Web Development Agreement Contract

[pickeloe5]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

Hey, this is my first post on FreeAdvice, so sorry if I make any faux pas. Also, I realize that a business is usually not started by somebody of my age, especially one pertaining to web development, so please do not tell me "just wait 'till you're older," unless I'm not legally allowed to start a business.

My main question is this:

When entering an agreement with a client, how can I go about acquiring a contract to secure myself and the client?

Here are a few details that may be necessary for answering my question:

I am 16 years old.
I have done no paperwork to officially start my business.
These agreements will usually cost six to seven thousand dollars.
These agreements will usually take about 4-8 weeks.

If you need any more details, please let me know.

 

[adjusterjack]

Also, I realize that a business is usually not started by somebody of my age, especially one pertaining to web development, so please do not tell me "just wait 'till you're older," unless I'm not legally allowed to start a business.

There are no laws that actually prevent you from starting a business. The problem is that there are laws that, as a practical matter, might make it impossible for you to succeed in that business.

That's because contracts with minors are unenforceable if the minor chooses to disavow the contract.


Your problem will be that clients may be reluctant to pay you money for your services knowing that, as a minor, a contract with you is unenforceable.

When entering an agreement with a client, how can I go about acquiring a contract to secure myself and the client?

You can certainly create a contract that protects you from your client but nothing in that contract will protect your client from you if you decide to disavow it.

You might consider going to court and being emancipated. In Florida it's called Removing the Disability of Nonage and the procedure is addressed by statute 743.015:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0743/Sections/0743.015.html

If you are successful in getting your disability of nonage removed you would then be able to operate your business just as any adult would do.

 

[pickeloe5]

Thanks

Thanks for the response, that clears a lot of issues with me, but I still have a few questions:

Do I have to do any paperwork to register my business as a sole proprietorship, or can I just publish my website and begin taking clients?

If I write my own contract, how worried should I be about the other party finding ridiculous technicalities in my wording? Or should I just pay a lawyer to help me write the development agreement?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

Hey, this is my first post on FreeAdvice, so sorry if I make any faux pas. Also, I realize that a business is usually not started by somebody of my age, especially one pertaining to web development, so please do not tell me "just wait 'till you're older," unless I'm not legally allowed to start a business.

My main question is this:

When entering an agreement with a client, how can I go about acquiring a contract to secure myself and the client?

Here are a few details that may be necessary for answering my question:

I am 16 years old.
I have done no paperwork to officially start my business.
These agreements will usually cost six to seven thousand dollars.
These agreements will usually take about 4-8 weeks.

If you need any more details, please let me know.

The best way to enter any agreement with a client is to have a contract that is carefully drafted to meet your specific wants and needs, and wants and needs of your client, while ensuring all rights are protected. This often requires that you sit down with a business law attorney to help you create the contract.

It is important for you to realize that many adults will not want to sign a contract with a 16 year old. Although it is possible for you to enforce the terms of a contract at your age, it is not always so easy for an adult to enforce the terms of a contract that they have formed with a minor. You could benefit from having a trusted adult as a partner until you are 18.

You might want to look at "Starting a Business in Florida," a Florida Department of State website with information on starting a business in your state. Here is a link: http://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/research/florida-information/business/starting-a-business-in-florida/

Good luck, pickeloe5.


(as a note on the other poster's suggestion about emancipation - it won't happen)

 

[pickeloe5]

Thanks, both of you, a lot, for the responses. This has been extremely helpful, and a fantastic first experience on FreeAdvice. I'll be sure to come back here if I have any more questions.

 

[quincy]

Thanks, both of you, a lot, for the responses. This has been extremely helpful, and a fantastic first experience on FreeAdvice. I'll be sure to come back here if I have any more questions.

We both appreciate the thanks, pickloe5, and we both wish you good luck with your web development business. The forum is open 24/7 so feel free to return with any additional questions at any time.

 

[adjusterjack]

Thanks for the response, that clears a lot of issues with me,

Glad you had a chance to read it before it disappeared.

Do I have to do any paperwork to register my business as a sole proprietorship,

You'll probably have to register your business with the state. You can find out all about that on the Secretary of State's website.

should I just pay a lawyer to help me write the development agreement?

Yes. Pay a lawyer to draft your agreement. What you pay now may be only a fraction of what a mistake will cost you later.