Cash flow is king when it comes to business, and maintaining strong cash flow requires consistent sales. That may sound obvious, but what’s likely unclear to you is how your legal agreements can greatly impact your sales. You may be losing sales because of how you handle your contracts without even realizing it.
In this week’s blog, I’ll explain ways your legal agreements may cause you to lose business and how we can set your contracts up to build lasting client relationships that generate consistent revenue.
Don’t Lose Clients to Complicated Contracts
You might wonder how a poorly designed contract can cause you to lose clients, but it’s easier than you think.
I often have potential clients come to me wondering why the client they were almost hired by ghosted the relationship after receiving a legal agreement. This is the worst time to lose a client, and if that’s happened to you, read on.
One of our clients, a website developer, was quite far down the line toward getting hired for a $25,000 project, but when she sent her contract to her prospective client, the prospect disappeared, and stop returning calls. When I reviewed the agreement, I knew instantly what happened. The agreement my client had sent was so convoluted and confusing that her prospect walked away from the deal altogether.
Your legal agreements are a window into the deeper facets of your business. Even when conversations and negotiations are going well with a potential client, handing someone a convoluted and confusing contract can lose the deal because it may seem like you’ll be too difficult to work with.
To attract and keep clients, they need to know that every aspect of your business is trustworthy. Having legal agreements that foster clear communication and align with your greater business culture is the first step.
Use Legal Agreements to Make the Best First Impression
Whether your business has been established for years or is in its early stages, clients want to feel like your company has a strong identity and the experience and knowledge they can rely on to meet their needs. They don’t want to enter into an agreement with a business that might close shop in a year or completely change its pricing or business model in ways that no longer serve them.
A powerful way to convey your professionalism, reliability, and longevity at every stage of your business is to always come to the table with honest, well-designed, and transparent contracts.
When clients encounter a legal contract, they shouldn’t be taken aback by a sloppy format or overwhelmed by technical language or complex terms. Instead, they should feel empowered by a clear and concise agreement that accurately represents their intentions and protects their interests. By keeping contracts straightforward and easy to understand, you demonstrate your commitment to transparency and build trust with your clients.
To achieve this, focus on:
- Using plain language that avoids unnecessary legal jargon.
- Breaking down complex concepts into digestible sections.
- Providing clear explanations for any specialized terms that may be necessary.
A well-structured contract will enable clients to grasp the terms and conditions without confusion or ambiguity, fostering trust and confidence in your business.
Keep an “Open Door” Policy
Clients appreciate the opportunity to discuss and negotiate contract terms that align with their needs and expectations. By fostering open communication, you create an environment where clients feel heard, valued, and respected. This approach not only strengthens the business relationship but also builds trust in the process itself.
When you present a potential client with your contract, encourage them to carefully review it and voice any concerns, ask questions, and provide feedback. Actively listen to their input and be responsive to their needs. Emphasize that you are open to revising the contract to address any valid concerns or to better reflect the evolving circumstances of their business.
Make it easy for clients to initiate discussions about the contract. Provide multiple channels for communication, such as email, phone, or in-person meetings, and ensure prompt and attentive responses. This accessibility and willingness to engage in dialogue instill confidence in your commitment to finding mutually beneficial solutions and will prevent clients from running away from the transaction altogether just because there is something in the terms they don’t understand or agree with.
Be Efficient and Consistent: Use Template Legal Agreements
Now that you know how a well-written legal agreement can make or break a sale, the next step is knowing how to create one. Using a template legal agreement offers numerous benefits for both your business and your clients.
Templates save time, ensure efficiency and clarity in your contracts, and make it easy to maintain a consistent look and tone in your legal documents. They also allow for quick customization and flexibility to meet each client’s unique needs.
Creating an effective template involves identifying common elements that you want all of your agreements to have, such as payment terms, communication expectations, and timelines for deliverables. Your template should use clear language and provide a clear process for revision and modification that you and your clients can easily agree on.
To make sure your template is created in a way that promotes trust, saves you time, and protects your interests, be sure to have your template created by an experienced legal professional that understands your business goals and culture.
Expert Support for Your Legal Agreements and Beyond
Building client trust through honest, transparent, and consistent legal contracts is essential for the success of your business. By keeping contracts straightforward and easy to understand and maintaining open communication for contract revisions, you establish a foundation of trust and stability with your clients.
Remember, trust is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing process. It’s important to continually review and refine your contracts to ensure they align with your clients’ needs and industry standards. By prioritizing trust and transparency in every aspect of your business, you will foster long-term client relationships and differentiate yourself as a trusted and reliable business.
If you’re ready to experience the benefits that trust-inspiring legal agreements can provide to your client base and bottom line, contact us today. As your Creative Business Counselor firm, we are dedicated to making your legal agreements work for you while building lasting relationships with your clients and vendors that propel your revenue.
Schedule a 15-minute call with us to learn more about how we can assist you in refining your legal contracts and templates and how we make sure your entire business is set up for success through our LIFT Business Breakthrough Session.™
