Business Templates

Below is a range of useful templates for small and medium sized businesses prepared by leading industry experts. Included is a an employment contract and contractors agreement, business plan, finance application, sale of business agreement, business purchase review checklist, business purchase tax checklist and work communications policy.

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Employment Contract

It’s important that employment contracts protect your business and your staff. An employment contract cannot provide for less than the legal minimum set out in the National Employment Standards (NES) awards, enterprise agreements or other registered agreements that may apply. This comprehensive employment agreement was prepared by Andreyev Lawyers and last updated by Louise Russo, Principal Lawyer, in July 2025 (phone 1300 654 590). This document is a sample agreement containing the essential clauses that need to be included, plus supporting comments under each clause.

Contractor Agreement

The most important issue for a business when engaging a contractor is to ensure that there is a genuine independent contract relationship and that the arrangement is not really an employment relationship by another name. To this end, an agreement should be entered into with the contractor setting out the terms and conditions of the arrangement. This comprehensive contractor agreement was prepared by Andreyev Lawyers and last updated by Louise Russo, Principal Lawyer, in July 2025 (phone 1300 654 590). The document is a sample agreement containing the essential clauses that need to be included, plus supporting comments under each clause.

Business Purchase Tax Checklist

In the process of buying a business, the purchaser should conduct a due diligence review to establish that they are buying what they believe they are buying. The review identifies areas of risk and contingent liabilities that the business may have and to factor these risks in the purchase price. When buying a business, or the company that conducts a business, there are many tax issues that the purchaser needs to consider prior to the contract being signed. In most cases a purchaser acquires the assets of the business unless there are significant commercial reasons for buying the company (e.g. contractual obligations that cannot be assigned). Purchasing the assets of the business nullifies the risk of assuming the company’s liabilities, some of which may not be known or readily identifiable. This checklist was updated in July 2025 by Peter Bembrick, tax consulting partner, at HLB Mann Judd (phone 02 9020 4000). It includes a comprehensive due diligence review, together with valued added commentary, of the major income tax, GST, structuring, capital gains tax, payroll tax, workcover, stamp duty and other tax issues associated with the purchase of either the assets of a business or the shares in a private company that operates the business.

Business Purchase Review Checklist

Due diligence is the process of verifying the information about the business, as provided by the seller, is correct and accurate. Due diligence is, in almost all sales, a condition of the buyer’s offer. The business conditions must meet the buyer’s expectations before the deal is finally closed. If there are any problems uncovered, this is the time they must be addressed. A due diligence checklist should cover several aspects of the prospective business, including financial documents, legal issues, operations, employee relations, as well as all assets, products and customer data. This document contains a comprehensive checklist of the important issues that need to be considered when evaluating the purchase of a business, including personal factors, choice of structure, funding requirements, physical and industry requirements, marketing, staff, insurance, recordkeeping, and income tax & GST registrations.

Business Succession Planning Checklist

When you decide to leave the business, your succession planning will help you successfully transfer your business to your successor (s). If you develop a good succession plan, you can transition out of your business more easily. You can start your succession planning years ahead of time, which helps you meet your future needs. It will also help your successor prepare for their present and future work responsibilities. Review your plan regularly. As time passes your circumstances may change and an up-to-date succession plan will ensure you're always ready in the event you need to leave earlier than anticipated. This document examines some of the important issues that need to be considered in the succession planning process and includes a succession planning template with relevant headings and supporting comments.