For better or for worse, contracts are needed in today’s society for even the most routine transactions. This is especially true for flooring dealers, who enter into any number of contracts each week, from purchasing products from manufacturers and distributors, to selling products to customers, to purchasing advertising, to subcontracting with general contractors and installers, to leasing equipment and property. A contract can be as simple as an order form, an acceptance letter or e-mail, or it may be a detailed multi-page agreement. Regardless of the format, contracts define the rights and obligations of the parties, and control what products or services must be provided, the time and type of performance expected, the terms of payment, and the liabilities and responsibilities of each party. Failure to understand the consequences of these agreements and forms can subject the flooring dealer to unnecessary disputes and liability.