What should I ask for during contract negotiations?

The other person was responsible for sending a contract and they did, but what changes are worth requesting before I sign?

ARTICLE SUMMARY

Answer

The best requests during contract negotiations depend on your business goals and the risks involved. In general, businesses often negotiate terms that affect costs, responsibilities, flexibility, and potential liability.

Rather than asking for changes to every provision, focus on the terms that could have the biggest impact on your business if the relationship does not go as planned.

Which business terms are commonly negotiated?

Many negotiations focus on making the agreement more practical and predictable.

Common requests include:

Lower fees or better pricing.
More favorable payment terms.
Clearer scope of work or deliverables.
Realistic deadlines and performance expectations.
Shorter contract terms.
Greater flexibility to modify services as needs change.

These changes can help reduce misunderstandings and improve day-to-day business operations.

Which risk-related terms should you consider discussing?

Many businesses negotiate provisions that affect their legal and financial exposure.

Common requests include:

Stronger termination or cancellation rights.
Limits on liability and damages.
Narrower indemnification obligations.
Changes to automatic renewal provisions.
Clear ownership of intellectual property or work product.
More balanced dispute resolution procedures.

The goal is often to create a more balanced agreement that fairly allocates risk between the parties.

What to do next…

Identify the contract terms that create the most concern for your business.
Prioritize the changes that would have the greatest impact.
Prepare clear business reasons for each requested revision.
Review the final agreement carefully to confirm all negotiated changes were included.

What to consider in your specific situation

The type of contract and the nature of the business relationship.
The financial value and duration of the agreement.
The specific risks your business is assuming.
Industry standards and customary contract provisions.
Your negotiating leverage and available alternatives.
The potential impact if the relationship ends or a dispute occurs.

Since every situation is different, consider getting more information through Rocket Copilot or an attorney review to move forward more confidently.

Explore more about negotiating contracts and deciding whether to sign

Explore more about when and how to negotiate

Knowing when to push back on an agreement is just as critical as knowing how to secure favorable terms. These questions explain the best times to initiate a contract negotiation, which clauses are most commonly negotiated, and how to ask for what you need without damaging important business relationships.