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
Having a contract reviewed by a legal expert: €250 for a simple check, €500-€1,500 for a standard SME agreement, €1,500-€10,000 for complex (M&A, international, IP). Turnaround time is typically 1-5 working days. What you get: an annotated document with recommendations, a priority indication, and often a telephone explanation. For SME entrepreneurs, it is almost always recouped for larger or long-term contracts. Below is the cost guide and what you can expect.
The short answer
- Simple contract: €250-€500 (< 5 pages, standard SME).
- Standard SME: €500-€1,500 (5-15 pages, suppliers, customers).
- Complex: €1,500-€10,000 (M&A, IP, international, joint venture).
- Lead time: 1-5 working days standard, 1-3 weeks complex.
- What you get: annotated document, memo, telephone consultation.
Rates by contract type
| Contract type | SME lawyer rate | Corporate rate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard NDA | 250-500 | 500-1.000 |
| Supplier agreement | 500-1.000 | 1.000-2.500 |
| Employment contract | 400-800 | 800-1.500 |
| Settlement Agreement | 500-1.500 | 1.000-3.000 |
| Cooperation Agreement | 1.000-2.500 | 2.500-7.500 |
| Shareholders' Agreement | 1.500-3.500 | 3.500-10.000 |
| SPA / M&A contract | 2.500-10.000 | 10.000-50.000+ |
| Software license/IP | 1.000-3.000 | 2.500-7.500 |
| International contract | 1.500-5.000 | 5.000-25.000 |
SME lawyers for SME contracts = better value for money. Corporate lawyers for large M&A or complex international cases.
Which factors determine the price?
1. Scope
- Number of pages and clauses.
- Appendices and references.
- How much to check vs. just scan.
2. Complexity
- Industry-specific (financial, IP, M&A).
- International aspects.
- Number of parties.
- Technical subject matter.
3. Scope of check
- Light scan: red flags, no rework.
- Standard check: all clauses, concrete amendment proposals.
- Deep check: also negotiation strategy, market benchmarking.
- Negotiation support:actively participating in negotiations.
4. Emergency
- Normal (1-5 working days): standard rate.
- Express (24-48 hours): + 25-50% premium.
- Evening/weekend: +50-100%.
5. Rate structure
- Fixed rate: known in advance, preference for SMEs.
- Hourly rate: €175-€750/hour depending on lawyer and firm.
- Ask for a budget in advance for a surprise-free experience.
What do you get for your money?
Standard deliverables
- Annotated document: PDF with comments in margins, proposed track changes.
- Executive summary: key risks and changes on one page.
- Priority indication:must-have versus nice-to-have changes.
- Negotiation strategy:how to present changes to the counterparty.
- Telephone consultation: 30-60 minutes for questions.
With better/more expensive checks
- Market benchmarking (what is common practice in your industry).
- Alternative contract forms considered.
- Long-term implications worked out.
- Potentially active negotiation support.
The process step by step
- First contact: brief description of contract, deadline, and context.
- Quote: fixed rate or hourly estimate within 24-48 hours.
- Share document: PDF or Word to lawyer.
- Intake interview: optional, for complex contracts.
- Perform check: 1-5 working days.
- Delivery: annotated document + memo.
- Consultation moment: telephone call for questions.
- Negotiation support:optional, billed separately.
- Final version: review after negotiation, if desired.
Sven's typical lawyer check
Sven has his supplier agreement of €100,000/3 years checked:
- Petra's quote: €1,250 fixed rate for check + telephone consultation.
- Lead time: 3 working days.
- Result: 12 proposed changes, of which 4 are must-haves.
- Sven negotiates himself — accepts 8 changes.
- Estimated savings: €18,000 over 3 years (better price clause, notice period, liability).
- ROI: 14x on a €1,250 investment.
When is it worth it?
Yes
- Contract > € 10,000 total value.
- Duration > 1 year.
- Complex matter or international.
- Unknown opposing party.
- First contract of a new type.
- Recurring contract that will serve as a template.
Questionable
- Small contract (< € 5,000) with a known counterparty.
- Standard template where no changes are needed.
- Very short and simple.
Rule of thumb: legal fees < 5% of contract value = almost always worthwhile.
Honest recommendation
For SME entrepreneurs: invest in a dedicated contracts lawyer with a fixed-rate structure. Avoid surprises — request a budget in advance. SME lawyers (specializing in SME contract law) are often a better fit than corporate lawyers. For M&A and complex international cases: corporate firms should consider this despite higher rates. ROI is almost always positive for contracts > €10,000 or long-term commitments.
For other topics: check contract (DIY), have agreement checked and general terms and conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Simple (< 5 pages): 250-500 euros. Standard SME (5-15 pages): 500-1,500 euros. Complex (M&A, IP, international): 1,500-10,000 euros. SME lawyers 175-350 euros/hour, corporate 350-750 euros/hour.
Standard: 1-5 working days. Complex (M&A, IP, international): 1-3 weeks. Urgent (24-48 hours): +25-50% premium. Evening/weekend: +50-100%. Plan well in advance – rushed checks are less thorough.
Annotated document (PDF with commentary), executive summary (risks and changes on 1 page), priority indication (must-have vs. nice-to-have), negotiation strategy, telephone consultation (30-60 min). For more expensive checks: market benchmarking and active negotiation support.
For SMEs: preference for a fixed rate – known in advance, no surprises. Hourly rate for open scope or complex projects (175-750 euros/hour). Always request a budget in advance for a surprise-free experience.
Size (number of pages, appendices), complexity (industry, international, parties), scope (light scan, standard, in-depth, negotiation support), urgency (premium 25-100%), lawyer fee structure.
SME lawyers for SME contracts: better price/value, industry experience, personal attention. Corporate lawyers for major M&A or complex international cases. For 80% of SME cases: SME lawyers are the optimal choice.
Rule of thumb: legal fees < 5% of contract value = almost always worthwhile. Yes: contract > 10,000 euros, duration > 1 year, complex/international, unknown counterparty, first contract of a new type. Doubtful: small contract with a known counterparty.
