A vague contract is how good projects turn into disputes. You do not need to be a lawyer to demand clarity.
Non-negotiables
- IP assignment: source code you pay for is yours.
- Accounts: cloud, domains, and repos under your organization.
- Deliverables: what “done” means for each phase or sprint.
- Access: continuous repository and staging access.
- Confidentiality and data handling for customer information.
Delivery and money
- Sprint or milestone cadence with demo expectations.
- Payment tied to accepted work, not only calendar time.
- Change-control process that does not reset the whole deal.
- Exit clause: what you keep if you pause or stop.
Quality clauses worth asking for
- Tests for critical paths included by default.
- Documentation and handover checklist on exit.
- Named lead / escalation contact.
ConaiSoft contracts around clear sprints, ownership that stays with you, and demos you can accept or reject — ask for the same standard everywhere.