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.
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Having a procurement contract drafted by a specialized SME lawyer usually costs between 400 and 1,500 euros, depending on the complexity of the purchase and the risk involved. You receive a tailor-made document in which the specifications, price, delivery, acceptance, warranty, and consequences in the event of a breach are legally sound and aligned. For a large, one-off, or custom-made purchase, this investment pays for itself as soon as something goes wrong with the delivery.
The short answer
- Costs: approximately 400 to 1,500 euros for a customized purchasing contract.
- Lead time: often a few working days, depending on the delivery.
- What you get: a document tailored to this specific purchase.
- When useful: for high amounts, custom work, or delivery risk.
- Alternative: a standard model for simple, recurring purchases.
Having a purchasing contract drawn up: what determines the price
The price depends on the complexity of the procurement. A straightforward contract for a single delivery with clear specifications falls at the lower end of the range. As soon as custom work, phased delivery, on-site installation, international parties, or a link with other contracts come into play, the work, and therefore the price, increases. Negotiating the wording with the supplier also takes extra time.
Many legal professionals work with a fixed rate for a standard contract and an hourly rate for custom work or negotiation. Request a quote in advance and check whether a review or negotiation round is included. This way, you won't be faced with any surprises.
The process step by step
- Intake: you provide the specifications, quotation, price, and desired delivery date.
- Risk analysis: the legal expert examines delivery risk, liability, and acceptance.
- Draft: you will receive a first version with an explanation of the choices.
- Discussion: you ask questions and adjust points.
- Final: the contract is ready to be submitted to the supplier.
The better you prepare for the intake, the faster and cheaper it will be. Gather the quotation, technical specifications, desired delivery date, payment arrangements, and any previous correspondence with the supplier in advance.
What a lawyer adds
A legal expert ensures that the components align and leave no gaps. Consider an acceptance clause that fits the payment term, a guarantee that does not undermine your statutory rights of conformity (Art. 7:17 BW), and a default and penalty clause that holds up (Art. 6:91 and 6:94 BW). The legal expert also ensures that a fixed delivery date is truly fixed and that the supplier's liability is not limited to such an extent that you are left empty-handed in the event of damage.
In procurement, it often revolves around the balance of liability. Suppliers attempt to limit their liability through their own terms and conditions of sale. A legal expert ensures that your contract does not blindly adopt this limitation and that your terms take precedence where possible.
An example from the SME sector
A manufacturing company purchases a machine for €80,000, including installation and commissioning. It has a purchase contract drawn up because a malfunction could shut down the entire line. The legal expert includes an acceptance test with measurable performance requirements, links the final payment installment of €15,000 to a successful test, and arranges a two-year warranty including response times in the event of a malfunction. The investment of approximately €1,200 proved valuable when the machine failed to achieve the specified production speed upon delivery: the company was able to demand repairs and only paid the final installment after a successful retest.
Do it yourself or have it drafted
For a small, simple purchase from a reliable supplier, your own contract or a good order confirmation is often sufficient. Having one drawn up pays off as soon as the amount is high, custom work or installation is involved, or a defect has major consequences. In such cases, the costs of a lawyer do not outweigh the risk of a poorly watertight delivery.
Honest recommendation
You do not need to hire a lawyer for every purchase. For low amounts, standard products, and a reliable supplier, a clear in-house contract or order confirmation with specifications, price, delivery date, and acceptance period suffices. However, do have a purchasing contract drawn up for high amounts, custom work, on-site installation, phased delivery, or if a malfunction affects your production. Request a fixed price quotation in advance and check whether an inspection round is included; then you know exactly where you stand.
Get started right away or want to know more? View the purchasing contract, and the articles what is a purchasing contract and drafting a purchasing contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually between 400 and 1,500 euros with a specialized SME lawyer, depending on the complexity. A straightforward contract for a single delivery is at the lower end; customization, installation, phased delivery, or negotiation with the supplier drive up the price.
Often a few working days, depending on how quickly you provide the specifications, quotation, and delivery agreements, and whether negotiation with the supplier is required. Thorough preparation of the intake accelerates the process and reduces costs.
The quotation, technical specifications, price, desired delivery date, payment arrangements, and any previous correspondence with the supplier. The more complete the information you provide, the faster and cheaper the lawyer can draft the contract.
The legal expert ensures that the components align: an acceptance clause that fits the payment term, a guarantee that does not undermine your rights of conformity (Art. 7:17 BW), and a default and penalty clause that holds up. The legal expert also pays attention to the apportionment of liability.
For high amounts, custom work, on-site installation, phased delivery, or if a defect has major consequences for your business operations. For small, standard purchases from a reliable supplier, your own contract or order confirmation suffices.
Yes, many legal experts can also discuss and amend the text with the supplier. This takes extra time and therefore money, usually on an hourly basis. Ask in advance whether a round of negotiations is included in the price or charged separately.
That is possible. If you frequently purchase the same type of product, the legal expert can create a basic model of purchasing terms and conditions in which you only fill in the specific details for each order. That is more efficient than having a new contract drawn up every time.
