Developing An Application For An Important Client?

1 year ago I didn't know I would have this opportunity.

To have leads in my DMs and to be able to help them with their contracts.

Just recently, I was approached by an app agency.

An agency that was tasked to develop a health application for their client.

But before they could do it, a contract had to be signed.

And before the contract could be signed, we had to solve some issues:

(1) The agency wanted us to clearly outline the scope of the project, including the features and functionalities of the health application.

We had to specify deliverables and milestones to ensure both parties had aligned expectations.

(2) The agency owner was also concerned about the ownership of the developed software and any associated intellectual property.

We had to clarify who owned the code and other assets created during the project to prevent future disputes.

(3) The agency wanted a clear payment structure, including rates, payment schedules, and milestones.

The agency wanted to avoid disputes over payments and ensure the client adhered to the agreed-upon payment plan.

(4) The agency wanted to protect the sensitive information, especially given the health-related nature of the application.

We had to include confidentiality clauses to protect proprietary information and have data security protocols.

(5) The agency wanted to define the scope and terms of after-development support, including maintenance, updates, and bug fixes.

Because clarifying the duration and extent of support services will ensure their client knows what to expect post-launch.

We had the issues at our hands.

The only thing that was left was to draft the contract.

And draft the contract we did by focusing on the 5 points!

(1) Clear Scope and Deliverables:

We drafted a detailed project scope within the contract, specifying all features, functionalities, and requirements of the health application.

We also included a timeline with defined milestones and deliverables to track progress and ensure timely completion.

(2) Intellectual Property Rights:

We included clauses that clearly stated the ownership of the software, specifying that the client would own the final product while the agency retained ownership of any proprietary tools or libraries used in development.

We also added provisions for transferring intellectual property rights upon full payment.

(3) Payment Terms and Milestones:

We also defined the payment structure, including upfront deposits, milestone-based payments, and final payment upon project completion.

We established clear invoicing procedures and deadlines to ensure timely payments from the client.

(4) Confidentiality and Data Security:

We drafted confidentiality clauses requiring both parties to protect sensitive information and data related to the project.

We included data security protocols to ensure the application complied with relevant health data protection regulations, such as HIPAA.

(5) After-Development Support:

We outlined the scope of after-development support, specifying the types of maintenance and updates included, such as bug fixes, performance improvements, and minor feature enhancements.

We also defined the duration of the support period and any associated costs for extended support services.

Once we drafted the contract, we had a couple of things going for us now:

(1) The contract ensured that the project scope, deliverables, and payment terms were well-defined.

(2) The confidentiality and data security clauses protected the sensitive information of the client.

(3) The after-development support section provided clarity on the post-launch services, allowing the agency to upsell.

All this was done by focusing on the 5 earlier points.

Developing the contract becomes easier once you figure out the issues that could happen.

Or just by talking to the founders in detail.

Because most of you might have faced problems in the past when working with your clients.

And a good contract normally solves everything.

Now if you need my help with the contract, I got you.

Reply to this email with "CONTRACT" and I will send you details on how we can work together.

Talk to you soon!

-- Akhil Mishra