Sales Contract Template for Consultancy Businesses (UK 2025)
Last updated: February 2025
Why Consultancy Businesses Need a Sales Contract
Consultancy sales contracts formalise major advisory engagements such as strategic reviews, due diligence mandates, or transformation programmes where the scale and complexity justify a formal contract beyond a standard engagement letter. These must address the phased delivery of advisory work, the commercial sensitivity of the engagement itself, and the professional liability implications of high-value advisory mandates where the consultant's recommendations may influence significant business decisions.
Key Clauses for Consultancy
- Phased delivery schedule with interim reporting milestones
- Enhanced confidentiality for commercially sensitive engagements
- Professional liability provisions appropriate to the engagement value
- Fee structure covering core advisory work, expenses, and disbursements
Common Mistakes
- Not including enhanced confidentiality provisions for the existence and nature of the engagement itself, which may be market-sensitive
- Failing to set professional liability caps proportionate to the engagement value and potential exposure from acting on the advice
Template Sections
- Phased delivery and reporting schedule
- Enhanced engagement confidentiality provisions
- Professional liability and insurance provisions
FAQ
When does a consultancy engagement need a formal sales contract rather than an engagement letter?
A formal sales contract is appropriate for engagements above a significant value threshold, typically twenty-five to fifty thousand pounds, for work with significant professional liability exposure such as due diligence or regulatory advice, for multi-phase engagements spanning several months, or when the client's procurement team requires a formal contract with specific commercial and legal provisions.
How should a consultancy sales contract handle the confidentiality of the engagement itself?
For commercially sensitive engagements such as M&A due diligence or strategic reviews, include provisions protecting the existence of the engagement, not just the information shared. Specify that neither party may disclose that the engagement is taking place, use code names for the project in communications, and limit knowledge of the engagement to named individuals.
Generate this contract in 60 seconds
AccountsOS generates customised, UK-compliant sales contracts. From £10/month.
Get Started FreeThis is guidance for UK businesses, not legal advice. Templates are illustrative. Consult a solicitor for complex matters.
View all templates