How to write a contract ?

niihau

I'm starting a discount card business. The small town I am from doesn't have anything like this at the minute and thus I have been getting a good response from the local business I have approached about joining the scheme.

For instance, I agree with 'ABC Pizza' that they will offer 20% off takeaways for my card holders, do I need to put this in writing as a contract to ensure this offer remains valid for as long as a discount card remains valid (1 year)?
How would I go about writing up this contract ? Are there any templates that I can customise or should I have a go at it myself ?

I will be running this as a sole trader, which my potential clients are happy with as many of them are also sole traders / partnerships, however I don't wont to come across unorganised or unprofessional by not having the correct contracts.

Many thanks in advance.

borders_dude

Dou you need to put this in writing:

Yes.

melipona

Is your town big enough to have a solicitor? If so you could ask him for advice, particularly if he could provide services that might get included in the scheme, maybe wills and conveyancing.

Chew_Barker

melipona wrote: »

Is your town big enough to have a solicitor?

I'm sure you are trying to help him, but this sounds a little patronising. He could go speak to a solicitor if there is one convenient, but not before trying on these forums where there are plenty of people with some experience to share for free and at a time that suits.

if he could provide services that might get included in the scheme, maybe wills and conveyancing.

This is a good point.

niihau I haven't done what you are talking about but I have found some of the real template contracts on http://contracts.onecle.com/ useful. You could try looking at 'marketing agreements' and see if these fit your purposes.

niihau

Thanks melipona, there are a couple of solicitors I could speak to about this, I just wasn't sure if my circumstances are normal enough for them to be of any help. Getting them on board to offer discounted rates for conveyancing and wills is a great idea.

Thanks Chew Barker for the link, I've had a quick look and it all seems very lengthy and full of legal jargon, but useful none the less. I'll try drafting something up based on these and show it to a solicitor.

If anyone else can shed some light on this it would be really appreciated.

paulwf

Surely the best approach would be to see what a couple of discount scheme card operators already do? Small schemes may be willing to help you, with national outfits you may need to pose as an interested company.

Could you perhaps do a pilot scheme so retailers can check it out before going for a 1 year lock in? Or could you just lock in a few big names (on preferential terms) and then keep the main list updated via a website? I'm suggesting this because if someone came to me with a brand new card scheme and wanted a 1 year lock in I would be wary.

niihau

paulwf wrote: »

Surely the best approach would be to see what a couple of discount scheme card operators already do? Small schemes may be willing to help you, with national outfits you may need to pose as an interested company.

Could you perhaps do a pilot scheme so retailers can check it out before going for a 1 year lock in? Or could you just lock in a few big names (on preferential terms) and then keep the main list updated via a website? I'm suggesting this because if someone came to me with a brand new card scheme and wanted a 1 year lock in I would be wary.

I like the pilot scheme idea a lot, thanks to everyone for the good advice.

hippyadam

Personally i would draw up a simply worded example contract, of what you want from them & what they can expect from you.

Try & run through any potential outcome for the business & if possible have clearly defined terms for what happens in regard to payments, late payment charges, cancellation etc.

Then run it past a solicitor to make it official.