I met with a SCORE representative the other day and he suggested putting our terms and conditions on the website so our agreement could be pared down and reference the "Terms and Conditions."

Does anyone do something similar to this? I don't want to have an agreement that scares off clients because it is three pages long!

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Cassi
More Time Virtual Assistance, LLC What could you do with More Time?

Was he suggesting you put the terms and conditions on the website so that your agreement isn't so long? I think my agreement is several pages long and I think that it gives the impression that I'm a serious & professional business owner. I've heard others say that before as well. I provide a copy of the agreement to client as a PDF file either via email or on a CD, not only to save paper but to make it easily accessible electronically.

I also wonder if the terms and conditions are as binding if they aren't in the actual agreement but instead are just referenced to the website.

Personally, I'm more likely to read terms and conditions if they are in my agreement than to go the extra step of looking it up on someone's website. But that's just me.

Thanks for posting this, I'll be interested to see what others think about this.

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Kimberly
Facebook Marketing Magic!

I don't think posting the T & C on the site *instead of* your regular agreement/contract would be a good idea but adding a few bits of info from your agreement that might enhance your website info isn't a bad idea.
I know some VAs list their payment terms, rush policies, and similar...that would certainly be OK but shouldn't be referenced as complete terms by any means, especially if you have three solid pages of the same that a client must sign before contracting with you.

I'm really curious too what others will say on this one...

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I think that would be way too much information. I think the important things like packages offered, ways to make payment - such as retainer or hourly is enough. I would hate for someone to make a decision on your services based on their "interpretation" of your terms", without even consulting with you. Many do that based on information your website.

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

Cassi, I think it might depend on the kind of job. A long-term or retainer client should get your full contract, but maybe you can have an abbreviated, more casual contract or letter of agreement for one-off jobs.
I'm pretty sure that Terms and Conditions located on your website and referenced in your contract won't work.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

I do have a Terms of Agreement page on my website which clearly states that "...these are some of the policies currently in place." and that all clients will have a signed contract in order for work to begin.

I personally think that this is just the basics of handling payment, what's expected from both parties, privacy policy and so forth. You can check it out if you like.

Hope this helps,

Thanks to everyone for your input. I believe the SCORE rep felt that a prospective client of a small job would feel that it wouldn't be worth his/her time to read a three page agreement and that they wouldn't sign anything they haven't read.

Kimberly: I feel that way too, that my agreement gives the "impression that I'm a serious & professional business owner." The SCORE rep was going to review my ongoing services agreement and my project agreement and get back to me. He seemed to think they were far too long - at THREE pages!

Mary: I think he was thinking something similar to what you said: "A long-term or retainer client should get your full contract, but maybe you can have an abbreviated, more casual contract or letter of agreement for one-off jobs." This was something I hadn't considered, but maybe it makes sense.

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Cassi
More Time Virtual Assistance, LLC What could you do with More Time?

I understand the SCORE rep's intentions, but not his logic. He recommends having your terms and conditions on your website and referencing them in the contract rather than actually wording it in the contract, because it makes your contract too long and people won't read it.

OK, if someone is too lazy to read a piece of paper that is sitting in front of them what makes him think that instead they would rather go to their computer, find your website and read the terms and conditions there?

Here's the thing: If you have your terms and conditions in the contract and the client signs it then you both are legally bound by those terms and conditions. However, if you only reference the "terms and conditions as listed on my website", then they are bound by those terms as well, which you could change at any time. This would be a "no go" for me, if I were the client why would I agree to this? That would mean I am legally bound to terms and conditions that could change at any moment and I don't know what the changes are going to be, unless I am constantly checking your website. To me, this is a shady practice and it would immediately send up red flags (think if your credit card companies).

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Adding to what I said above, I don't think it is a bad thing to have your terms and conditions listed on your website, as a frame of reference. I just think that they should be in the contract as well, to be signed separately, so that the terms are clearly set forth for the client.

If you ever do change your terms and conditions you can either do an Addendum to the existing contract or have the client sign a new contract, this way the client is clear as to what changes were made and they acknowledge them.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

I think Rebecka makes some very good points.

I do have two different service agreements, one is for retainer/hourly clients and the other is for project based. Both are equally long since many of the same policies and terms apply.

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Kimberly
Facebook Marketing Magic!