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 letter of intent drafted by a specialized SME lawyer typically costs between 250 and 750 euros, depending on how robust and tailored the statement needs to be. Because it concerns a unilateral declaration, the document is often shorter than a full agreement, but the legal weight lies in the wording. You are primarily paying for text that is exactly as binding or non-binding as you intend. For declarations directed at a bank, landlord, or subsidiary, that is worth the money.
The short answer
- Costs: 250 to 750 euros with an SME lawyer, depending on complexity.
- Lead time: often one to a few working days.
- What you get: a declaration that is exactly as binding or non-binding as you want.
- When: for statements with financial or legal implications, such as financing or support to a subsidiary.
- Alternative: having your own draft checked is cheaper than having it fully drawn up.
Why having a letter of intent drawn up makes sense
A letter of intent appears simple, but the pitfall lies in the wording. A text intended to be non-binding can become an obligation due to a single assertive sentence. Conversely, a statement intended as a promise may be too vague to be enforceable. A lawyer familiar with pre-contractual matters aligns the wording with your intentions. That is precisely what you pay for.
The process step by step
- Intake: you discuss to whom the statement is addressed and what you want to achieve.
- Binding or not: you decide together whether the declaration should be non-binding or may create obligations.
- Concept: the legal expert drafts the statement with the appropriate tone and the suitable binding-or-non-binding clause.
- Review: you go through the text and adjust conditions and reservations.
- Signature: you sign and send the declaration to the recipient.
Because a letter of intent is unilateral, a round of negotiations is usually not required as with a mutual contract. As a result, the turnaround time is short, often one to a few working days.
What determines the costs?
- Non-binding or binding: a non-binding statement is quicker to draft than a text with concrete obligations.
- Context and risk: a statement to a bank or a letter of comfort for a subsidiary requires more care than a simple intention.
- Drafting versus reviewing: having your own draft reviewed is cheaper than having a statement drawn up from scratch.
- Tailor-made: the more specific your situation, the more time the lawyer needs.
Ask for a fixed fee in advance. A fixed price is easily achievable for a standard letter of intent.
Do it yourself, have it checked, or have it drafted?
There are three routes, and the choice depends on the nature of the statement.
- Do it yourself: justifiable with a clearly non-binding declaration without financial consequences.
- Have it checked: a good middle ground if you have a draft yourself but want to be sure the wording is correct.
- Have it drafted: wise for statements to a financier, landlord, or subsidiary, where the wording is really worth money.
A brief illustration: an SME holding company wanted to provide its bank with a statement that it would continue to support its operating company. The director had drafted a letter of comfort himself but had it reviewed for 350 euros. The legal expert noticed that the text was so assertive that the bank could interpret it as a firm guarantee. After adjustment, the support remained substantial, but without any unintended guarantee.
Honest recommendation
You do not need a lawyer for a simple, clearly non-binding declaration without financial consequences. Write down your intention clearly, add a non-binding clause, and sign. However, as soon as the declaration is sent to a bank, a landlord, or a subsidiary and money or support is attached to it, having it drafted or reviewed is almost always worthwhile. The difference between a non-binding and a binding formulation can save you an unwanted obligation or a missed opportunity. When in doubt, choose the review option: you remain in control and cover the greatest risk.
Want to read more? View the letter of intent on our contracts page, first read what a letter of intent is, or see how to drafting a letter of intent .
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, it costs 250 to 750 euros with an SME lawyer, depending on how robust and tailored the statement needs to be. Having your own draft reviewed is cheaper. Ask for a fixed fee in advance.
Often one to a few working days. Because a letter of intent is unilateral, no round of negotiations is required as with a mutual contract, resulting in a shorter turnaround time.
Yes. Having your own draft reviewed costs less and often covers the biggest risk: the question of whether the statement is binding or not and whether the wording aligns with your intentions.
For statements with financial or legal implications, such as a statement to a bank, a landlord, or a letter of comfort for a subsidiary. For a clearly non-binding statement, you can handle it yourself.
Whether the declaration should be non-binding or binding, the context and the risk, and whether to have it drafted or reviewed. A non-binding standard declaration is ready faster than a text with concrete, enforceable obligations.
Yes. That is precisely the core of it. A lawyer tailors the wording to your intention: non-binding with a non-binding clause, or concrete and enforceable when you want to make a commitment.
Your details and those of the recipient, the reason for the request, your intentions, and whether you wish to remain non-binding or commit to something. The clearer this input, the faster and cheaper the statement will be ready.
