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A memorandum of understanding, or MoU, is a non-binding document to show commitment and understanding of responsibilities for an agreement made between two parties. MoUs are essentially used when two parties want to write down their general understanding of a potential transaction they want to engage in.
MoUs are typically made by governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and corporate entities when partnering with other organizations to document terms and conditions, transactions and negotiations.
There are different types of MoUs used for different types of contracts or services. Here are some major types of MoUs used by businesses:
An MoU for a joint venture agreement is used in the early stages of negotiation between two or more parties. It is also called a co-venture agreement. A joint venture agreement is a temporary business contract between two or more parties to help work towards a common goal. The agreement defines all responsibilities of the parties involved.
There are two main types of joint ventures – contractual and general joint ventures.
A service contract is a legally binding agreement between a service provider and a client which outlines the terms and conditions of the services that will be provided. For example, construction contractors use a service agreement to detail the renovations that they are making to a client's home and to outline how they will be paid for it. Similarly, a business can use a service contract to hire a temporary freelancer or contractor.
A service agreement MoU would detail the services that will be provided to a business in a non-binding document. They are typically used during preliminary negotiations.
An outsourcing agreement is a contract formed between two or more parties, generally a company and a service provider. The service provider promises to deliver specified services, which is outsourced by the company. All outsourcing MoUs contain the following elements:
An asset purchase agreement is an agreement between a buyer and a seller used to transfer ownership of an asset for a set price. The seller decides which specific assets to sell and exclude in an asset purchase agreement. These are the key elements addressed in an asset purchase MoU:
A share purchase agreement is used during the purchase of shares which is essentially the purchase of a company’s operating business. The buyer of shares of a company generally will want some contractual promises about the company, known as warranties, which will continue to bind the shareholder, who is selling the shares, after the sale. A share purchase MoU discuss the following key elements:
A business relationship MoU outlines what each organization agrees to contribute to a partnership, a timeframe for deliverables, details of collaboration, terms and conditions, payments and compensation, etc.
Here are some examples of MoU and when they are used.
You can write a memorandum of understanding by following the steps listed below:
These are the key elements present in any MoU:
MoUs are generally written by organizations or companies offering the collaboration or partnership. Since companies tend to have their own legal counsel, they can draft an MoU fairly easily. It is advisable to seek a business lawyer or a contracts lawyer who understands federal, state and local laws to draft an MoU. However, you can also draft your own MoU using templates available online.
Do you need help writing an MoU? Post a project in ContractsCounsel’s marketplace to get free bids from lawyers that specialize in MoU drafting. All lawyers are vetted by our team and are peer reviewed for you to review before hiring.
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.
My name is Ryenne Shaw and I help business owners build businesses that operate as assets instead of liabilities, increase in value over time and build wealth. My areas of expertise include corporate formation and business structure, contract law, employment/labor law, business risk and compliance and intellectual property. I also serve as outside general counsel to several businesses across various industries nationally. I spent most of my early legal career assisting C.E.O.s, General Counsel, and in-house legal counsel of both large and smaller corporations in minimizing liability, protecting business assets and maximizing profits. While working with many of these entities, I realized that smaller entities are often underserved. I saw that smaller business owners weren’t receiving the same level of legal support larger corporations relied upon to grow and sustain. I knew this was a major contributor to the ceiling that most small businesses hit before they’ve even scratched the surface of their potential. And I knew at that moment that all of this lack of knowledge and support was creating a huge wealth gap. After over ten years of legal experience, I started my law firm to provide the legal support small to mid-sized business owners and entrepreneurs need to grow and protect their brands, businesses, and assets. I have a passion for helping small to mid-sized businesses and startups grow into wealth-building assets by leveraging the same legal strategies large corporations have used for years to create real wealth. I enjoy connecting with my clients, learning about their visions and identifying ways to protect and maximize the reach, value and impact of their businesses. I am a strong legal writer with extensive litigation experience, including both federal and state (and administratively), which brings another element to every contract I prepare and the overall counsel and value I provide. Some of my recent projects include: - Negotiating & Drafting Commercial Lease Agreements - Drafting Trademark Licensing Agreements - Drafting Ambassador and Influencer Agreements - Drafting Collaboration Agreements - Drafting Service Agreements for service-providers, coaches and consultants - Drafting Master Service Agreements and SOWs - Drafting Terms of Service and Privacy Policies - Preparing policies and procedures for businesses in highly regulated industries - Drafting Employee Handbooks, Standard Operations and Procedures (SOPs) manuals, employment agreements - Creating Employer-employee infrastructure to ensure business compliance with employment and labor laws - Drafting Independent Contractor Agreements and Non-Disclosure/Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation Agreements - Conducting Federal Trademark Searches and filing trademark applications - Preparing Trademark Opinion Letters after conducting appropriate legal research - Drafting Letters of Opinion for Small Business Loans - Drafting and Responding to Cease and Desist Letters I service clients throughout the United States across a broad range of industries.
