Guides
Get the handshake in writing
Plain-English guides and ready-to-sign templates for everyday, low-risk deals between two people. Each one ends in a 60-second builder — describe the deal, review it together, e-sign, and keep a signed copy.
Lending money & IOUs
Lend to a friend or family without the awkwardness — or the risk to the friendship.
- Lending money to a friend? Put it in writing.Start hereA clear, friendly agreement protects the money and the friendship — and takes the awkwardness out of asking for it back.
- Free IOU template — write one in 60 secondsAn IOU is the simplest written record of a debt: who owes whom, how much, and by when. Make one both people sign — not just a scribble on a napkin.
- Loan agreement template for a friendWhen the amount or the timeline is bigger than a one-line IOU, a short loan agreement spells out repayment so everyone’s on the same page.
- Borrowing money from family — a simple contractFamily loans get tangled when expectations are unspoken. A short, kind agreement keeps the money clear and the relationship intact.
- Repayment agreement between two peopleWhen someone already owes you, a repayment agreement turns "I’ll get it to you" into a concrete plan you both signed.
- IOU vs loan agreement vs promissory note — which do you need?Three names, one job: putting a debt in writing. Here’s the plain-English difference and how to pick.
- I lent my best friend $800 — here’s what saved the friendshipThe problem is almost never the money. It’s that nothing was written down — so two honest people remember two different deals.
- "I’ll pay you back next week" — and it’s been four monthsWhen "next week" becomes four months, the missing piece is usually a shared, written record — not a tougher conversation.
Freelance & gigs
Pin down scope, payment, and revisions before the work starts.
- Simple freelance contract — without the legaleseStart hereThe three things that cause every freelance dispute — scope, payment, and revisions — handled in plain English before the work starts.
- Logo & brand design contractLogo projects live and die on revision rounds and final files. Set both before you open the canvas.
- Website design contract for freelancersWeb projects stall on missing client content and creeping scope. A clear agreement keeps the build — and the invoices — on schedule.
- Photography contract template (free)Shoot date, number of edited images, turnaround, and usage rights — agreed before the shutter clicks.
- Social media & content creator contractPosts per month, approval process, and payment — clear from day one, so "more content" doesn’t quietly become unpaid work.
- Why freelancers should put scope, payment & revisions in writingThree problems eat freelancers alive — scope creep, late payment, and endless revisions. One short agreement prevents all three.
Selling used items
Sold it online? Get the price, condition, and handover in writing before the meetup.
- Bill of sale — for selling anything secondhandStart hereA bill of sale is the simple record that protects both sides of a private sale: what sold, for how much, in what condition, sold "as-is."
- How to write a bill of sale for a bikeA bike bill of sale records the serial number, condition, and price — proof of the sale for the seller and proof of ownership for the buyer.
- Bill of sale for a used cameraCameras carry details that matter — serial number, shutter count, what’s included. Get them on the record before the sale.
- Bill of sale for a used laptop or phoneFor electronics, the record should cover the serial/IMEI and that accounts and locks are removed — the things that cause real headaches.
- Simple vehicle bill of sale (low-value)For a scooter, trailer, or low-value used vehicle, a clear bill of sale records the VIN, odometer, and "as-is" terms.
- "As-is" sale agreement, explained"As-is" means the buyer accepts the item in its current condition. Here’s how to record it so the sale is clean and final.
- Selling on Facebook Marketplace? Do this before the meetupChat screenshots aren’t a record. Before you meet a Marketplace buyer, turn the deal into a one-page agreement you both sign.
Splitting costs
Trips, deposits, and shared bills — agree who pays what, and what happens if plans change.
- Splitting costs with someone? Agree it in writing.Start hereSplit apps track who owes who. They don’t capture what you agreed would happen if someone cancels, pays late, or drops out. This does.
- Splitting a trip cost — a simple agreementOne person fronts the deposit, then someone backs out. Agree the cancellation terms before you book — not after.
- Roommate shared-costs & deposit agreementRent and bills are the easy part. The deposit — who paid what, and how it comes back when someone moves out — is where roommates fall out.
- Group gift or event cost splitOne person buys the gift or books the venue and fronts the cost. A quick agreement makes sure everyone’s share actually lands.
Getting a deal in writing
When a handshake is enough, when it isn’t, and how to do it without a lawyer.
- When you need a deal in writing — and when you don’tStart hereNot every deal needs paperwork — and a few need a lawyer. Here’s how to tell which is which, honestly.
- A simple agreement between two peopleWhatever the deal — a loan, a gig, a sale, a split — describe it in plain words and we’ll turn it into something you both can sign.
- How to get a deal in writing without a lawyerFor everyday deals, you don’t need a lawyer or a $35 template site. You need clear terms, in plain English, that you both sign.
- Is a verbal agreement legally binding?Often, yes — a verbal deal can count. The problem is never whether it’s binding; it’s proving what was actually said.
- Handshake agreements: when they’re fine, when they’re notA handshake is a promise, not a record. Here’s how to keep the trust a handshake represents — and the proof it doesn’t.
- A DocuSign alternative for simple, one-off agreementsDocuSign is excellent at signing documents. But what if you don’t have a document yet — just a deal you agreed?
- A Rocket Lawyer alternative for small, low-risk dealsLegal-template services are powerful — and can feel like overkill for a $200 loan or a one-off gig. Here’s the lighter option.
- Splitwise vs a written cost-split agreementSplitwise is great at "who owes who." It just doesn’t capture "what we agreed would happen if plans change."