Make Sure Your Sleep Consultant Contract Has These Five Parts
A significant part of your sleep consultancy business is your contract. This is the agreement that you and your clients enter into before you provide any services. It is meant to be a guide to ensure both parties receive what they expect from each other.
Your contract is also a useful tool for developing your business. You can set guidelines for what you will accept from clients and what boundaries you want to set.
Use this article to develop your sleep consultant contract to ensure you are fully protected. Here are five essential elements to include.
Clear Descriptions of Your Services
Your contract should start with an overview of the services you provide. Describe what is included in the contract and how your client will know that it has been fulfilled. This could include information about how you will meet with them (virtually or in person), how often you will meet, and how long you will both work together.
This part of the contract can also outline policies for communicating with you. For example, if your client agrees to four virtual consultations in a month but texts you constantly in between each call, you are doing extra work without getting paid. You could avoid this by stating in your contract how often clients can reach you and through which channels.
These descriptions are designed to protect you if your client says you did not offer sleep consultations or help as you said you would. You can turn to the contract to highlight your obligations and how you met them.
Details About Payment
Your contract should clearly state your rates, including what your client will pay you and when. Many consultants learn that more details are better when it comes to discussing payment, especially when a client won’t pay you. Here are a few payment aspects to clarify in your contract:
The amount your client should pay for specific services.
How your client should pay you.
When your client should pay you.
Any penalties for missing or delayed payments.
For example, a poor contract would say a sleep consultant will receive $500 for their services. A clear contract would cover $500 for a set number of hourly consultations per month. It would also explain that if payment isn’t made by the fifth of the month, a 10% late fee is added.
This clarity prevents your clients from taking advantage of you. It also ensures your client gets the services they paid for after agreeing to your terms.
Cancellation and Refund Policies
While many of your clients will complete their contracts, some might cancel your services or ask for their money back. Your contract can protect you when this happens. It should cover when you will provide refunds or accept cancellations and when clients still need to pay you for your services.
For example, someone who is trying to take advantage of you might receive several consultations and then claim they didn’t help while demanding a refund. This can be uncomfortable for new sleep consultants who are trying their best. When this happens, turn to the terms of your contract. If your client agreed to a no-refund policy after services are performed, you are protected.
Approval for Usage on Your Website and Social Media
If you plan to market your sleep consultancy on a website and across social media, consider asking your clients for approval to be featured. You can develop a social media policy that you include in your contract and seek approval from clients. While reading your contract, your clients can agree to have their stories featured and photos shared or decline this option.
You can also clarify that clients can revoke their social media consent if they choose. However, with client consent, you can share stories and testimonials from clients who have improved their family sleep habits with your help. These testimonials can be invaluable for attracting other families to your business.
Agreements By All Parties
End your contract with signatures from everyone involved. You can look into services like DocuSign and Jotform to formally ensure each party signs it.
A contract is not legally binding unless both parties agree to it. It’s up to your client to read each section of the contract and understand it before signing the document. You may decide to walk your clients through your contract before they sign it to confirm they understand what each section needs.
Work With Mentors to Develop Your Sleep Consultant Contract
You don’t have to be a legal expert to develop a sleep consultant contract. Instead, you can use existing templates online, contact a lawyer to develop one for you, or meet with coaches who can guide you through the contract creation process. There are plenty of resources out there to make building a contract easier.
If you are interested in sleep coaching or mentorship, contact Sweet Sleep Academy. You can work with dozens of other women who are growing in the same career field as you. This is a great opportunity to network while building your sleep consultancy business. Get started today and watch your business thrive.
