How much does a lawyer charge to review a contract in Ontario?
Written by For Founders Law, a Toronto firm licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. About us
Short answer
At For Founders Law, a contract review starts at $400 plus HST, for one agreement up to 15 pages, with plain-language notes on the terms that matter, suggested changes and a call to walk you through them. Longer agreements, agreements with schedules and negotiating with the other side can change the fee, which is agreed in writing before work starts.
Most contracts a startup signs were drafted by the other side: a customer’s procurement terms, a vendor’s order form, a partner’s agreement or a landlord’s lease. Here is what we charge to review one, what the review covers, and what changes the price.
What does the starting price include?
| Work | Starting fixed fee | What the starting price includes | What can change the price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract review | From $400 | Review of one agreement up to 15 pages; plain-language notes on the terms that matter; suggested changes; a call to walk you through them | Agreements over 15 pages or with schedules; negotiating with the other side |
| NDA | From $300 | A mutual or one-way NDA, or a review of theirs, with one round of revisions | Negotiating with the other side |
| Brand deal contract | From $440 | Review or draft of one sponsorship or brand deal, with usage rights and payment terms checked | Negotiating on your behalf |
All fees are in Canadian dollars and exclude HST. Your scope and fixed fee are agreed in writing before we begin. Current prices are always on our fees page.
Are there government fees?
No. Reviewing a contract involves no government filing, so there’s no government fee. If the review turns up work that does need a filing, such as a trademark application, we tell you the government fee when we quote that work.
What changes the price?
- Length and schedules. The starting price covers one agreement up to 15 pages. Longer agreements, or ones with schedules such as a service level agreement or a data processing addendum, take more time to review.
- Negotiating with the other side. The starting price covers the review, the notes and the suggested changes. If you want us to negotiate them, we quote that before starting.
Your fee is fixed and agreed in writing before we start the review. See how our fixed fees work.
What do you look for in a review?
The terms that decide what happens when something goes wrong: how liability is limited, who indemnifies whom, how the contract ends or renews, who owns the IP, and how data is handled. See what is a limitation of liability clause? and what is an indemnity clause?. For a quick read of a single clause first, try Loop explains a clause.
Should I have my own contract instead?
If customers keep sending you their paper, it can make sense to have your own. A SaaS or master services agreement starts at $920 plus HST and includes an order form template. See what is the difference between an MSA and a statement of work? For other startup work, see how much does a startup lawyer cost in Toronto?
How fast is the work done?
Most work is delivered within three business days. A negotiation moves at the pace the other side sets.
This guide is general information about Ontario and Canadian law, not legal advice for your situation. To get a contract reviewed, book a free 15-minute consult.