MKB Juristen drafts custom legal documents
It is best not to cobble together or copy important contracts, terms and conditions, and other legal documents yourself. We help entrepreneurs on a budget with customized legal solutions, clear costs upfront, and practical explanations.
- Custom contracts, terms and conditions, and legal documents
- Budget-friendly and clear about the costs upfront
- Request a free consultation or a no-obligation quote
The cost of having a contract drafted ranges between €250 and €1,500 for most SME agreements. A simple service agreement or confidentiality agreement falls at the lower end; a comprehensive cooperation, franchise, or supply agreement is higher. The price is determined by complexity, the degree of customization, and whether negotiations are required. Always weigh the risk you are covering against those costs—that is when the assessment becomes fair.
The short answer
- Simple contract: €250 – €500 (service agreement, NDA, small services).
- Average contract: €500 – €1,000 (supply, distribution, license agreement).
- Complex contract: €1,000 – €2,500+ (collaboration, franchise, shareholders).
- Fixed rate: common for standard contracts, provides certainty in advance.
- Hourly rate: €150 – €275 per hour, usually for negotiation and custom work.
- Trade-off: always compare the price against the risk you are hedging.
Fixed rate or hourly rate?
For a clearly defined, recognizable contract, many firms work with a fixed rate. You know in advance what you will pay, and it usually includes one revision round. This suits agreements that occur frequently and have a predictable structure.
An hourly rate of €150 – €275 is customary as soon as the work becomes less predictable: negotiation with a counterparty, an unusual structure, or many revision rounds. When using an hourly rate, always ask for an indication of the total number of hours so that you do not sign for an open-ended contract.
Price indications by contract type
- Non-disclosure agreement (NDA): € 250 – € 500.
- Contract for services / freelance: € 300 – € 600.
- General Terms and Conditions: € 400 – € 900.
- Supply or service agreement: € 500 – € 1.000.
- License or distribution agreement: € 750 – € 1.500.
- Cooperation Agreement: € 750 – € 2.000.
- Franchise or shareholders' agreement: € 1.500 – € 3.500+.
These are indications for custom solutions at a specialized SME firm. Firms vary; always request a concrete quote for your situation.
What determines the price
- Complexity. One party, one delivery, one price is cheaper than a structure involving multiple parties, services, and payment schedules.
- Customization versus a standard. A contract that you have fully custom-made once costs more than modifying an existing model.
- Negotiation. As soon as the opposing party makes counter-proposals, the hours add up. Every round takes time.
- Liability and risk. Clauses regarding damages, warranties, and penalties require more thought and are well worth the money.
- Urgent. Work that needs to be completed within a few days sometimes incurs a surcharge.
Costs versus risk
The question is not “what does the contract cost” but “what does it cost if the contract is incorrect”. A supply agreement of €700 seems expensive until a customer claims €30,000 in damages and your liability is not limited anywhere. Then that €700 turns out to be the cheapest insurance you could have bought.
Take Tom, who delivered a machine based on a simple order confirmation. When the machine broke down and the customer claimed production losses, there was no limitation of liability whatsoever. A contract of €800 would have limited that claim. Therefore, always compare the price of a contract with the extent of the risk it covers.
Where you can save money
- Submit your input completely. The more precise your intake, the fewer hours the lawyer will need.
- Reuse a template. Have a contract template drafted correctly once, and then adapt it yourself for similar situations.
- Bundle. Having multiple related documents drafted at the same time is often more cost-effective than having them prepared separately.
- Ask for a fixed rate for predictable work, so you don't sign for an open-ended hourly rate.
Honest recommendation
Choose a fixed rate for predictable contracts and an hourly rate only when genuine negotiation is involved. Always weigh the price against the risk: for large amounts and liability, a contract of a few hundred euros almost always pays for itself.
You do not have to pay for every piece of paper. For a small, one-off job with a trusted party, a clear quote or a previously drafted template is sufficient. Let a lawyer handle the work where the money and risk lie, not where a template suffices.
Read more: having a contract drafted: the process, custom contract or a template , and cooperation agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most SME contracts, €250 – €1,500. An NDA or service agreement is at the lower end, while a comprehensive collaboration or franchise agreement is higher. The price depends on complexity, customization, and any negotiation.
For predictable, clearly defined contracts, a fixed rate is common: you know in advance what you will pay. An hourly rate of €150 – €275 is suitable for negotiation and extensive customization. In that case, always ask for an indication of the total.
A custom NDA typically costs €250–€500. A mutual NDA or one with many specific provisions may be slightly more expensive. For a simple, one-off situation, a good template is often sufficient.
Complexity, the degree of customization, liability risk, and negotiation determine the price. A single party and a single delivery are cheaper than a structure involving multiple parties, services, and payment schedules.
Yes: submit your input completely, reuse a previously created template, bundle related documents, and charge a fixed rate for predictable work. A thorough intake saves the lawyer hours and you money.
No. The question is whether the price is proportionate to the risk. For a small, low-risk agreement, an extensive contract is overkill. For a delivery with significant damage risks, a cheap model is actually dangerous.
With a fixed rate, usually one revision round is included. Additional rounds, for example due to negotiation with the counterparty, may be required. Ask in advance what is included in the rate so that you are not faced with any surprises.
