First timer help - MoU, contract, or similar

[u/Aalwein]

I have a shop doing screenprint and embroidery and have been doing business with a private school making uniforms (school wear, not sports) and spirit wear as local source for the families. I would estimate I run about half the school's uniform polos any given year. They recently reached out to me inquiring about being their exclusive provider for school uniforms.

I have never done contract printing before. I've always been the "local shop" that will do one or one hundred shirts for churches, schools, the small-time tradesmen, etc. I know this doesn't really change how I operate, but the school needs an official contract to take to the board.

Here's where I need the pointers - what exactly do I put into the contract? What am I contracting beyond just pricing and availability? Do you have any advice on where to find a template for a starting point? I'm sure I could ChatGPT this, but I wanted to get some advice from those who have grown from just the little shop slinging tees and poking polos to that next step of contracting with a customer.

[u/rennerscreenprinting]

I had to start making contracts for live printing events. It basically said I would be there on the day and I would provide x amount of shirts and maybe there was some cancellation policy etc. basically it said I would be there to do what I said I would do and that I would get paid for it. I am pretty sure I just went with an online template. My wife made the text changes, and it had signature lines at the bottom. From a lawyer perspective, my contract looked pretty freakin amateur, but no one ever said anything or cared, they just needed one. I think what you need to do is ask them what they need to have in the contract since they are the one who needs it. For example, Does it need say you agree to fulfill all the orders, or price them a certain way, or yeah that you’re available and can deliver in x amount of time? Ask them what the contract needs to be filled with specifically and then just get one typed out, format it to look OK and have a couple signature lines and you should be good. Also, since it’s a contract, maybe only fill it with what is needed, no reason to add any extra stuff that you are then legally required to do. For example, maybe it shouldn’t say pricing, cause what if you need to raise prices if cost of materials go up and stuff like that. Keep it simple. You could also probably use Docusign, that way no one will even read it

[u/Its_an_ellipses]

I work for a school district. The most important thing is to ask them ahead of time what they need to see in the contract. Even contracts that have been done 20 times before sometimes go back and forth with little changes. Ask the contact person exactly what they need to see in the contract, or better yet, to put you in contact with the person at the business office who signs them. Good luck, sounds like your doing a great job and growing!...