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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Which contracts to have checked: prioritize business premises leases, supplier and purchasing contracts, employment contracts, franchise and cooperation agreements. These are the types involving long-term binding, significant importance, or complex liability. A check is worthwhile as soon as the contract value exceeds approximately €10,000 or the term is longer than one year. You can usually handle standard purchase orders, small one-off purchases, and previously checked templates yourself. Below is the prioritization by type and the threshold above which a check is worthwhile.
The short answer
- Always: lease of commercial premises, franchise, collaboration, shareholders' agreement.
- Usually: suppliers/purchasing above €10,000, employment contract with special clauses.
- Threshold: value above €10,000 or term longer than one year.
- Finish yourself: order forms, small one-off purchases, well-known templates.
- Doubt: first contract of a new type — have it checked once.
- Costs: €250-€1,500 for most SME contracts.
The types you prioritize
Not every contract is equally important. The priority lies with contracts that bind you for a long time, represent a lot of money, or establish an agreement that is difficult to reverse.
Contract by type
Rent commercial premises
- Long-running (often 5+5 years) and difficult to terminate prematurely.
- Please note: indexation, maintenance obligations, completion, and penalty for late cancellation.
- Always have it checked — the amounts and the term are substantial.
Supplier and purchasing contracts
- Above €10,000 or with fixed purchases: have it checked.
- Please note: price indexation, minimum order quantity, liability, penalty for late delivery.
- Small one-off orders from a well-known party: complete in person.
Employment contract
- Standard contract according to collective labor agreement: often doable yourself with a good template.
- With a non-compete clause, non-solicitation clause, or high-ranking position: have it checked.
- An incorrect non-compete clause is often void — in that case, you protect nothing.
Franchise and collaboration
- Franchise: mandatory prospectus and significant obligations — always check.
- Collaboration: pay attention to exit, decision-making, IP allocation, and dispute resolution.
- Shareholders' agreement: always; this regulates who decides what.
The limit: at what stake does it pay off?
A practical standard helps in case of doubt:
| Situation | Advice |
|---|---|
| Contract value < € 5,000, known party | Self-finished |
| Value €5,000-€10,000 | Depending on term and risk |
| Value > € 10,000 | Have it checked |
| Duration > 1 year | Have it checked |
| Unknown opposing party | Have it checked |
| First contract of a new type | Have it checked once, then reuse the template |
Rule of thumb: costs of the check under 5% of the contract value are almost always worthwhile.
What you can usually handle yourself
- Standard order forms and purchase orders under €5,000.
- One-off purchases from a fixed, reliable supplier.
- A confidentiality agreement that you have seen before and that is reciprocal.
- A template that you previously had checked and reused unchanged.
For recurring contracts, it pays to have one reviewed and use it as a fixed model. This way, you pay once for something you use dozens of times.
Practical example
Bram is starting a shop and has three contracts on his desk:
- Commercial property lease (5 years, € 2,400/month): had checked — found: indexation without a maximum and strict delivery requirements.
- Furniture supplier contract (€8,000, one-off, known party): handled independently.
- Employment contract of first employee with non-competition clause: have it checked — the clause was too broad and would be void.
Two checks of €700 together; he made the one-time purchase himself. That is how Bram spent his budget where the risk lay.
Honest recommendation
Allocate your budget to long-term commitments or significant costs: business premises rent, franchises, partnerships, shareholder contracts, and major supplier contracts. Have the first contract of a new type checked once and reuse the template thereafter. You do not need to engage us for small, one-off purchases from regular partners and standard purchase orders — a check is an unnecessary expense in those cases. The art is not to check everything, but to check the right things.
For further information: what a lawyer checks, why a check is useful , and drafting general terms and conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Priority is given to business premises leases, supplier and purchasing contracts exceeding €10,000, employment contracts with special clauses, franchises, partnerships, and shareholders' agreements. These are the types involving long-term binding, significant interest, or complex liability.
As a rule of thumb: contract value above 10,000 euros or term longer than one year. Below 5,000 euros with a known party, you can usually handle it yourself. Between 5,000 and 10,000 euros, it depends on the term and risk. The cost of the check under 5% of the contract value is almost always worthwhile.
You can often draft a standard employment contract in accordance with a collective labor agreement yourself using a good template. However, for a non-compete clause, non-solicitation clause, or a high-ranking position, it pays to have it checked. An incorrectly formulated non-compete clause is often void, meaning you end up protecting nothing at all.
Commercial lease agreements often run for 5+5 years and are difficult to terminate early. Pay attention to indexation without a maximum, maintenance obligations, delivery requirements, and penalties for late termination. Due to the large sums involved and the long duration, this is a contract you should always have checked.
Standard purchase orders and purchase orders under 5,000 euros, one-off purchases from a reliable, fixed supplier, a recurring NDA you have seen before, and a template that you had reviewed previously and are reusing unchanged. A separate check is an unnecessary cost in that case.
No. Have the first contract of a new type checked once and use that as a standard model. This way, you pay once for something you use dozens of times. A new check is only worthwhile in the event of major changes or a deviating counterparty.
Yes. Franchising entails significant commitment, requires a prospectus, and the agreements are difficult to reverse. Pay attention to the duration, exit clauses, exclusivity, and mandatory purchase. This is a contract you should always have reviewed before signing.
