| With the current state of the economy many | | | | contract you may find yourself on the short end |
| more people are considering going into business | | | | of the stick and not getting paid. |
| for themselves as consultants to major | | | | According to the laws in most states you can |
| corporations instead of actually working for them. | | | | draw up your own contract on a blank sheet of |
| However, any time that you go into business for | | | | paper, however if you have no experience in this |
| yourself there is always an element of risk. The | | | | type of paperwork you may find that this is not |
| consulting business is not an exacting science in | | | | a very good idea. You could find yourself leaving |
| which a specific product is being delivered for a | | | | out a very important point that could leave you |
| set price. It is more of a service business and you | | | | unable to collect on the money you are expecting |
| will need to make sure you are covered by a | | | | to be paid. When you consider how tough our |
| contract before you start to work. You can use a | | | | current economy is, you cannot afford to have |
| consulting contract template to help you create | | | | even one client get away with not paying you for |
| the paperwork you need to protect yourself and | | | | the work you have done. |
| your business. | | | | You will find that the Internet is the perfect place |
| Your first contact with a new client can be as | | | | to download a consulting contract template that |
| simple as a phone call or even a casual meeting in | | | | you can use to draw up your own contract. |
| a restaurant or on an airplane. You may discuss | | | | These templates provide you not only with the |
| his ideas and start to form a working relationship | | | | basic forms you will need, but often include |
| with him. These are informal meetings and nothing | | | | instructions and tips that can help you create a |
| about them can be considered legally binding or | | | | very well thought out contract that leaves little |
| any kind of informal contract. Once you begin to | | | | room for misinterpretation and protects both |
| move beyond this point, you will need to enter | | | | your work and your intellectual property. You |
| into contract negotiations with your client to | | | | should never begin any type of formal consulting |
| ensure that you are going to be paid for your | | | | work without having a written and signed contract |
| time and services. If you do not have a binding | | | | in place. |