Service agreements
Set out what the service includes and how delivery will be measured.
- Deliverables, milestones and service levels
- Acceptance, payment dates and expenses
- Scope changes and suspension rights
Commercial agreements · UK-wide
Commercial and Business Contract Drafting Across the UK
The wrong agreement structure creates disputes that goodwill can't settle. Evergreen Covenants Ltd. helps businesses put the deal, payment terms and exit route into clear written terms.
Need business agreements in Colchester or elsewhere in the UK? Start with the trading relationship. The right document follows.
Jump to an agreement type
Agreement types
Service, Consultancy, Client, Supplier and Wholesale Agreements
Each document should match the work, goods or access being provided. The clauses below give the relationship practical boundaries before a disagreement arises.
Clear terms make day-to-day decisions easier.
Consultancy agreements
Distinguish professional advice from a promise of a particular result.
- Services, assumptions and client input
- Fees, expenses and invoicing intervals
- Confidentiality and ownership of work
Client contracts
Give customers a shared record of the scope, responsibilities and changes.
- Defined scope and exclusions
- Approval steps and change control
- Intellectual property and cancellation
Supplier and wholesale agreements
Record the standards and commercial rules behind repeat supply.
- Lead times, delivery and risk transfer
- Quality checks, returns and defective goods
- Price changes, stock and payment terms
Distribution agreements
Define the route to market and the distributor's operating limits.
- Territory, channels and exclusivity
- Targets, pricing and reporting
- Stock, brand use and termination
Agency agreements
Make the agent's authority and commission basis clear to both sides.
- Authority to negotiate or bind the business
- Commission calculation and payment
- Customer records and exit arrangements
Wholesale agreements
Set reliable terms for bulk orders and continuing trade accounts.
- Order acceptance and minimum quantities
- Price lists, payment and overdue sums
- Returns, shortages and product warranties
Franchise agreements
Set out the permitted brand use and operating model for each location.
- Brand licence and operating standards
- Fees, training and ongoing support
- Renewal, transfer and exit obligations
Manufacturing agreements
Put product specifications and quality responsibilities in writing.
- Specifications, tooling and production changes
- Inspection, defects and corrective work
- Stock holding, liability and ownership
Choose the right structure
Distribution, Agency and Franchise Structures
These arrangements can look similar at the start. Their differences matter when a party has authority to act, controls a territory or needs to leave the relationship.
The commercial model sets the drafting priorities.
Compare the relationship
Select a structure to see the points that usually need careful agreement.
Distribution agreement
A distributor typically buys and resells goods on its own account. Drafting should make the permitted market and the resale relationship plain.
| Point | Drafting focus |
|---|---|
| Territory | Set the area, sales channels and any reserved customers. |
| Exclusivity | State whether exclusivity applies and what sales targets support it. |
| Notice and exit | Agree notice periods, unsold stock treatment and transition duties. |
Agency agreement
An agent may negotiate or make commitments for a principal. The authority granted and commission calculation need careful boundaries.
| Point | Drafting focus |
|---|---|
| Territory | Define the customer group, region or transactions covered by the appointment. |
| Exclusivity | Record any protected accounts, competing products or limits on other appointments. |
| Notice and exit | Set notice, outstanding commission and the handover of customer information. |
Franchise agreement
A franchise gives a business permission to use a brand and operating system. The agreement should explain the standards and support expected on both sides.
| Point | Drafting focus |
|---|---|
| Territory | Describe the site or area and any limits on other franchise locations. |
| Exclusivity | Clarify protected territory, online sales and reserved customer groups. |
| Notice and exit | Set renewal conditions, de-branding steps and what happens to stock and equipment. |
Production and partnerships
Manufacturing Contracts and Sponsorship Agreements
Production agreements need a shared reference point for what is being made and how a defect is handled. Sponsorship terms need equal clarity about the rights granted and the evidence of delivery.
Manufacturing contracts
Agree product specifications, approval samples, tooling ownership and inspection rights. Set out how rejected goods, rework, delays and stock holding are handled before production starts.
Sponsorship agreements
List the brand rights being granted, where marks can appear and how each party approves their use. Include reporting duties, payment dates and what happens if an event or campaign changes.
Both arrangements can involve valuable intellectual property and confidential information. Put limits on use, access and return in the written terms. For wider brand and licensing arrangements, see ownership and partnership agreements .
Risk and responsibility
The Clauses That Decide Who Carries the Risk
Small wording choices can shift costs, deadlines and control. Drafting should reflect the real value and risks of the deal.
Explore contract reviewLiability caps and exclusions
Plain English: Set a financial limit that fits the contract and identify losses the parties intend to exclude. Drafting focus: Check the cap against fees, insurance and the likely cost of a failure. Unlimited exposure needs a clear reason and careful review.
Payment, interest and suspension
Plain English: State when invoices are due and what happens when payment is late. Drafting focus: Tie invoices to dates or milestones, set out any interest provision and explain when work or supply may be paused.
Termination and work in progress
Plain English: Give each side a workable route to end the arrangement. Drafting focus: Cover notice, serious breach, cure periods and payment for completed work, committed costs or accepted orders.
Warranties, indemnities and disputes
Plain English: Define the promises made, the losses each party may have to meet and how disagreements are raised. Drafting focus: Match each obligation to the party able to control it, then set an escalation route before court proceedings are considered.
Who we help
Who These Agreements Are Drafted For
Good commercial terms help the people doing the work understand what they have agreed to do, supply or permit.
Product businesses
For businesses appointing suppliers, resellers or sales agents.
Consultancies and practices
For professional teams setting engagement terms with clients.
Brands and franchisors
For businesses licensing a name, format or operating system.
Manufacturers and importers
For teams managing specifications, quality checks and defect exposure.
A practical next step
Get the Commercial Agreement Right the First Time
Tell us who the parties are, how the commercial model works and what each side must do. If the agreement type and scope are clear, ask about fixed-fee scoping.