. Your terms should set out how to exit and what happens to unpaid fees or undelivered work.
Liability and Indemnities - Protect yourself. Limit your liability, especially for indirect loss or client misuse of your work.
Dispute Resolution - Keep it commercial. Set a path for resolving issues—ideally without jumping straight into court.
Worth Knowing: If you include your terms in proposals or onboarding packs, make sure they’re seen before the deal is accepted. If not, you might not be able to rely on them.
Commercial Insight
Standard business terms aren’t just a legal safety net—they’re a tool for running your business well.
Used properly, they support faster onboarding, set clear expectations, and reduce admin down the track. They also show clients and suppliers you take your business seriously.
What to Do Next to Get Your Business Terms In Order
Have a look at your current terms. Are they clear? Up to date? Do they reflect how you work now?
If they’re too broad, too narrow, or copied from another industry—it’s time for an update.
Closing Wrap
I work with business owners every day to get their standard terms right—so they’re practical, enforceable, and aligned with how the business actually runs. If yours need a review, I can help.
