In need of contracts but can’t afford a traditional attorney? Fear not, you’ve got options.

Ah, contracts, the bane of every small business owner. While, for the less legally inclined, contracts can be quite the bore, they are also extremely important to a successful business operation. Triumph Staff members have seen (and some of us even worked for) great companies, delivering a quality product or service, that met untimely ends due to a lack of proper contracts. Moral of the story—before you start on a deliverable—get something in writing.

If you’re a law firm, contracts are easy enough to rustle-up. Just have somebody go get a few paralegals out of the cold, damp annex and have them hash out a draft. However, odds are your adventure does not involve running a law firm. Nay, perhaps you remodel kitchens, and would very much like to be paid for those services. Or maybe you pet sit, and, once again, would very much like to get paid for your time and effort. Especially in the beginning, your new venture may have paper-thin margins, and hiring a law firm to draw out a proper legal document may just not be in the cards. Thankfully, enter the internet, with some timely and affordable options.

Online Contract Providers

The great thing about small business contracts is that they usually aren’t too terribly complicated. Since you’re not Apple or Microsoft, wheeling and dealing across the globe with thousands of logistical details, your contracts should hopefully be fairly streamlined. And with streamlining comes some wonderful legal innovation. Several online providers specialize in offering low-cost, downloadable contracts to keep your business cranking along. We’ve often advised clients to make use of these services, and we’ve gone ahead and listed some of our favorites below.

Legal Zoom

Welcome to the O.G. in online lawyering. Legal Zoom’s prolific online options have had a huge impact on the legal landscape in the United States, and their contracting options are as impressive as they are extensive. You can find and customize just about anything you’re looking for through their Contracts and Agreements webpage.

Not only does Legal Zoom offer broad legal products such as independent contractor agreements and consulting services agreements, they also offer one of the most impressive collections of specialized products on the internet. Beyond simply purchasing a standard contract, you can specifically purchase a “Wedding Planner Contract Agreement,” or a specialized “Catering Contract,” or even a custom “Pet Sitting Agreement.” No matter what sort of adventure you’re into, Legal Zoom should have you covered, and all at a reasonable price.

Legal Zoom currently offers two types of packages for their custom contracts. Users can either join a $7.95 per month (billed annually) subscription plan for access to unlimited documents, or, if you’re just looking for a one-off, you can opt to purchase a single custom document for $59. If you anticipate issuing multiple contracts a year, we recommend looking into the unlimited plan.

Ready to get started? Zoom on over to the link right here.

Formstack

Maybe your firm is extremely tech savvy, has a strong aversion to paperwork, or the nature of your business makes signing physical forms difficult. If any of these sound familiar, fear not, there’s also an online option for you. Allow us to introduce LegalZoom’s tech-oriented nephew, Formstack.

Formstack allows users to create custom contracts and then seamlessly deliver these new digital money-makers to clients, all with a few simple clinks. Their online template collection is not quite as expansive as Legal Zoom, but they still boast an impressive catalogue—all of which can be created, reviewed, and signed online. Formstack’s streamlined digital process is perfect for small businesses that pride themselves on customer service, quick turnarounds, and ease-of-use.

Speaking of customers, Formstack has an impressive client base, including major players like Netflix and the National Hockey League, that trust the company for their online signature needs. Also, if your business already uses Salesforce, Formstack has an integrated custom package just for you.

Formstack offers a myriad of pricing and plan options, spanning everything from your basic small business needs to Fortune 500 enterprise solutions. For Triumph’s usual small business clientele, we recommend checking out Formstacks “Starter” plan. Coming in at $50 per month, this basic package still packs quite a punch—and supplies plenty of documents—for your small business adventure.

Get to stacking at their website, right here.

US Legal Forms

Maybe yours is a no-nonsense firm looking for some affordable contract options without unnecessary bells and whistles. You want a few core features, but aren’t in need of or particularly interested in intense customization suites. Well then, we’d venture to advise that US Legal Forms may be the place for you.

With over twenty years of industry experience and a customer count of over three million, US Legal Forms offers a solid option for any small or growing business. While they may not offer hyper-customizable packages akin to the ones discussed above, don’t be fooled, the company still has an enormous library of state-specific contract options.

US Legal Forms offers two pricing packages. Their “Basic” subscription package will run you $8 a month (if paid annually) and comes with unlimited access to their entire library of legal forms. For only $15 a month (once again, if paid annually), you can have access to the entire library along with some basic editing and digital signing features. Reasonable pay-by-the-month plans are also available, but they hike up the monthly fee a bit.

You check out the legal eagle right here.


Unsportsmanlike contract. Fifteen yard penalty. Repeat first down.

While this list is by no means exhaustive (like we always say, nothing on the internet is), we believe it to be a great start. We usually advise our clients to begin here, and 99% of the time, they are find what they’re looking for. So, go, search the web, and make your contractual dreams a reality.

As always, feel free to Ask Triumph with any additional questions and consider Supporting the Team.

All views expressed in the article are opinions of the author and should not be misconstrued as professional consulting or legal advice. Users are responsible for verifying all information before taking action, and Triumph Group LLC is not responsible for any outcomes. Pursue subjects at your own risk. Seriously, man. It’s your life.