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Hit 14 contract disputes in one month and realized my boilerplate was the problem
Last September I had 14 clients push back on my standard service agreement. Four of them actually threatened to walk. After digging into it I found my liability clause was way too broad and scared everyone off. I spent 3 days rewriting those sections with a lawyer friend (paid him in pizza and beer) and now I include simple examples of what I won't cover. Has anyone else had their own contract scare like this?
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brian_hart2mo ago
Had a similar scare a few years back. Client read my warranty clause and said it looked like I was trying to screw them over on purpose. Wasn't the case at all, just wrote it like a robot lawyer. Spent a weekend rewriting everything in plain English. Took out all the "whereas" and "hereinafter" nonsense. Now I just say "I fix this stuff, I don't cover that stuff" and clients actually read it and nod. Saved my bacon more than once.
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coleman.hannah2mo ago
That whole experience actually lines up with something bigger I've noticed - people just want clarity, not fancy talk, in contracts and even in everyday conversations. Ever had someone lose trust because you over-explained something simple?
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