How I Lost a Client Over a Contract (and What I’m Doing About It)

A few months ago, I lost one of my best clients. Not because of bad service or missed deadlines, but because of a simple contract mistake. I was juggling too many tasks managing clients, sending invoices, keeping the business running. The contract renewal date slipped past me, and by the time I realized, it was too late. They moved on to another service provider. That experience hit me hard. I’m not a lawyer, and hiring one for every contract just isn’t realistic. I tried using templates, but customizing them still took forever and I always worried I’d miss something important. Since then, I’ve been thinking: How do other small business owners handle contracts without getting overwhelmed? Do you create contracts yourself, use templates, or hire a lawyer? Have you ever missed a renewal deadline or faced disputes due to unclear terms? What’s the one thing you wish existed to make managing contracts easier? I’m curious how others navigate this tricky part of running a business. What works? What doesn’t?