Home Blog Dropshipping Agreement Drafting: Key Terms, Drafting Process, Lawyer Help

Dropshipping Agreement Drafting: Key Terms, Drafting Process, Lawyer Help

Jump to Section

What is Dropshipping Agreement Drafting?

A dropshipping agreement is a legal contract between a dropshipper and a dropshipping supplier. How the dropshipping process works is that a customer will purchase goods from the dropshipper’s store and this order goes to the supplier, who ships it to the customer.

When drafting a dropshipping agreement, it needs to have clear, comprehensive terms. Here’s what to include in the contract and how a qualified lawyer can assist you with the drafting process.

What Key Terms Should You Include in a Dropshipping Agreement?

A dropshipping agreement should cover essential terms to govern the relationship between parties. These include:

  • Parties. Both parties included in the agreement must be listed, such as by providing their business name and the supplier’s registered details.
  • Products. This is a list of what products will be ordered and sold.
  • Fulfillment standards. The agreement must clarify order processing deadlines.
  • Tracking. This provides processes for how the store owner can track the delivery of their goods.
  • Platform. The agreement terms must align with the specific platform’s rules.
  • Pricing and fees. Besides pricing the goods, there are various fees involved, such as shipping costs and import duties.
  • Returns and refunds. If customers have to return goods, there should be clear processes for how this can be done and how refunds are paid.
  • Dispute resolution. If conflict arises, the agreement should be referred to for how it can be resolved, such as via mediation or arbitration.
  • Termination. You should explain how parties can end the contract earlier than expected and outline post-termination obligations for clarity.

What Additional Information Should You Specify in a Dropshipping Agreement?

After including key terms in your dropshipping agreement, there is additional information to include so that you prevent challenges and disputes between parties.

Explain the Order Fulfillment

How orders will be handled must be specified, down to details such as how orders are sent to the supplier, how fast shipping will occur, and what tracking info will be included. This will enhance trust between parties.

Outline all Costs

To avoid hidden or surprise costs, the agreement must specify exactly who will pay for shipping and if there are other fees involved. For example, which party will pay for refunds? Who will pay for restocking items and custom packaging?

Detail Payment Terms

The product wholesale prices must be stipulated in the agreement, along with payment schedules and methods. Since these prices can change over time, the dropshipping agreement must include advance notice requirements before price adjustments so parties remain on the same page.

If there are late payments, the agreement should clearly state what consequences apply, such as contract termination.

Explain the Refund Process

If goods are returned, your agreement must explain which party is responsible for dealing with returns and who will pay for return shipping. You should clarify how and when refunds are permitted, so that there’s no confusion.

Protect Branding Elements

How branding elements can be used during the agreement must be specified to protect brand interests and avoid disputes. Explain if and how the supplier can use branding materials, such as logos. The agreement must clearly state who owns product images and descriptions.

Maintain Quality Standards

It’s essential for dropshipping agreements to put down what performance standards should be met regarding order fulfillments, shipping timelines, and acceptable defect rates. When parties have these details, they’ll ensure they’ll align their expectations and prevent misunderstandings. This also keeps the agreement aligned with all regulatory compliance.

How Does a Lawyer Draft a Dropshipping Agreement?

A reputable lawyer can help you to draft a clear, specific dropshipping agreement so that it’s legal and protects both parties.

A lawyer will help you by:

  • Identifying both parties’ roles, such as who is responsible for customer support, product sourcing, and other activities.
  • Describing the products properly, such as with detailed descriptions.
  • Establishing payment terms, such as regarding wholesale prices, payment schedules, and tax responsibilities.
  • Explaining how orders can be submitted, confirmed, and shipped.
  • Considering aspects of the dropshipping agreement you might not have thought of, such as force majeure clauses to protect both parties’ interests.
  • Creating delivery and shipping terms so that parties understand their risks.
  • Protecting intellectual property (IP) rights. IP ownership and permitted use of IP, such as product images and marketing materials, must be outlined.
  • Complying with all laws and regulations to keep you compliant.
  • Reviewing your dropshipping agreement if you’ve already drafted it so that it’s fair to both parties and legally valid.

Where to Find a Lawyer for Dropshipping Agreement Drafting

While you might want to work with a qualified lawyer to draft your dropshipping agreement, you might not know where to find the right one. On online legal networks, you can quickly and easily consult with a reputable lawyer.

ContractsCounsel is one of the largest online legal marketplaces that gives clients access to a network of vetted lawyers. All lawyers are reputable, qualified, and have experience in contract drafting and review.

To request that a lawyer on the platform drafts your dropshipping agreement, follow these easy steps online:

  1. Visit the ContractsCounsel marketplace and post your project for free. Try to mention a few details, such as what goods you’re dropshipping and what platform you’re using.
  2. Receive lawyer bids. Instead of finding a lawyer, you’ll receive multiple bids from lawyers directly on the platform who are ready to assist you.
  3. Review the lawyer profiles. After receiving the lawyer bids, take some time to review the lawyers’ profiles. ContractsCounsel provides a range of lawyer data to help you, such as the lawyers’ location, experience, expertise, and client ratings for previous projects they’ve completed.
  4. Connect with a lawyer you think is best suited to your requirements and hire them to draft your dropshipping agreement for a flat fee.

ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.


Meet some of our Lawyers

John M. on ContractsCounsel
View John
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
June 4, 2024

John M.

Senior Corporate Counsel
Free Consultation
Foxboro, MA
26 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MA, NY
Boston University School of Law (J.D.)

John Mercer is a distinguished corporate counsel who is well-known for turning legal challenges into strategic assets. He possesses a deep understanding and expertise in intellectual property (IP), compliance, and corporate law, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. His proficiency lies in transforming legal complexities into strategic advantages, ensuring operational excellence, and driving innovation forward. John excels at safeguarding an organization's legal interests and integrity, ensuring operations adhere to the law. As a strategic leader, John excels at safeguarding an organization’s legal interests and integrity, ensuring operations adhere to the law. He also brings immense value to his profession through his skills in drafting, negotiating, and managing significant agreements that secure organizational interests with widespread industry impact. His unparalleled expertise in legal advisories significantly enhances compliance and develops risk management frameworks that protect and advance company ambitions. Moreover, John's command over patent and trademark portfolios, alongside his ability to drive innovation initiatives and design incentive schemes, substantially bolsters intellectual property prowess. John's areas of expertise are extensive, covering skills vital to corporate law, legal contract negotiations, material transfer agreements, and more. He is particularly adept in regulatory compliance, legal consulting, clinical trials, biotechnology, patents, and patent portfolio analysis, to name a few. His leadership is complemented by active listening, analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and other soft skills that make him a leader and visionary.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Thank you John, I appreciate your very personal effort with quality and practicality in mind."

Jorge R. on ContractsCounsel
View Jorge
5.0 (18)
Member Since:
June 3, 2024

Jorge R.

Managing Attorney
Free Consultation
Burien, Washington
15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in WA
Seattle University

**Bio:** My name is Jorge Ramos, and I am an experienced family law attorney practicing since 2011. Over the years, I have honed my skills and knowledge in family law, having worked with prestigious law firms before establishing my own solo practice. My expertise spans a wide range of family law matters, including divorce, child custody, spousal support, and property division. I am dedicated to providing personalized and compassionate legal representation, ensuring that my clients receive the support and guidance they need during challenging times. My commitment to excellence and client-focused approach have earned me a reputation as a trusted advocate in the field of family law.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Jorge's gave a thorough and complete analysis of my document. Turn around time was superb. Highly recommend."

Angela B. on ContractsCounsel
View Angela
Member Since:
June 1, 2024

Angela B.

Corporate Counsel
Free Consultation
St. Paul, Minnesota
4 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MN, TX
Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Angela is a business and transactional lawyer counseling clients in multiple facets of their business. Her practice includes commercial contracts, SaaS and technology licensing, intellectual property licensing, real estate contracts, and general business counseling.

Mark L. on ContractsCounsel
View Mark
Member Since:
June 7, 2024

Mark L.

Transactional & IP Attorney
Free Consultation
Boston, MA
19 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MA
Suffolk University Law School

I worked in the Intellectual Property Group at Fidelity Investments for almost 25 years, including managing the group from 2017-2021. I managed and developed the same high-performing group of three legal professionals from 2007-2021. Early in my career at Fidelity, I focused primarily on trademark matters, including trademark searching and clearance, as well as enforcement of trademark rights. In fact, I created Fidelity's trademark and brand protection programs and advanced them over more than two decades, eventually bringing the domestic trademark portfolio in-house and realizing savings of well over $2 million in outside counsel expenses for searching, prosecution and maintenance of US registrations from 2008-2021. Fidelity put me through law school, and I continued working full time while attending law school at night over four years. Upon graduation and passing the bar in 2006, I was promoted to an attorney position effective 1/1/2007. My practice broadened, and I began working on more transactional matters. I became a key transactional attorney for major technology groups and businesses within Fidelity, and negotiated numerous mission critical tech deals, transforming Fidelity's business. I provided transactional and IP support for Fidelity's software development and services affiliate in Ireland, and worked extensively with many of Fidelity's other foreign affiliates. Fidelity's General Counsel handpicked me to provide transactional and IP support to a new business initiative in 2017. That initiative became fintech startup Akoya, LLC, a paradigm-shifting business that enables secure, customer-controlled sharing of personal financial information between financial institutions and service providers. I developed template agreements between Akoya and data providers (financial institutions) and also between Akoya and data recipients (e.g. tax preparation services and financial advisors). Akoya had matured enough to be spun out by Fidelity in early 2020 to a consortium of financial services companies. In 2021, Fidelity offered a voluntary buyout to long-tenured associates, and following the pandemic, coupled with the financial and health benefits included in the package, it was an offer I could not refuse. Days later, my elderly father-in-law broke his hip, and my wife and I became his primary caregivers. It's been a blessing that I was able to contribute to his care and alleviate some of the burden on my wife. He is now in a long-term care facility, and I am eager to return to work as in-house counsel, whether on a contract basis, part time or full time. I did work briefly as a sole practitioner in 2021 and 2022, primarily helping friends, family and pro bono clients with NDAs, business formation issues, consulting agreements and license agreements. From August 2022 - July 2023, I was on the staff of Flex by Fenwick, an in-house counsel on demand business that is a subsidiary of the IP firm Fenwick & West, but did not get any engagements. My wife and I have volunteered for over a year with a dog rescue, Last Hope K9 Rescue, and have fostered several dogs, and adopted two of them!

Robert C. on ContractsCounsel
View Robert
Member Since:
June 5, 2024

Robert C.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Elkhart, Indiana
39 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NY, VA
University of Buffalo Law School

A highly motivated, dedicated attorney (and military veteran) with proven experience in executive corporate leadership, legal risk mitigation, litigation, and legal department management. Skilled in collaborating with all members of the organization to achieve business and financial objectives with high-profile corporations. Instrumental in streamlining and improving processes, enhancing productivity, and implementing sound legal and business solutions.

Robert C. on ContractsCounsel
View Robert
Member Since:
June 5, 2024
Liliette A. on ContractsCounsel
View Liliette
Member Since:
June 6, 2024

Liliette A.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Miami, Florida
3 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
St. Thomas University, School of Law

I have been in the legal field since 2015 starting as an intern, moving my way up to paralegal to making my final way to Attorney. As an attorney I worked in civil litigation for a brief period of time and then I got into the the immigration field.

Find the best lawyer for your project

Browse Lawyers Now

Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.

View Trustpilot Review

Need help with a Drop Shipping Agreement?

Post Your Project

Get Free Bids to Compare

Hire Your Lawyer

CONTRACT LAWYERS BY TOP CITIES
See All Business Lawyers
DROPSHIPPING AGREEMENT DRAFTING LAWYERS BY CITY
See All Dropshipping Agreement Drafting Lawyers

Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.

View Trustpilot Review

I never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.

View Trustpilot Review

I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.

View Trustpilot Review

How It Works

Post Your Project

Get Free Bids to Compare

Hire Your Lawyer

Want to speak to someone?

Get in touch below and we will schedule a time to connect!

Request a call

Find lawyers and attorneys by city