Signing away your freedom to grow

A while back, I had a call with a client who was ready to scale their business.

They were looking into new tools, and new platforms, and generally shaking things up to grow.

Everything was looking great—until they took a closer look at their SaaS contract.

One clause caught their attention: a restrictive covenant that essentially stopped them from working with a competitor.

In other words, if they wanted to try a new, better platform or tool, their hands were tied.

They were stuck with the existing vendor, no matter what better options came along.

This issue was a major roadblock for them.

They came to me to help get rid of these kinds of restrictions in future contracts so they could scale without fear of being trapped.

But before we could do that, we had a couple of challenges in place:

(1) The restrictive covenant in their current SaaS contract meant that they couldn’t switch to a competitor’s platform even if a more efficient solution was available.

Their business was growing, but they were forced to stick with tools that no longer served their evolving needs.

(2) The client was also concerned about employee non-solicit provisions.

While the restrictive covenant seemed unnecessary, they didn’t want to risk a vendor poaching their top talent.

So, we needed to balance flexibility with protection.

(3) Every time they wanted to try something new, they had to navigate a minefield of legal red tape.

The restrictions in their contract were slowing down their ability to grow, making them less competitive.

The whole situation felt like dragging an anchor when they needed to be moving full speed ahead.

We knew the restrictive covenants had to go. So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

Here's what we mainly focused on.

(1) Removing Restrictive Covenants for Freedom:

We went through their SaaS contracts and worked to remove any restrictive covenants that tied them down.

This included clauses that prevented them from working with competing platforms.

In their new agreements, we ensured that they maintained the flexibility to pivot and explore new solutions as their business grew.

We specifically targeted "non-compete" clauses, making sure they could work with other vendors.

Or even competitors without any legal restrictions holding them back.

(2) Keeping Employee Non-Solicit Provisions Intact:

While we removed the unnecessary restrictive covenants, we preserved the employee non-solicit provisions.

These clauses prevented the SaaS provider from poaching their team.

This way, the client could protect their talent while still gaining the freedom to explore better software options.

(3) Building Flexibility Into Future Contracts:

In every future contract, we ensured that the terms allowed the client to switch vendors, try out new platforms, and adapt their tools as the business evolved.

We also made sure that any restrictive clauses were balanced—protecting the business without holding it back.

We focused on drafting terms that granted flexibility in partnerships, so the client could pivot when necessary without being locked into long-term commitments with underperforming vendors.

By removing these restrictive covenants and adding flexibility to their contracts, the client finally had the freedom to grow.

They were no longer stuck with tools that didn’t fit. They could explore better platforms without legal headaches or barriers.

The chains were off, and they were free to scale at their own pace.

At the same time, they kept their talent protected. The employee non-solicit provisions stayed in place, so there was no risk of losing key team members to vendors.

The end result? A perfect balance: freedom to adapt and grow without fear, while keeping their core business secure.

Now, they can confidently choose the best solutions for their business without being tied down to outdated tools or restrictive clauses.

Never let such restrictions hold you back. Because a contract's job is to protect you, not limit your ability to grow.

Hidden restrictions like these can put a stop to your business expansion plans, preventing you from using better tools or switching to more efficient vendors.

So always read the fine print, and make sure your contracts allow you the flexibility to scale when your business needs it most.

Take a close look at the contracts you’ve signed.

Are there restrictive clauses that could limit your growth or force you to stick with vendors you’ve outgrown?

If so, it’s time to renegotiate or update those agreements to protect your flexibility and future growth.

If you need my help with any of this, just reply "UPDATE" and I will send you ways we can work together.