If you are an individual or your company is planning to enter into a cooperation with other parties, you will need a cooperation agreement. Cooperation agreement can be useful to describe the scope of cooperation and the rights and obligation of each party.

This Agreement generally write downs the scope of work, timeline of the project, and the terms of payment for the services. Whether you are a developer or a business owner that needs the developer’s expertise to create software/ website for your business, having software development agreement is a safe choice.

Common points to be included in software development agreement:

• The developer’s scope of work and timeline of the project including each milestone that must be achieved in certain time
• Contract period
• Details on the service fee and payment terms
• Ownership of the intellectual property

As a website or software application owner, you want the user to follow how the site works during their access/ use of your site. Terms and conditions can cover the ground rules for the users when they access/ use your site. When the users violate the rules, you have the legal basis to take action and restrict their use to your site.

Common points in terms and conditions:

• Guideline of using your site including the features for the users
• Do’s and dont’s for the users when they access/ use your site
• Limitation of liability for you as the website or software application owner

When you hire an employee, be it a time-based employee or permanent employee, ensure that you have a binding agreement with your employee to regulate the terms and conditions during the employment. This agreement shall cover employee’s benefits, employee’s job description, also the rights and obligations of both company and employee.

Important clauses to be included in an employment agreement:

• Salary and benefits for the employee
• Employment period
• Cause of termination
• Confidentiality clause to protect your company’s confidential information
• Non-competition clause as the preventive action prevent your employee from using company’s information to compete against you after the employee leaves your company

If you are considering to expand your business by offering a franchise or if you are exploring the business opportunity as a franchisee, then a franchise agreement is what you need to secure your business deal.

Franchise agreement shall at least have:

• Terms of royalty-fee
• Rights and obligations of both franchisor and franchisee
• Do’s and dont’s of the franchisee
• Confidentiality clause to protect your company’s confidential information
• Non-competition clause as the preventive action prevent your employee from using company’s information to compete against you after the employee leaves your company

Before you run a business with your partner, you need to make a baseline that governs your relationship and responsibilities of both of you and your partner. Founders Agreement can be helpful to stipulate how your business relationship works between co-founders and provide clear lines of each role, including the capital contribution of the founders.

Why have a founders agreement?

• Define the roles and responsibilities of each founder
• Provide a clear structure when dispute happens
• Clarify the terms if one of the founders decides to exit or when a new founder enters the business