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 contract drafted means that a legal expert translates your agreements into a binding contract: first an intake to understand what you want to record, then a draft, a revision round, and a final version that you can sign. For most SME contracts, this costs €250 – €1,500 and takes one to three weeks. Hiring a legal expert is worthwhile whenever there is really something at stake — large sums of money, long-term relationships, or liability. For simple, low-risk agreements, a good template is often perfectly adequate.
The short answer
- Intake: you explain what you want to agree upon, with whom, and under what conditions.
- Draft: the lawyer prepares a first version, tailored to your situation.
- Revision round: you read along, ask questions, and make adjustments where necessary.
- Final: the final version, ready to sign.
- Costs: usually €250 – €1,500, depending on type and customization.
- Lead time: one to three weeks for a standard agreement.
What does “having a contract drawn up” entail?
A contract stipulates who does what, at what price, within what timeframe, and what happens if things go wrong. That last point is where people most often back out: as long as everything is going well, you don't need a contract. The contract only comes to life in the event of disagreement, an unpaid invoice, or a client who pulls out halfway through.
A lawyer drafting the contract does more than produce text. He considers scenarios you would rather not face and ensures that you are not left empty-handed. That is the difference between a document and an agreement that holds up when things get tense.
The process step by step
1. Intake
You explain what you want to agree upon. Good preliminary questions include: with whom are you entering into the contract, what is the core of the agreement, how much money is involved, how long does it run, and what are your biggest concerns? The clearer you are here, the fewer revision rounds you will need later.
2. Concept
The legal expert drafts a first version. At a specialized SME firm, this is tailored to your specific situation, not a standard template with your name on it. The structure is correct, the clauses are complete, and the risks associated with your type of agreement are covered.
3. Revision round
You read the draft, ask questions, and indicate what needs to be changed. One round of revisions is usually included in the price. In complex negotiations—for example, if the other party also wants changes—additional rounds may be required.
4. Final approval and signature
The final version is ready for signing, digitally or on paper. Ensure that both parties sign the same final version and keep a signed copy.
What you get
- A contract tailored to your agreement, not an average situation.
- Clauses covering the scenarios associated with your type of agreement: payment, liability, termination, disputes.
- Explanation of why certain provisions are included, so that you know what you are signing.
- A text that is legally correct and readable for the other party.
When a lawyer is useful
A lawyer pays for themselves as soon as the risk exceeds their rate. Consider:
- Large sums. An assignment of €40,000 deserves a better contract than a job of €400.
- Long-term relationships. A collaboration or framework agreement that runs for years must retain its years.
- Liability. As soon as you can be held liable for damages, you want to limit them. That rarely works well with a free template.
- Unfamiliar territory. A type of contract you haven't used before, or a counterparty presenting their own contract that you don't understand.
Take Sanne, owner of a small agency. For years, she worked with a contract picked up from the internet. When a client stopped a project halfway through, it turned out that the contract made no provisions regarding hours already worked. A €500 contract would have saved her that loss.
DIY alternatives
Not every contract needs to come from a lawyer. For small, recurring, and low-risk agreements, there are alternatives:
- A reliable model that you have properly drawn up once and then reuse yourself for similar situations.
- A quotation with clear terms and conditions is often sufficient for a single, straightforward assignment.
- Good general terms and conditions mitigate many standard risks, so you don't have to build every contract from scratch.
Honest recommendation
Have a contract drawn up when risk matters: large sums, a long term, liability, or a counterparty with their own contract that you do not understand. In those cases, an investment of €250 – €1,500 almost always pays for itself.
You don't need us for every appointment. A small, one-off, low-risk assignment with a trusted party can be easily arranged with a clear quote or a good model you had made previously. Only switch to custom work when the effort justifies it — don't pay for heavy artillery when a screwdriver will suffice.
Read more: what does it cost to have a contract drawn up, drafting a contract yourself or hiring a lawyer , and the overview of contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions
In four steps: intake (what do you want to agree on), draft (first customized version), revision round (you review and make adjustments), and final (ready to sign). With a standard SME agreement, this takes one to three weeks.
For most SME contracts, €250 – €1,500, depending on type, complexity, and the degree of customization. A simple service agreement is at the lower end, while an extensive collaboration or supply agreement is higher.
Usually one to three weeks. The turnaround time depends mainly on how quickly you provide feedback and whether negotiations are held with a counterparty. A tight intake significantly speeds up the process.
For large amounts, long-term relationships, liability risks, or a counterparty presenting their own contract. For small, one-off, and low-risk agreements with a trusted party, a clear quotation or a good template often suffices.
At a specialized SME firm, you get a tailor-made solution: the contract is tailored to your agreement, not a standard template with your name in it. That difference matters as soon as a dispute arises and it comes down to precise wording.
For simple, recurring, and low-risk agreements, that works perfectly fine, for example with a template that you had drafted properly. As the amounts, duration, or liability increase, drafting it yourself becomes riskier.
At most firms, one round of revisions is included in the price. In complex negotiations, where the opposing party also requests changes, additional rounds may be required. Inquire about this in advance to avoid any surprises.
