Contracts are meant to make things clear. But in the real world, they’re often the start of confusion, delays, and expensive disputes. I’ve worked with clients on everything from missed delivery deadlines to full-blown partnership breakdowns—and most of the time, the core issues were avoidable.

Here’s what I see go wrong most often, and how to deal with it when it does.

Vague Terms = Big Problems

One of the most common reasons contracts go sideways? Vague wording.

If your contract says something like “reasonable timeframe” or “industry standard quality”, you’re leaving it wide open for interpretation. And that’s exactly where disputes start.

What to do instead:

• Use clear timeframes—“14 days” instead of “ASAP”
• Define terms—don’t assume everyone shares your idea of “quality”
• Get legal eyes on any contract before it’s signed (yours or theirs)

Not Reading the Small Print (Seriously)

It sounds obvious, but a surprising number of businesses don’t properly read the entire contract. They skim, assume, or rely on a verbal agreement to fill in the gaps.

That’s how you end up with:

• Unfair termination clauses
• Hidden auto-renewals
• Penalties you didn’t agree to (but technically did)

📌 Tip: Create a contract review checklist so you always look at key clauses—payment terms, liability, dispute resolution, and cancellation rights.

Real Case: The “Handshake” Agreement That Didn’t Hold Up

One client agreed on a project verbally, followed by a short email summary. Work started. A dispute broke out over payment milestones—and when we tried to enforce the agreement, it wasn’t clear enough to rely on.

The other side denied there was a contract at all.

Lesson? Even if you trust the other party, put it in writing. Properly. With dates, responsibilities, and payment details spelled out.

What Happens When a Dispute Hits?

Here’s what I usually recommend:

1. Pause before reacting—don’t fire off angry emails.
2. Review the contract carefully—what does it actually say?
3. Document everything—conversations, delays, promises made.
4. Reach out—sometimes, a direct chat resolves it faster than lawyers.
5. If that fails, get legal advice early. The sooner, the better.

Mediation vs Litigation: Know Your Options

Not every dispute needs to end up in court. In fact, most shouldn’t.

Option	Pros	Cons
Mediation	Confidential, quicker, cheaper	Only works if both parties engage in good faith
Arbitration	Binding, flexible, private	Costs can add up, limited appeal rights
Litigation	Legally binding, appeals possible	Time-consuming, public, expensive

If there’s a dispute clause in your contract, it may already specify the route you have to take.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Most contract issues are fixable—if you catch them early. It’s when they’re left to fester that things blow up.

A lot of my work comes from contracts that were either DIY or downloaded from the internet. They might seem fine at first glance, but one missed clause or outdated term can cause real damage.

If you’re about to sign something, already stuck in a disagreement, or just want a sanity check on your contracts—I can help. Quick, clear advice to avoid a full-on mess later.