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Local SEO : Is No Contract Feasible?

by payoman
21 replies
My aim for the first couple of weeks is to simply get a couple of small sites sold to get some money coming in ($600 setup and $50 monthly) and get more experience under my belt.

I have opted to sell my websites as a 'package'. This means that each package is limited to how many words per page and how many images per page and 5 page maximum, the tradeoff being a relatively cheap website AND basic SEO.

Just want to know if anyone has any idea about building websites without contracts? I am desperate to get some money coming in so I want to trial this for a while before I can afford to see a lawyer and get contracts looked at.

So, anyone know if a 'no contract' approach is feasible for building sites?
#contract #feasible #local #seo
  • Profile picture of the author Perestroika
    Why dont you find an example of a contract and modify it to your needs? You can certainly do it without one but why not protect yourself in event of any problems?
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  • Profile picture of the author payoman
    Because I would have no idea how to 'modify it to my needs'. Surely you can't just go around writing up contracts without a lawyer to check it out?
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    • Profile picture of the author JOSourcing
      Banned
      Originally Posted by payoman View Post

      Because I would have no idea how to 'modify it to my needs'. Surely you can't just go around writing up contracts without a lawyer to check it out?
      Sure you can. That's why you'll find them at sites like legalforms.lawdepot.com and nolo.com. You can even find them at Microsoft (office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates), Staples, and Office Depot.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
    You need to have some semblance of a contract plain and simple. At the very least you need to write up exactly what you indent to deliver and that if you require access to your clients site they agree to give you all the required information.

    You look VERY unprofessional in the B2B world if you don't have a contract.
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  • Profile picture of the author Perestroika
    You can outline what you are delivering to the client, payment terms, etc.

    You dont need to have a lawyer take a look at it unless its a really complex contract.

    https://www.google.com/#hl=en&output...w=1024&bih=587
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    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by Perestroika View Post

      You can outline what you are delivering to the client, payment terms, etc.

      You dont need to have a lawyer take a look at it unless its a really complex contract.

      https://www.google.com/#hl=en&output...w=1024&bih=587
      I'd suggest not giving bad legal advice...

      In all cases you should become friends with an attorney and have a real contract made up to fit your needs.
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      • Profile picture of the author Perestroika
        Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

        I'd suggest not giving bad legal advice...

        In all cases you should become friends with an attorney and have a real contract made up to fit your needs.
        How is it offering bad advice. I am advising him to make up a simple contract on his own. Google will find you plenty of examples to look at.

        You are advising on him on becoming friends with an attorney. Do you think this new found friend will create a contract for him free of charge? He / she will bill him at $300/hour to create something you can do for free. Furthermore you can buy premade contracts. Some WSO's even include contracts in the package.
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        • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
          Originally Posted by Perestroika View Post

          How is it offering bad advice. I am advising him to make up a simple contract on his own. Google will find you plenty of examples to look at.

          You are advising on him on becoming friends with an attorney. Do you think this new found friend will create a contract for him free of charge? He / she will bill him at $300/hour to create something you can do for free. Furthermore you can buy premade contracts. Some WSO's even include contracts in the package.
          Telling someone they don't need a lawyer unless it is a complex contract is simply idiotic and bad advice. I don't care if the lawyer bills him $300/hr... My lawyer bills me much cheaper because I handle his website and marketing.

          I don't care if a WSO has it... I don't care if you Google it and use a template.

          I'm not sure if you realize this, but taking someone elses contract, is illegal in certain circumstances. If he isn't a lawyer or doesn't have knowledge of the law, he should be very wary of using a premade contract.

          A couple warriors sent me some of their sample contracts, and it is a JOKE, what some of you think makes you look professional and makes you think you're protected.

          If you are running a REAL BUSINESS... seek legal counsel, not some keyboard jockey on a message board. It's time for you guys to get serious, if you want to build a business, start acting like one. You might not even need a contract in every circumstance, but you for sure better start thinking like a real business protecting yourself and your assets.
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          • Profile picture of the author Perestroika
            Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

            Telling someone they don't need a lawyer unless it is a complex contract is simply idiotic and bad advice. I don't care if the lawyer bills him $300/hr... My lawyer bills me much cheaper because I handle his website and marketing.

            I don't care if a WSO has it... I don't care if you Google it and use a template.

            I'm not sure if you realize this, but taking someone elses contract, is illegal in certain circumstances. If he isn't a lawyer or doesn't have knowledge of the law, he should be very wary of using a premade contract.

            A couple warriors sent me some of their sample contracts, and it is a JOKE, what some of you think makes you look professional and makes you think you're protected.

            If you are running a REAL BUSINESS... seek legal counsel, not some keyboard jockey on a message board. It's time for you guys to get serious, if you want to build a business, start acting like one. You might not even need a contract in every circumstance, but you for sure better start thinking like a real business protecting yourself and your assets.
            So basically you dont care about anything and your only advice is to get a lawyer. What kind of advice is that for a newbie who cant afford it?

            Why cant a newbie write a simple contract based on publicly available examples? All you do is just summarizing what you are delivering and the terms.
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            • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
              Originally Posted by Perestroika View Post

              So basically you dont care about anything and your only advice is to get a lawyer. What kind of advice is that for a newbie who cant afford it?

              Why cant a newbie write a simple contract based on publicly available examples? All you do is just summarizing what you are delivering and the terms.
              Well I'd love to see one of the sample contracts you think will work for a BUSINESS.

              What kind of advice is it? Probably the best advice in this thread. If you can't afford $100 to have a contract written to protect you, then you can't afford to be in business. I'm not here to help people find a hobby, I'm here to help people that want to form a real business.

              What better way for him to get his foot in the door, to call potential clients who would be attorneys... offer to barter with them, in exchange for contract writing if he is that broke.

              NOW is the most important time for him to have protection, since he is likely to have all personal liability since he doesn't have contracts written to protect him, doesn't have a legal business entity, he is just an individual soliciting services. He might not even have a city business license. So yeah, I think my advice is the most realistic for building a REAL business.
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              • Profile picture of the author Sullygromo
                I do love the call the lawyer and barter angle...great stuff. My lawyer is also a client!!

                Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

                Well I'd love to see one of the sample contracts you think will work for a BUSINESS.

                What kind of advice is it? Probably the best advice in this thread. If you can't afford $100 to have a contract written to protect you, then you can't afford to be in business. I'm not here to help people find a hobby, I'm here to help people that want to form a real business.

                What better way for him to get his foot in the door, to call potential clients who would be attorneys... offer to barter with them, in exchange for contract writing if he is that broke.

                NOW is the most important time for him to have protection, since he is likely to have all personal liability since he doesn't have contracts written to protect him, doesn't have a legal business entity, he is just an individual soliciting services. He might not even have a city business license. So yeah, I think my advice is the most realistic for building a REAL business.
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                • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
                  Originally Posted by payoman View Post

                  The thing is, not every business uses contracts. Isn't there a feasible way to offer a website package in a way that I can simply accept payment and deliver a website?

                  I can understand a contract when you are talking thousands of dollars, but for a simple, 5 page website, I would think most businesses could afford throwing a few hundred at it and not take you to court if it doesn't have the color scheme they had their mind set on?
                  Originally Posted by Sullygromo View Post

                  Im going to disagree with Rus in this case (although I respect him greatly)...If you are charging 600 bucks and 50/month what do you need a contract for? Are you going to pursue someone legally for 50 dollars? My rule of thumb: if the contract in total is worth 20K+ Im getting a piece of paper signed; if not, Im going without. Ive been doing this 10 years and Ive gone after people a total of 3 times for not paying me...had an iron clad, attorney written contract every time, and got ZERO..just my 2 cents!

                  As far as what you are providing, deadline, etc.. on these small deals, an email is more than sufficient in my experience.
                  Even if you are doing $100 websites, you need a contract.

                  The main thing here is that if you do NOT have a contract that protects you, and you're redesigning a ranking website... and something you do hurts the rankings you CAN be sued for it. It happens. If you're charging $50/mo for hosting and the server goes down for 2 hours and the business is advertising on radio, adwords, and other forms of advertisements, you can be held liable for POTENTIAL damages even though you're hosting through somebody else. THAT is why it is important to have a contract.

                  If you do not have a contract, and you aren't incorporated, say hello to the possibility of losing everything and taking part in an asset hearing to pay off what you will owe.

                  Guys, it might not seem like a big deal to you, but it is. Contracts give credibility, they give protection for a lot of things you probably never thought about!
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                  • Profile picture of the author Rus Sells
                    You have some good points but lets point out that even a contract won't protect you from getting sued. However, if you do get sued if you have a contract it can help to protect you depending on why the suit is filed.

                    This is what E&O insurance is for.

                    Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

                    Even if you are doing $100 websites, you need a contract.

                    The main thing here is that if you do NOT have a contract that protects you, and you're redesigning a ranking website... and something you do hurts the rankings you CAN be sued for it. It happens. If you're charging $50/mo for hosting and the server goes down for 2 hours and the business is advertising on radio, adwords, and other forms of advertisements, you can be held liable for POTENTIAL damages even though you're hosting through somebody else. THAT is why it is important to have a contract.

                    If you do not have a contract, and you aren't incorporated, say hello to the possibility of losing everything and taking part in an asset hearing to pay off what you will owe.

                    Guys, it might not seem like a big deal to you, but it is. Contracts give credibility, they give protection for a lot of things you probably never thought about!
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  • Profile picture of the author Hugh
    Here we go ......AGAIN.

    Hugh
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  • Profile picture of the author payoman
    The thing is, not every business uses contracts. Isn't there a feasible way to offer a website package in a way that I can simply accept payment and deliver a website?

    I can understand a contract when you are talking thousands of dollars, but for a simple, 5 page website, I would think most businesses could afford throwing a few hundred at it and not take you to court if it doesn't have the color scheme they had their mind set on?
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    • Profile picture of the author Simoshere
      Originally Posted by payoman View Post

      The thing is, not every business uses contracts. Isn't there a feasible way to offer a website package in a way that I can simply accept payment and deliver a website?
      Umm.. Invoice/ purchase order. Go to staples get a receipt book write New Website on it and the price.

      If you need a contract so bad... sign up for prepaid Legal!. the best thing you could do. only costs $25 a month. Then go out find a contract that is close to what you want to say and have them work with you to modify it.


      But. ANYBODY can write a contract. Its up to the other party whether they want to accept it or not. And just because you put something in a contract that does not mean it is legal or that it will have any merit in court.
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    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by payoman View Post

      The thing is, not every business uses contracts.
      Maybe retail... but I don't know of any service based business that doesn't.
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  • Profile picture of the author NowMadam
    The main point of a contract is to make expectations explicit. An e-mail outlining the relationship and services provided that gets responded to affirmatively is a type of contract. If you make everything absolutely clear and have it all in writing you have gone a long way towards protecting yourself.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sullygromo
    Im going to disagree with Rus in this case (although I respect him greatly)...If you are charging 600 bucks and 50/month what do you need a contract for? Are you going to pursue someone legally for 50 dollars? My rule of thumb: if the contract in total is worth 20K+ Im getting a piece of paper signed; if not, Im going without. Ive been doing this 10 years and Ive gone after people a total of 3 times for not paying me...had an iron clad, attorney written contract every time, and got ZERO..just my 2 cents!

    As far as what you are providing, deadline, etc.. on these small deals, an email is more than sufficient in my experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author webdelux
    I bartered with a lawyer to get a rock solid contract for my web design projects that protect me and the clients. Many new lawyers are willing to barter, I found my lawyer in a BNI meeting.
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  • Profile picture of the author CageyVet
    A contract lets you outline the terms of the offer so that everyone is on the same page. This gets rid of any unknown expectations that the clients might that you did not agree to for the service/products. These unknown expectation are what can get you into trouble which can cost you time and money as well as they can lead to legal problems down the road.

    Anyone can write up a contract that outlines the offering and acceptance of a proposed project/job/service. That does not mean you have the expertise to make sure that every avenue is covered for both you and the client. That is where a lawyer comes into play....

    So if you are fine with the possibility of problems with clients and legal issues down the road, then write up a simple contract that just says...I am giving you X for Y price for Z terms....

    If you want all your bases and asses covered, then go talk to a lawyer....
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