Small Business Legal Services

Commercial Property Leases & Employee Contracts for Small Businesses

Taking on a commercial lease or hiring your first employees are two of the most significant legal commitments a small business makes. We help you understand what you are signing — and protect your business before problems arise.

Fixed fee options. Plain English. SRA-regulated solicitors. Acting nationally from Chester.

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Commercial Property Leases

Lease Services & Pricing

All fees are indicative and exclude VAT at 20%. Your written quote will confirm exact costs before any work begins. Disbursements (Land Registry, search fees) are additional where applicable.

ServiceOur Fee
Lease review & report (tenant)From £900 + VAT
Lease negotiation (tenant)From £1,500 + VAT
Lease assignment (taking over existing lease)From £1,200 + VAT
Lease renewal (Landlord & Tenant Act 1954)From £1,500 + VAT
Lease surrenderFrom £900 + VAT
Licence to alter / subletFrom £600 + VAT

Key Issues We Check in Every Commercial Lease

Lease length & break clauses

Are you locked in for longer than you need? We negotiate break clauses to give you flexibility.

Repairing obligations

Full repairing leases can be very expensive. We advise on the scope and negotiate limits where possible.

Schedule of condition

Protects you from dilapidations claims at the end of the lease. We always recommend agreeing one.

Assignment & subletting

Can you transfer the lease if you need to move or sell the business? We check the restrictions.

Rent review provisions

How and when can the rent be increased? We explain the mechanism and negotiate fairer terms.

Use restrictions

Is the permitted use wide enough for your business? We check and negotiate to avoid future problems.

Employment Contracts

Employment Contract Services & Pricing

All fees exclude VAT at 20%. Your written quote will confirm exact costs before any work begins.

ServiceOur Fee
Employment contract (single employee)From £300 + VAT
Employment contract suite (up to 5 employees)From £900 + VAT
Employee handbookFrom £1,500 + VAT
Contractor / freelancer agreementFrom £300 + VAT
Settlement agreement (employer)From £600 + VAT
Employment contract reviewFrom £300 + VAT

Need employment law advice as well as contracts? Our employment law team advises small businesses on disciplinary procedures, redundancy, settlement agreements, and employment tribunal defence. See our employment law services →

Plain-English Answers

Small Business Legal Questions Answered

Do I need a solicitor to review a commercial lease?
You are not legally required to use a solicitor, but it is strongly advisable. Commercial leases are complex legal documents — often 30–100 pages — and contain obligations that can be very costly if you do not understand them before signing. Key issues include: the length of the lease and break clauses, rent review provisions, repairing obligations (which can be extensive), service charge provisions, restrictions on use and assignment, and what happens at the end of the lease. A solicitor will identify the risks and negotiate better terms where possible.
What is a break clause and why does it matter?
A break clause gives you (or the landlord) the right to end the lease early at a specified date, subject to giving notice. For a small business, a break clause is important because it gives you flexibility if your business grows, shrinks, or needs to move. Without a break clause, you are committed to the full lease term — which could be 5, 10, or 25 years. We always advise clients to negotiate for a break clause if one is not already included.
What are repairing obligations in a commercial lease?
Repairing obligations set out what you are responsible for maintaining and repairing during the lease. A "full repairing and insuring" (FRI) lease makes the tenant responsible for all repairs — including the structure and exterior of the building — regardless of its condition when you took it on. This can be very expensive. We advise on the scope of repairing obligations and negotiate to limit them where possible, including by agreeing a schedule of condition at the start of the lease.
What is a schedule of condition?
A schedule of condition is a photographic and written record of the state of the property at the start of the lease. It is attached to the lease and limits your repairing obligations — you only have to return the property in the same condition as recorded in the schedule, not in a better condition. Without a schedule of condition, you could face a large dilapidations claim at the end of the lease. We strongly recommend agreeing a schedule of condition for any commercial lease.
Do I legally need written employment contracts?
Yes. Since April 2020, all employees and workers are entitled to a written statement of particulars from day one of employment. This must include key terms such as pay, hours, holiday entitlement, and notice periods. However, a basic written statement is not the same as a comprehensive employment contract. A well-drafted contract protects your business by including provisions on confidentiality, intellectual property, restrictive covenants, and disciplinary procedures.
What should an employment contract include for a small business?
A good employment contract for a small business should include: job title and description, pay and benefits, hours of work, holiday entitlement, notice periods, probationary period, confidentiality obligations, intellectual property assignment, post-termination restrictions (if appropriate), disciplinary and grievance procedures, and data protection provisions. We draft contracts that are legally compliant and practical for small businesses.
What is a restrictive covenant in an employment contract?
A restrictive covenant is a clause that restricts what an employee can do after they leave your business — for example, preventing them from working for a competitor, poaching your clients, or soliciting your staff for a specified period. Restrictive covenants are only enforceable if they are reasonable in scope and duration. We draft covenants that are tailored to your business and more likely to be enforceable.
Can I use a template employment contract from the internet?
You can, but it carries risks. Generic templates may not reflect current employment law, may not be appropriate for your specific business, and may contain provisions that are unenforceable or that expose you to liability. A bespoke contract drafted by a solicitor costs more upfront but can save significant cost and disruption if an employment dispute arises. We offer fixed fee contracts starting from £300 + VAT.

Get Advice for Your Business Today

Call us or send an enquiry. We will advise you on your options and confirm costs in writing before any work begins.

Commercial Lease EnquiryEmployment Law Enquiry