itsadeal.ai exists for a specific slice of life: everyday, low-risk deals between two people who basically trust each other. Knowing where that line sits — on both sides — is the most useful thing we can tell you.
When a handshake is genuinely fine
Tiny, instant, low-stakes exchanges between people you trust don’t need a document. Spotting a friend $20 for lunch, splitting a coffee run, lending a book — write that down and you’ll look a little odd. Use judgment: if the amount is small and the deal is done in minutes, a handshake is fine.
When to get it in writing
The moment a deal has a future — a repayment date, a deliverable, a condition, a "we’ll sort it later" — a short written record earns its keep. Good candidates:
- Lending money to a friend or family member. → Friend loan agreement
- A freelance gig with scope, payment, and revisions. → Freelance contract
- Selling something used, where condition and "as-is" matter. → Bill of sale
- Splitting a cost with cancellation risk. → Shared-cost agreement
The test: would two honest people remember this the same way in six months? If there’s any doubt, write it down.
When to call a professional (not us)
Some deals are out of scope for a plain-English drafting helper, and we’ll always tell you so. Talk to a qualified professional for:
- Real estate, employment, or anything regulated.
- Large sums where the downside is serious.
- Anything involving a dispute that’s already heated, or that needs legal advice.
itsadeal.ai is a drafting helper, not a law firm — and using the right tool for the size of the deal is exactly the point.