Stafford Solicitors, Frisby & Co is set to provide free business health checks to local businesses.

David Bayliss, a solicitor in the Commercial and Private client department of the Eastgate Street company said “This new initiative could not have come at a better time for businesses operating in today’s tough economic climate.  We want to help to ensure that both our existing and new clients have the best possible foundations to tackle the challenges they currently face.” 

David, who recently joined the company and specialises in corporate / commercial law and commercial property said “It is surprising how many businesses have no standard terms of trade to protect their interests. Such terms can deal with important issues such as payment and what happens if the customer does not pay, delivery times and limits on the business’s liability to the customer.”

David went on to say “I  have known of  instances where businesses think they are trading on their own terms but they are not.  This can be because, unknown to them, the terms do not form part of the contract with the customer or the customer’s terms take priority.  This can lead the business open to financial liabilities or bad debts that could be fatal to their survival”.

The health check also includes areas such as employment contracts and policies, how the business is set up and possible alternatives such as going limited as well as property related matters such as leases.

David added “After an initial consultation, the business is then in a position to decide whether they wish to seek further assistance and advice to gain a clean bill of health”.