Pillar 1 of 6
Customer Contracts
& Project Risks
Are your client agreements actually protecting you?
You work hard to land clients and deliver great work. But if your contracts aren't doing their job, you're building your business on a foundation that can collapse the moment one client pushes back.
Most business owners assume their contracts are fine—until they're not. And by then, it's too late to fix them.
The Blind Spot
The most expensive legal problems in business don't start with lawsuits. They start with a vague scope, a missing payment clause, or a handshake deal with a longtime client you trusted.
Every week, business owners across California and Utah sign agreements, or skip them entirely, that leave them completely exposed. Not because they're careless. Because nobody ever showed them what a strong contract actually looks like.
That's what Pillar 1 is built to fix.
Real Scenario
Real scenario: A tech consulting firm landed a $270,000 project. The contract, found online years earlier, had no liability cap, no change order process, and no termination clause. When the client changed scope repeatedly and then refused to pay, they countersued for $1.68 million. The firm spent 18 months and over $200,000 in legal fees on a case that a proper contract would have prevented.
What This Pillar Covers
Pillar 1 examines every way your customer-facing agreements could leave you exposed. We assess:
Scope of work, pricing, and payment terms: Are they clear and enforceable?
Change order process: What happens when the client changes their mind mid-project?
Limitation of liability: Is there a cap on how much you can be sued for?
Dispute resolution: Do you know where and how a dispute would be handled?
Warranty provisions: Are you making promises your insurance can't back up?
Handshake deals and unreviewed templates: Are you operating on false security?
Project risk allocation: Who bears the cost if something unexpected happens?
Termination and exit provisions: What happens if either party wants out?
Indemnification and insurance alignment: Do your contracts match your coverage?
Contracts that support growth: Do your agreements scale with your business?
What You Get From This Assessment
WITHOUT this assessment
• Signing contracts that look fine but leave you exposed
• Absorbing scope creep with no documentation to back you up
• Unlimited liability on every project you deliver
• No leverage when a client refuses to pay
WITH a clean Pillar 1
•Contracts that define scope, payment, and liability with clarity
• A documented change order process that protects your margins
• A liability cap that limits your exposure on every job
• Clear payment terms and enforcement rights you can actually use
Watch the Video
Eric Jeppson walks you through Pillar 1 — what it covers, why it matters, and the most common contract mistakes he sees in growing businesses.
Your Next Step
The Pillar 1 Checklist is a 10-point self-assessment that shows you exactly where your customer contracts are strong and where they leave you exposed, and questions to ask your lawyer. Each item includes a plain-English explanation, a real-world scenario, and an action step you can take today.
Get the Pillar 1 Checklist
Know exactly where you stand on Customer Contracts & Project Risks. The Pillar 1 Checklist walks you through every critical item with plain-English explanations, real-world scenarios, and action steps you can take today.
Or book a free 15-minute Legal Health Review → jeppsonlaw.com