Forms & Contracts: A to Z

You may want to start your own business, but aren't sure exactly where to start. For this reason, it can be helpful to see sample documents that may be applicable to your business, such as billing dispute letters, due diligence checklists, or a list of common contractual terms. Please remember that the documents below are general samples meant to help guide you in creating your own documents.

• Before Beginning the Valuation Process: List of questions that a valuator may ask in order to appraise a business.
• Billing Dispute Letter: Sample letter to provide written notice of a billing error.
• Broker Listing Agreement: A sample broker listing agreement.
• Business Balance Sheet: Provides information generally included in a business's balance sheet.
• Business Deductions Checklist: List of common business expenses that can be deducted.
• Business Information Questionnaire when Closing Business: Information to provide to your attorney when closing a business.
• Choosing a Business Location: Checklist for information to consider when deciding where to open your business.
• Choosing a Domain Name: Checklist to assist you in choosing a business name to provide a strong Internet presence.
• Choosing a Facility: Checklist to help determine if a building is a good fit for your business.
• Collection of Accounts: A checklist to help you in collecting from customers on credit.
• Completing an Asset Sale: Sample checklist of documents and other items for the sale of business assets.
• Confidential Business Purchase Information Questionnaire: Information to provide to your attorney to prepare for purchasing an existing business.
• Confidential Business Start-Up Information Questionnaire: Information to provide to your attorney when preparing to start a business.
• Confidential IPO Information Questionnaire: Questions to address when meeting with a securities lawyer prior to launching an initial public offering.
• Contract Terms Checklist: Common provisions to include or consider in a business contract.
• Debt Collection Documents: Sample demand letters to collect an outstanding debt.
• Debts to Pay First Checklist: Information to help prioritize your debts.
• Disclosure and the Internet Checklist: Steps to take to reduce the legal risks when distributing company news online.
• Dissolution and Winding Up Checklist: General procedure for dissolving and winding up a corporation.
• Document Your Invention: A checklist for documenting your invention.
• Documents to Bring to Your Attorney: A list of documents to provide to your attorney in the event of a lawsuit.
• Documents to Show Your Bankruptcy Attorney: Checklist of documents to provide to your attorney to assist him or her in determining if you should file for bankruptcy.
• Due Diligence Checklist - Purchasing a Business : Information and documents to review before purchasing a business.
• Due Diligence Checklist - Going Public: General information and documents to produce to assist in the due diligence investigation of an underwriter.
• Due Diligence Checklist - Being Acquired: Documents that an acquirer will want to review.
• Establishing a Website: Checklist of basic procedural information and hints for establishing a business website.
• Estimate of Start-Up Costs: Worksheet of common business costs.
• Federal Consumer Credit Laws Checklist: List of the main federal laws that apply to companies that extend credit to consumers.
• Franchise Agreement Questionnaire: Questions to consider before entering into a franchise agreement.
• Intake Questionnaire - Adversary Bankruptcy Proceeding: Information to provide to your attorney during your first meeting to prepare for adversary bankruptcy proceeding.
• Intake Questionnaire - Bankruptcy Lists: Document to help collect information about your company in preparation to file for bankruptcy.
• Loan Package Documents and Information: Checklist of documents and information to include when seeking a loan.
• Making an Insurance Claim: Checklist to help organize and justify an insurance claim.
• Marketing Strategy Questionnaire: A guide to help develop a marketing plan or strategy.
• Merging with Another Business - Questions for Intermediaries: List of questions to ask a prospective intermediary.
• Minimize Business Risks and Losses: Checklist help implement a risk management and loss prevention program.
• Notice and Articles of Dissolution: Sample forms for Notice and Articles of Dissolution.
• Operating Budget: Sample operating budget with common expenses and overhead costs when operating a business.
• Personal Financial Statement - Starting a Business: Sample statement to provide to lenders when seeking business financing.
• Personal Information Questionnaire - Hiring a Lawyer for Business Litigation: Information to provide to your attorney during your initial meeting.
• Planning an Effective Annual Meeting: A checklist to plan an effective annual meeting.
• Profit and Loss Statement: Sample of information that is generally tracked in the profit and loss statement of a business.
• Reading a Balance Sheet: Sample balance sheet with definitions and descriptions of key elements of a balance sheet.
• Representations and Warranties: List of common representations and warranties that may be asked of a business.
• Settlement and Distribution of Assets Checklist: List of items to include in your plan for settling and distributing business assets.
• Software License Agreement Provisions: Sample provisions to guide you in creating your own agreement.
• Start-Up Loan Application: Information needed when seeking a loan for start-up financing.
• Trademark Registration: Questions to Ask: Questions to help prepare for filing for a trademark.
• Trademark Search Questionnaire: Identifies the information required to conduct a proper search for a trademark, trade name, or service mark.
• User-Friendly Annual Report Questionnaire: Questions to help determine if your annual report satisfies the interests of shareholders and analysts.

Note: This A to Z list doesn't contain all the forms and contracts available on FindLaw. You can also find a collection of real-life business contracts, as well as variety of legal forms.

For more information and resources related to this topic, you can visit FindLaw's Business Contracts and Forms section.

Learn More About Business Forms and Contracts from an Attorney

There are many considerations involved in the development of forms and contracts your business needs. If you have questions or concerns about any of the forms and contracts on this list, or about starting, operating, or closing your business, you should consult with a contracts attorney in your area.