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 [...]
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 [...]
It is both good practice and prudent risk management to prepare and use a shareholders agreement for shareholders in proprietary limited companies. They can operate as a “rule book” for shareholders and also separate their private arrangements from the company constitution. A shareholders agreement should (subject to applicable legislation): define the rights and obligations of [...]
