THE BRIEF
We're about to sign a 2-year cleaning services contract for our warehouse. It's 11 pages. I need to know what we're actually agreeing to before my CFO signs it Friday.
Scenario: Operations lead at a 40-person logistics firm, signing a janitorial services contract
Package: Vendor contract plain-English summary · $45 · 2 hrs
Read it twice. Then read it like the other side wrote it to get you. Here's what I found.
THE DEAL IN FIVE LINES
- 24 months, $6,850 a month, 5 nights a week, one warehouse and one office floor.
- Price goes up 4% each year automatically (Section 3.4). Not 3% like the proposal said.
- You can cancel for convenience with 90 days' notice, but only after month 12.
- They can subcontract without telling you (Section 7.1).
- Renews for another 24 months unless you cancel 60 days before the end (Section 2.2).
RISK MAP
| Color | Clause | What it says | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 2.2 Auto-renewal | Renews for 24 months, 60-day notice window | Miss one date and you're locked in until 2030. Put it on a calendar today. |
| Pink | 3.4 Price escalator | 4% annual increase | Proposal said 3%. Ask them to match the proposal. |
| Pink | 7.1 Subcontracting | Vendor may subcontract any services | Strangers in your warehouse at night. Ask for written notice and the same background checks. |
| Pink | 9.2 Liability cap | Vendor liability capped at one month's fees | $6,850 doesn't cover one damaged pallet of electronics. |
| Yellow | 5.3 Supplies | You supply paper goods and trash liners | Budget roughly $400 a month you didn't plan for. |
| Yellow | 11.4 Venue | Disputes go to courts in their county | Inconvenient, not unusual. |
- Color
- Red
- Clause
- 2.2 Auto-renewal
- What it says
- Renews for 24 months, 60-day notice window
- Why it matters
- Miss one date and you're locked in until 2030. Put it on a calendar today.
- Color
- Pink
- Clause
- 3.4 Price escalator
- What it says
- 4% annual increase
- Why it matters
- Proposal said 3%. Ask them to match the proposal.
- Color
- Pink
- Clause
- 7.1 Subcontracting
- What it says
- Vendor may subcontract any services
- Why it matters
- Strangers in your warehouse at night. Ask for written notice and the same background checks.
- Color
- Pink
- Clause
- 9.2 Liability cap
- What it says
- Vendor liability capped at one month's fees
- Why it matters
- $6,850 doesn't cover one damaged pallet of electronics.
- Color
- Yellow
- Clause
- 5.3 Supplies
- What it says
- You supply paper goods and trash liners
- Why it matters
- Budget roughly $400 a month you didn't plan for.
- Color
- Yellow
- Clause
- 11.4 Venue
- What it says
- Disputes go to courts in their county
- Why it matters
- Inconvenient, not unusual.
DEFINED TERMS
14 defined terms. "Premises" excludes the loading dock. If you want the dock cleaned, it has to be added in Exhibit A.
FOUND NOTHING SCARY IN
Insurance (Section 8). They carry $2M general liability and name you as additional insured. That's normal and fine.
Not legal advice. Take the red and pink items to counsel before Friday.
Delivered early. Checked twice. — Derek
