Corporate & Business Law · European Union
Get Terms of Business That Protect You in Every Sale
Your terms of business are the contract that governs every invoice you issue — yet many companies trade on terms that were never properly drafted, are unenforceable, or quietly apply the wrong country’s law. We match you, free of charge, with a commercial lawyer who drafts and reviews standard terms across Europe, so your payment, liability and dispute terms actually bind your customers.
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- Commercial lawyers across the EU & EEA
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Who this is for
Your terms are the silent contract behind every transaction — until a payment is disputed
Terms of business are the standard conditions that govern the goods or services you supply, setting out price, payment, delivery, liability, intellectual property and dispute resolution for every sale. They are the backbone of how you get paid and where your risk ends, yet many businesses adopt them once and never review them again, or borrow a template that was drafted for a different legal system. The consequences only surface when a customer disputes an invoice, a delivery goes wrong or a claim exceeds what you can absorb. In particular, how terms are incorporated into a contract, which clauses a court will enforce against a consumer or a smaller business, and how far liability can be limited all vary significantly across Europe. Well-drafted terms are not a formality — they are your first line of defence.
Why your terms let you down
Terms that were never tested
are terms that may not protect you.
Incorporation gaps, unenforceable liability caps and the wrong governing law quietly strip away the protection you think you have.
Terms that never became part of the contract
To bind your customer, your terms must be properly incorporated — usually before or at the point of sale. If only mentioned on an invoice or buried on a website, a court may find they never applied at all.
Unenforceable liability clauses
A limitation of liability that is too broad, or that offends mandatory consumer or competition rules, can be struck down entirely. The result is exposure to losses you believed you had excluded years ago.
The wrong governing law
Terms drafted under one country’s law can behave very differently in another — different rules on interest, limitation periods and unfair terms. Trading across borders with a domestic template can leave you relying on clauses a foreign court will not uphold.
What you get
Terms of business drafted for your market and your model
We only match you with commercial lawyers who regularly draft and review standard trading terms in your sector and country.
Proper incorporation
Your lawyer ensures the terms are actually incorporated into every contract — at the right point in the sales process — so they bind your customers rather than sitting unenforced on a website or invoice.
Enforceable liability protection
Limitation of liability, exclusions and indemnities are drafted within the bounds local law will uphold, so they survive a challenge instead of being struck down when you need them.
Payment & late-payment terms
Payment deadlines, interest on overdue invoices and recovery rights are aligned with local rules, so you are paid on time and have a clear, enforceable route to collect what you are owed.
Cross-border alignment
Trading into several countries? Your lawyer aligns governing law, jurisdiction and mandatory rules so one coherent set of terms works across your markets, rather than a patchwork that fails abroad.
Coverage
Terms of business lawyers across Europe
The enforceability of standard terms — especially against consumers and smaller businesses — and the rules on liability and late payment differ by country. The right lawyer drafts for your specific market. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Terms of business — common questions
What are terms of business and why do I need them?
They are the standard contractual conditions governing every sale you make, covering price, payment, delivery, liability, intellectual property and dispute resolution. They set clear expectations, protect you from unallocated risk and give you enforceable remedies when a customer fails to pay or a claim exceeds what you can absorb.
How do I make sure my terms are incorporated?
They must be brought to the customer’s attention and accepted at or before the contract is formed — typically on the order form, quote or website checkout, not merely printed on a later invoice. The exact requirements vary by country, and a lawyer can ensure your process actually binds the customer.
Can I limit my liability in my terms?
In most countries you can, within limits. Clauses excluding liability for death, personal injury or fraud are generally void, and limitations against consumers or smaller businesses face extra scrutiny under unfair-terms rules. A lawyer can draft a limitation that is strong but still enforceable.
Do I need different terms for consumers and businesses?
Usually yes. Consumer contracts are subject to mandatory protective rules that do not apply to business-to-business deals, and a clause that is valid against one may be void against the other. Running two aligned sets of terms is common and avoids an unenforceable one-size-fits-all approach.
What governing law should my terms use?
It depends on where your customers are and where you want to litigate. The governing law shapes how interest, limitation periods and unfair-terms rules apply, so the choice has real consequences. A lawyer can advise which law and forum give you the strongest practical protection.
How often should I review my terms of business?
Whenever your offering, pricing, supply chain or target markets change — and periodically to keep pace with legal changes in the countries where you trade. A review catches clauses that have become unenforceable and gaps that have opened up as your business has evolved.
Free case review
Make sure your terms actually protect you
Tell us what you sell and where you trade, and we’ll connect you with a commercial lawyer who drafts terms of business for your market — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.