Tips for Negotiating with a Vendor

When engaging a vendor, here are some do's and don'ts:

DO:

- insist on starting from your own standard contract

- be familiar with your standard contract terms

- understand your business objectives

- check for existing agreements

- consider the total cost of the deal

- engage an attorney as soon as possible

DON'T:

- start any work before the contract is in place

- attach the vendor's entire proposal

- take a "one-size-fits-all" mentality

- think of contracts as just a formality - content matters!