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 an employment contract for an indefinite period drafted by an SME lawyer typically costs €150 to €500 for a standard contract, and more if you require customization or special clauses. The process consists of a brief intake, a tailored draft, and a review round, usually completed within a few working days. You are primarily paying for certainty: a contract that meets the requirements of August 2022, guarantees the low unemployment insurance premium, and contains clauses that will hold up. Below are the costs and the process step by step.
The short answer
- Standard contract: €150 – €500 with a specialized SME lawyer.
- Customization: €500 – €1,500 for special clauses, CLA alignment, or managerial positions.
- Lead time: usually a few working days.
- Process: intake, draft, review round, final.
- When necessary: in case of stipulations, collective labour agreement, high salary or deviating agreements.
When should you have an employment contract for an indefinite period drawn up?
You do not need to have every permanent contract drafted. For a regular position without special agreements, a current template is often sufficient. Engaging a lawyer becomes worthwhile as soon as the situation becomes more complex:
- You want a non-compete or non-solicitation clause that holds up.
- A collective labor agreement or a mandatory industry-wide pension fund applies.
- This concerns a manager, statutory director, or a high salary.
- You make deviating agreements regarding bonuses, shares, or expenses.
- You doubt whether your own model still meets the 2022 requirements.
How much does it cost?
The price depends on the complexity:
- Standard permanent contract: €150 – €500. Regular position, standard terms, model aligned with August 2022.
- Contract with special clauses: €500 – €1,000. Tailor-made non-compete, non-solicitation, or penalty clause, bonus scheme.
- Complex custom work: €1,000 – €1,500 or more. Management contract, statutory director, share scheme, CLA alignment.
- Contract check: €100 – €300 if you only want to have an existing contract checked.
Compared to the costs of a missed low unemployment insurance premium or a failed non-compete clause, this is generally a wise investment.
The process step by step
- Intake: you provide the details (position, salary, hours, desired conditions, collective labor agreement). Often via a short questionnaire or interview.
- Concept: the legal expert drafts a tailored contract, including the mandatory 2022 information and the desired clauses.
- Review round: you read the draft, ask questions, and provide feedback on adjustments.
- Final: you will receive the final version, ready to sign.
The turnaround time is usually a few working days. In urgent cases, a standard contract can often be faster.
What exactly are you paying for?
The difference compared to a free template from the internet lies in the certainty. A lawyer ensures that the contract:
- Complies with the information obligation since August 2022.
- The low unemployment insurance premium guarantees (in writing, signed, for an indefinite period).
- Contains clauses that stand up to judicial scrutiny.
- Aligns with the applicable collective labour agreement and the correct pension fund.
- Fits your specific position and agreements.
A concrete SME example: a webshop used a free web template from 2019 for years. Upon dismissal, it turned out that the probationary period was formulated too broadly and the non-compete clause unenforceable, resulting in an expensive settlement that would have prevented a tailor-made contract.
Do it yourself or have it drafted?
The decision is simple. Standard position, no special clauses, current template available: then you can do it yourself. Special clauses, collective labour agreement, high salary, or doubt: have it drafted or at least reviewed. This concerns permanent employment with strong protection against dismissal, where mistakes only take their toll years later.
Honest recommendation
Do not have a permanent contract drawn up unnecessarily. For a standard position with standard terms, an up-to-date template incorporating the requirements of August 2022 is sufficient, and you do not need a lawyer. However, do opt to have one drawn up or to have a contract checked whenever a non-compete or non-solicitation clause, a collective labour agreement, a mandatory pension fund, or a high salary is involved. A contract check costing between €100 and €300 is often the cheapest form of certainty in such cases.
Read more: employment contract for an indefinite period, drafting a permanent contract yourself , and what exactly a permanent contract is.
Frequently Asked Questions
A standard employment contract for an indefinite period typically costs €150 to €500 from a specialized SME lawyer. Customization involving special clauses, alignment with the CLA, or a managerial position rises to €500 – €1,500. A standalone contract check usually costs €100 – €300.
Usually a few working days: intake, draft, review round, and final version. For a standard contract, it can often be faster in urgent cases. For complex custom work with special clauses or alignment with collective labor agreements, it generally takes a bit longer.
As soon as a non-compete or non-solicitation clause, a collective labour agreement, a mandatory industry-wide pension fund, a managerial position, or a high salary is involved, or when you are unsure whether your template still meets the requirements of August 2022. For a regular position with an up-to-date template, drafting it yourself is sufficient.
In four steps: intake (providing data), draft (customized contract), review round (you read and provide adjustments), and final (signable version). The legal expert processes the mandatory 2022 information and the desired clauses.
Yes, a contract check costing €100 – €300 is often the cheapest form of certainty. The legal expert verifies whether the contract complies with the duty to disclose since 2022, guarantees the low unemployment insurance premium, and whether the clauses (probationary period, non-competition clause) are enforceable.
A free template is often outdated or generic. The risk is a missed opportunity for a low unemployment insurance premium, an overly long probationary period, or a non-compete clause that is struck down by the court. You only notice these errors upon leaving, by which time rectification is no longer possible. A tailor-made contract guarantees certainty.
The position and duties, the gross salary and working hours, the start date, the desired conditions, and whether a collective labor agreement applies. Often, a short questionnaire or a brief conversation suffices. Based on this, the legal expert drafts the proposal.
