Vendor Contracts

I am looking for ideas,experiences and any helpful knowledge about contracts used by those of you selling work in a business. I would like to approach a local business and "look" like I know what I am doing Also those who don't use a formal contract -can you share what you do use?

We don't use one, but know folks who do. What I can offer from their experiences is not the kind of thing that will endear you with a prospective vendor. Make sure that your contract spells out what services they will perform and includes a withdrawal clause for you if they don't perform. Also make the contracts renewable annually. Avoid at all costs tying up your work with a vendor in such a way that they own your soul. Negotiations about rates should include tradeoffs in services provided, rather than simple percentages. If they want more than you're willing to give at first pass, spell out more services for them to provide for the higher rate they want.

Don't let those points scare you off, because I know of really fruitful and benficial vendor relationships. But go into them with your eyes wide open.

Hank,
Thank you very much. Maybe I should modify the question to cover your points.

I have run a business for some years. I'm not selling photos, but I do sell other products and I believe that the same rules apply. The one piece of advice I can give is to hire an attorney to create your contract, and not to do it yourself. It shouldn't cost that much, and it's probably the most important document your business will have. I've seen too many "homemade" contracts fall apart when things got messy. Just my two cents.