Start with business exposure
A useful review starts with the terms that can cost money or create leverage: payment, acceptance, IP ownership, confidentiality, liability, termination, and dispute process.
- Confirm parties, document type, deadline, contract value, and signature authority.
- Extract the exact clause text before making a risk judgment.
- Separate business questions from legal questions that need counsel.
Flag the clauses that deserve attention
Most small business contracts contain standard-looking language. The risk appears when a standard clause gives one side broad discretion or removes a practical remedy.
- Payment after subjective acceptance can delay cash collection.
- IP assignment before full payment can transfer reusable work too early.
- Unlimited indemnity or no liability cap can exceed the contract value.
Decide the next step
The output should end with a decision: accept, negotiate, ask for clarification, or send the contract to a licensed attorney.
- Accept only after verifying the source clause in the original document.
- Negotiate missing dispute, acceptance, and background IP language.
- Escalate regulated, high-value, cross-border, employment, equity, or unusual agreements.