As the year winds down, business owners everywhere start scrambling to organize receipts, update their books, and find last-minute tax deductions before December 31st hits. But while you might be thinking about software renewals, new gear, and business expenses to write off, there’s one category most people overlook: legal contract templates.
And here’s the thing: if you’ve been meaning to finally get your business legally protected, there’s never been a better time to do it! Not only will the right templates safeguard your business heading into the new year, but you can also legally write them off as a business expense before tax season.
So before you hit “checkout” on your Black Friday deals or year-end investments, let’s talk about why legal contracts are one of the smartest purchases you can make for your business before 2026.
Can You Legally Write Off Contract Templates for Your Business?
Bestie, do you really think I would tell you to do something that’s illegal?! HECK NO. So yes, you can legally write off contract templates for your business and here’s why:
Legal contract templates fall under the category of ordinary and necessary business expenses, according to the IRS. That means if you purchase contract templates that help you operate your business legally and protect your income, you can deduct them on your taxes just like you would with your website hosting, software subscriptions, or business insurance.
Think of it this way: if you can’t run your business without it, it’s likely deductible.
Purchasing legal contract templates, especially ones tailored to your industry, helps you stay compliant, professional, and protected. That’s a legitimate business need, and therefore, a legitimate business expense.
If you’re ever unsure about your write-offs, you can always confirm with your accountant or bookkeeper, but for most online business owners, coaches, and service providers, these templates are a perfectly valid write-off.
And the best part is that you’re not just getting a tax deduction, you’re also investing in legal peace of mind that carries into 2026 and beyond.
What Legal Agreements To Buy Before 2026
Now that you know that you can legally write off legal contract templates for your business, you might be wondering which ones you should buy before 2026 and the short answer is this: buy the ones that you’ve been procrastinating setting up for your business!
There’s truly no better time to buy the contracts that you’ve been meaninggg to implement for your business for sometime now, but have been putting off for way too long.
This list will look different for everyone, but for the sake of this blog post, I’ll list a few foundational contracts that every online business needs, regardless of your niche or the types of services or products you sell.
And remember: these contracts aren’t just “nice-to-haves.” They’re what make your business legally legit and help you avoid expensive mistakes later on!
Here’s what should be at the top of your list before the year ends (if you don’t have them already):
Client Services Agreement
This is the backbone of your business and sets the expectations with your clients around payment terms, timelines, revisions, cancellations, and your refund policy. If you plan to book new clients in 2026, make sure this agreement is squared away NOW!
Independent Contractor Agreement
If you’re planning to outsource work in the new year (like hiring a VA, designer, or podcast editor), you need a contract that clearly defines the working relationship, protects your intellectual property, and ensures contractors can’t claim employee status later.
(And if you happen to be operating as an independent contractor and need a contract for *your* clients, this one’s for you!)
Website Protection Legal Bundle (Privacy Policy and Terms of Use)
If your website doesn’t already include these, you’re technically operating out of compliance, which is a HUGE no-no that could lead to major issues for you. The good news though is that they’re both incredibly easy to implement and this website protection bundle makes it even easier for you.
Overall, these policies protect you from legal liability, outline how you handle visitor data, and build trust with your audience.
Digital Product or Course Terms of Purchase
If you’re selling online products or education, like courses, memberships, etc. you need a contract that spells out refund terms, access rights, and copyright protections. Otherwise, you could end up dealing with chargebacks or people misusing your content.
Affiliate Agreement (if you plan to launch an affiliate program)
Many business owners start the new year with big growth plans, including affiliate programs or collaborations and while that’s awesome, you need to do so legally! An affiliate agreement protects you and your partners by clarifying commission structures, marketing rules, and FTC disclosure requirements.
Group Coaching or Membership Agreement
Lastly, if you run group programs, masterminds, or memberships, this one’s essential. It covers participant conduct, payment terms, and the limits of your liability (which is especially important when working with multiple clients at once).
Why an Online Business Contract Bundle Might Be The Best Choice
If you’re looking at this list and thinking, “Okay… that’s a lot,” don’t worry, you’re not alone.
One of the biggest mistakes online business owners make is trying to piecemeal their legal protection. They buy one contract when something goes wrong, another when they launch a new offer, and another when they hire help. It adds up fast, both in cost and in stress.
That’s exactly why I created the Chief Legal Officer Suite – an all-in-one online business contract bundle designed especially for creative entrepreneurs.
Instead of purchasing contracts a la carte, the Suite gives you a complete set of done-for-you, lawyer-drafted legal templates that cover nearly every scenario in your business, from onboarding clients to protecting your website to selling digital offers.
Here’s what this bundle really means for you:
✔️ You’ll save money. Bundles are often a better value than purchasing individual templates (and if you buy before year-end, you can write off the entire bundle).
✔️ You’ll stay consistent. Every contract in the Suite is written by the same attorney, which means all your agreements align in language and structure.
✔️ You’ll be prepared for growth. As your business evolves, you’ll already have what you need to expand legally and won’t have to worry about scrambling later.
✔️ You’ll gain peace of mind. With the CLO suite, you can head into 2026 knowing your business is fully protected – all you’ve gotta do is actually implement the contracts included!
When you look at it that way, purchasing a contract bundle before the year ends isn’t just about a tax deduction, it’s about setting yourself up for a legally confident new year.
So, if you’ve been putting off a lot of your legal to-do’s, NOW is the time to do it and it’s never been easier to do so. With the Chief Legal Officer Suite, you get over 40 contract templates that have been professionally written and are easy to personalize so that your entire business is protected from end to end! 👏🏼
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, AMBER GILORMO – ATTORNEY AND FOUNDER OF THE BOUTIQUE LAWYER
Amber Gilormo is the cool lawyer behind The Boutique Lawyer – a one-stop contract template shop for creative entrepreneurs, online business owners, coaches, and service providers.
From client agreements to digital product terms and everything in between, our lawyer-drafted templates take the guesswork out of staying legally protected online (no legal jargon required).
Here’s how you can stay connected:
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