For many small supply and manufacturing businesses, securing a contract with a major retailer or distributor is a significant commercial milestone. It can mean volume, credibility and growth. However, it often comes with a non-negotiable “standard form” agreement that shifts disproportionate risk onto the smaller party. Under Australia’s unfair contract terms (UCT) framework, certain terms [...]
During 2026, Rankin Business Lawyers will be presenting a series of articles providing guidance on what to do when preparing a business for sale. To kick off, this month we cover sales readiness and vendor due diligence, and steps that can be taken to build trust before going to market. Sale Readiness and Vendor [...]
If you’ve ever been involved in a legal dispute, you’ve probably seen the words “without prejudice” stamped across a document, letter or email. But what does it actually mean? In simple terms, “without prejudice” protects settlement discussions from being used against you in court. It creates a safe space for negotiation, so you can make [...]
Why This Issue Hits Home for Every Entrepreneur Running a business—whether you’re a solo operator or leading a small-to-medium team—means making thousands of decisions and managing endless moving parts. Yet one area many entrepreneurs overlook is also one of the simplest to fix: having clear, written Terms and Conditions (T&Cs). Maybe you’ve been there: a [...]