There’s nothing better than the moment you come to an agreement with someone to do business together. You do everything you can to make sure the deal goes off without a hitch, including memorializing all of the details in a contract. A contract is the culmination of hours and hours of arduous negotiations, so it’s important that it is meticulously checked for errors. Are you wondering whether contract typos and grammatical errors can really hurt you?
Read on to learn just how much they can cost you and your business!
They Hurt Your Credibility
Building client relationships is one of the most important aspects of a business. In the beginning stages of the relationship, any little thing can cause harm. This can be anything from a small typo to a glaring error in the contract that you send over for them to sign.
What kind of harm? The client might delay the signing of the contract to have their business attorney go over the contract to make sure it’s what you agreed upon. In worst-case scenarios, the client might back out of the contract altogether.
Unless you have years of experience with a particular customer or client, it’s important to make sure that the contract you send over is free from typos and grammatical errors.
They Can Change the Terms of the Contract
If you enter into a contract, you and the other party are bound to the terms of that contract. If you and the party both sign a contract with typos, then you are both bound to the terms of the contract, typos and all.
What does this look like in practice? A contract was supposed to read “Business A shall not be held responsible for damages,” but the contract has a typo and actually reads “Business A shall be held responsible for damages.” That means that, in a court of law, Business A would be forced to pay damages should they occur.
They Can Cost You a Lot of Money
In the legal world, something as small as a comma, or lack thereof, can be the difference between winning and losing in court.
This can happen in a number of different ways. As we mentioned above, a typo in the dollar value of the contract might mean you lose out on potential income or you have to pay out more than you had planned. A typo that leads to damages can cost thousands in legal fees and, if the other party prevails, you may have to pay their damages.
Worried About Contract Typos and Grammatical Errors?
Contract typos and grammatical errors can mean the difference between a successful business deal and an extremely expensive mistake. At the very least, a few typos will do some damage to your professional reputation. When a major deal is on the line, you should always triple check your contract and have an experienced attorney look it over before signing.
Are you looking for an attorney to represent your Florida business in everything from contract negotiations to incorporation? Look no further. Contact Boyer Law Firm today to learn how we help your business succeed.
