The Contract You've Been Using May Not Protect You the Way You Think It Does

Every small business runs on agreements. The question is whether yours would hold up when it matters — in a payment dispute, a vendor conflict, or a court filing. I draft and review business contracts for small business owners across Florida, with 30 years of Florida Bar experience and flat-fee pricing so you know the cost before we start.

What a Business Contract Attorney Actually Does for You

Most small business owners either pull a template from the internet or sign whatever the other party sends over. Both approaches carry real risk. A template service agreement may be missing limitation-of-liability language, indemnification terms, or dispute resolution provisions that a court needs to see before enforcing it. And the "standard" agreement the other party emailed you? It was written by their attorney to favor them.

 

I review and draft contracts with one goal: making sure the agreement reflects your interests, not theirs.

Hands signing a document at a table with a pen.

Contract Types I Handle for Small Businesses

I work with small business owners across Florida on the contracts they encounter most — from the agreements they send to clients to the ones they're asked to sign before a deal closes.

Service Agreements

A service agreement is the backbone of most client relationships, and it's the document most likely to be tested in a dispute. I draft service agreements that clearly define scope, payment terms, limitation-of-liability protection, and what happens when things go wrong. If you've been using a self-drafted version or a downloaded template, having it reviewed is worth the flat fee.

Independent Contractor Agreements

Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor is one of the more expensive mistakes a small business can make. A properly drafted independent contractor agreement establishes the nature of the relationship, protects your business from classification exposure, and sets clear expectations on deliverables, payment, and confidentiality.

Non-Disclosure and Non-Compete Agreements

Florida's non-compete statute — F.S. 542.335 — is employer-favorable, but only when the agreement is drafted with the right enforceable provisions. A non-compete that's too broad, too vague, or missing required elements may be unenforceable at exactly the moment you need it. I draft NDAs and non-competes that are specific enough to hold up and narrow enough to survive a challenge.

Vendor and Supply Agreements

Vendor contracts routinely include indemnification clauses, limitation-of-liability caps, and dispute resolution terms that shift significant risk to the signer. "Standard" language is a phrase vendors use to discourage you from reading closely. I review vendor and supply agreements so you understand what you're agreeing to before you sign it.

Two Ways to Work With Me on Contracts

There is no such thing as a neutral contract — every agreement was written by someone with a point of view. The question is whether yours was written by someone working for you.

 

I offer contract work in two forms. For business owners who have a specific document to review or draft, I handle it as a flat-fee engagement — one document, one fee, no billable hours. For owners who need ongoing contract support as agreements arise, contract review and negotiation are included in my general counsel service. If you're regularly sending or signing contracts, ongoing counsel is often the more practical structure.

Why Small Business Owners in Tampa Bay Work With Me

I studied business before I studied law, and I've spent 30 years working exclusively with small businesses — not personal injury cases, not corporate litigation, not commodity transactions. I understand the decisions business owners are weighing when they ask me to review a contract, and I give them a straight answer, not a hedge.

 

  • 30 years of Florida Bar experience focused on small business law
  • Flat-fee pricing published openly — no hourly billing, no surprises
  • Dozens of five-star Google reviews from Florida small business owners
  • Remote-friendly practice serving clients across the Tampa Bay region and statewide
  • Sole practitioner — you work directly with me, not a paralegal or junior associate

Serving Small Business Owners Across the Tampa Bay Region

My office is located in Brandon, and I work with business owners throughout eastern Hillsborough County and the broader Tampa Bay area. If you're in Riverview, Valrico, Temple Terrace, Apollo Beach, or Sun City Center, I serve clients in your area regularly. For business owners outside the immediate region, my practice is fully remote-capable — Florida clients anywhere in the state can work with me without ever coming into the office.

Common Questions About Business Contracts in Florida

  • Can a contract be verbal in Florida?

    Yes — verbal contracts can be legally binding in Florida for many types of agreements. The problem is enforcement. When a dispute arises, you're left arguing about what was said rather than what was written. For any business relationship that involves money, scope, or ongoing obligations, a written agreement is the only version that gives you a reliable foundation in court.

  • What makes a contract unenforceable?

    Florida courts have found contracts unenforceable for a range of reasons: lack of mutual consideration, vague or missing terms, agreements that violate public policy, and contracts signed under duress or misrepresentation. Template contracts are particularly vulnerable because they're often missing the specific provisions a court needs to see — limitation-of-liability language, clear scope definitions, and dispute resolution terms among them.

  • What is an indemnification clause and why does it matter?

    An indemnification clause determines which party absorbs the cost of a loss — legal fees, damages, third-party claims — when something goes wrong. Vendor and service agreements frequently include indemnification language that shifts significant liability to the signer. Most business owners don't notice it until they're already in a dispute. I flag these clauses in every contract review and explain exactly what you'd be agreeing to.

  • What should a service agreement include?

    At minimum: a clear description of the services being provided, payment terms and what triggers payment, a limitation-of-liability provision capping your exposure, language addressing what happens if either party terminates early, and a dispute resolution clause specifying where and how disputes will be handled. Agreements that are missing any of these are gaps the other party can exploit.

  • What's the difference between a contract review and ongoing contract counsel?

    A contract review is a flat-fee engagement for a single document — you bring me one agreement, I review it, flag the issues, and give you a plain-language summary of what it means and what to push back on. Ongoing contract counsel is part of my general counsel service, which covers contract review and negotiation as agreements arise throughout the year. If you're regularly sending or signing contracts, the general counsel structure is usually the more practical and cost-effective approach.

Ready to Have Your Contracts Reviewed by an Attorney Who Works for You?

If you've been sending out agreements you've never had reviewed, or you're about to sign something the other party called "standard," the time to get a second set of eyes on it is before you sign — not after the dispute starts. Flat-fee pricing means you know the cost upfront. Schedule a consultation and we'll start there.