This article has been written by Oishika Banerji of Amity Law School, Kolkata. This article provides a detailed analysis of management contracts that enable one company to have control of another business’s operations.

It has been published by Rachit Garg.

Introduction

Management contracts are legal agreements that allow one organisation to control the activities of another. These formal agreements are frequently signed by business owners directly with the management firm. This normally grants operational control to the management business for a set length of time, usually two to five years. The majority of management contracts are task-specific and centered on the work itself rather than pre-determined results. 

Are you a business owner who has been subjected to a term management contract? Perhaps you have been given the choice of having a management company look after all or part of your business. However, you should learn more about management contracts before deciding to transfer a portion of your firm to another organisation. In this article, we will go through what these agreements are and what functions they aim to serve.

Definition of a Management Contract

The Business Dictionary defines a Management Contract as an “agreement between investors or owners of a project, and a management company hired for coordinating and overseeing a contract”. A management contract is an arrangement in which an enterprise’s operational authority is delegated to a separate company that performs the necessary managerial duties in exchange for a fee. 

During the procurement planning phase, high-level planning for contract management begins. It stems from the contract management planning strategy, complexity assessment, market analysis and review, and market approach, and continues through contract negotiation, implementation, and results in the evaluation. Contract planning and management encompasses all activities before, during, and following the contract time. It’s the procedure for ensuring that both parties to a contract fulfil their respective commitments as effectively and efficiently as possible in order to accomplish the contract’s business and operational goals on a consistent basis.

How to draft a Management Contract 

If you are considering a Management Contract, you might want to consider hiring a third party to assist you with the contract’s design. Before signing a contract, it’s extremely crucial to seek legal guidance to ensure your company isn’t getting into a terrible arrangement. You can also find templates to guide you in the process, for example: here.

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

This MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of —————————(MONTH), effective as of —————–(DATE, by and between ———–(the “Company”), and——————– (the “Manager”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage the Manager to manage its Business, and the Manager desires to retain, operate and manage the Business on the terms set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, agreements, representations and warranties contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Appointment of Manager; Relationship between the Company and the Manager.
2. Management Services.
3. Obligations of the Company.
4. Additional Agreements of the Manager
5. General and Administrative Activities.
6. Location
7. Term of Agreement; Termination of Rights
8. Indemnification
9. Additional Provisions

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Management Agreement as of the date first above written.

Signed this —————–(DATE AND MONTH).

MANAGER

Necessary points to be included in a Management Contract

1. The management contracts specify how much authority the management firm will have over the business.

• Include how much and how often the management company will be paid.
• Describe job requirements in detail so that all parties are aware of what is expected of them and how their performance will be evaluated.

2. Determine the length of time for which the management contract will be in effect.

• The majority of management contracts are for one year, with the ability to renegotiate and extend them.

3. Determine what happens if either side breaches the contract.

• This includes how to suspend the contractor if the business owner has to pay a penalty.

4. Some businesses prefer to begin a relationship with a management contract as a test run. The work’s specifics and scope should be included.
5. All members must sign the agreement and receive a copy for themselves.

Important clauses of a Management Contract

A management contract will always consist of three core components. The three parts are the first things you will need to specify when seeking out a management contract. The parts to be included in such a contract are :

The duration of a Management Contract

This part of the management contract outlines how long the management contract companies will have control of the function, department, or enterprise. It could last anywhere from a few months to several years. You may also need to be precise about contract terms such as the length of the contract. For example, if the management company fails to reach its performance goals, the management contract can be cancelled even if the term has not yet expired. A normal management agreement can be as short as one or two years. However, it could be for as long as five or six years, if not longer. An agreement’s terms are generally constructed with a one-year minimum and various choices for subsequent years.

Conditions of a Management Contract

1. This is the contract’s most thorough section, as well as the longest. The management contract must be very clear about a number of aspects, including the parties participating in the contract, the functions that are passed to the contractual company, and so on. 
2. A thorough list of regulations, as well as a list of obligations that both parties must follow, should be included in the contract. 
3. Once the contract has started, there should also be a mention of how much control each party has over the specific department or business function, as stipulated in the management contract. 
4. The terms should be explicit, and the operational obligations of the management firm should be well-defined. This will assist in avoiding future confusion and conflict.

Method of computing the management fees

The pay system should also be discussed in the management contract. As previously stated, the management fee can be calculated using a set percentage, a set sum, or a specified sum based on performance. An example fee could be a percentage of total revenue and/or gross profit.

Why are Management Contracts significant

Contracts are the bedrock of all business dealings. From beginning to end, they lay out every detail of a commercial contract or supplier relationship. According to one survey, the average Fortune 1000 company had 40,000 active contracts on any given day. A contract must be written, reviewed, negotiated, and approved 40,000 times, and that’s only the beginning. After that, all contracts must be handled for the duration of their lives, taking advantage of any negotiated clauses, monitored for compliance, and then reviewed for renewal or revisions. 

A single contract brings together personnel from finance, legal, and procurement, all of whom must manually conduct tasks. For starters, this is time-consuming and costly, but these manual and repetitive operations are also prone to errors, resulting in additional costs, missed deadlines, and compliance difficulties. That is only for a single contract. You expose yourself to a slew of hazards, financial fines, and procurement contract compliance difficulties if you don’t handle your contracts properly. In the long term, a minor technical error or grammatical error can cost thousands of dollars. Therefore, management contracts play a key role in the everyday life of a contract. 

What are the functions of a Management Contract

The definition of a Management Contract provided at the beginning of this article, explains how, under such a contract, a firm’s operational functions are transferred to the management company. What functions, however, may an organisation or a company delegate to a management firm? The functions are numerous and varied, as provided hereunder :

1. Technical operations such as the production of products.
2. Management of human resources, including training of personnel.
3. Financial management of the organisation such as accounting.
4. Marketing services, including promotions.

Depending on its demands, a corporation can essentially identify the functions it passes over to the management company. Your company’s accounting, as well as a variety of financial responsibilities that belong under this operational area, may require the services of an outsider. Larger businesses, on the other hand, may enter into management contracts for much broader operations, such as overseeing a specific store or business entity.

Management contracts involving hotels

One of the most common industries for management contracts is construction. There have been countless instances where a huge corporation has delegated operational control of one of its hotels to a separate management firm. The contract is between the hotel owner and the management firm that will be in charge of the hotel’s operations. Sometimes the contract is for only one of the hotel’s outlets, while other times it is for the entire hotel network.

A hotel management contract is a legally enforceable agreement between the hotel owner and the management company. It should specify the expectations, responsibilities, and duties of both parties. All relevant provisions linked to the exchange of services should be included in the term sheet, which formally specifies the agreement.

Typically, the contract gives the management business power over things like property maintenance, marketing and promotion, guest service, and so on. The hotel’s human resources management, the formulation of operational procedures, and other functions will be handled by the management firm. Because of the nature of the hotel sector, such contracts will almost always be long-term. Due to the nature of the contract, the management business will usually have the upper hand in such contracts.

Many hotels in Asia operate under management contract arrangements because they can benefit from economies of scale, global reservation systems, brand awareness, and other benefits. Contracts lasting up to 30 years are common, with fees as high as 3.5 percent of total revenues and 6-10 percent of gross operating profit. When foreign government action inhibits other entrance techniques, management contracts have been widely used in the airline business. When there aren’t enough local resources to handle a project, management contracts are frequently developed. It is a viable alternative to foreign direct investment because it entails less risk and can result in larger profits for the company.

Management contracts involving property management

Another common application of management contracts is in the area of property management. Whether the properties are residential or commercial, property development businesses typically outsource property management to management organisations. Contracts in this industry are similar to those in the hotel industry. Property owners must ensure that they are aware of their own responsibilities, as well as the responsibilities of the property management and that they will be protected if the property manager fails to meet these obligations. Before engaging a property manager, property owners should carefully review the property management contract to ensure that all pertinent information is included.

Six things that should be included in a property management contract are provided hereunder :

1. Fees and services:  The property management contract should provide a detailed breakdown and total of all services and associated fees. If a property owner is handed a contract with merely a generic management charge, he or she should request a breakdown of the various services and their costs. It is never a good idea for property owners to make assumptions about what services are offered.
2. The responsibilities of the property owner: It is critical that the contract includes a provision outlining the property owner’s expectations as well as what they can and cannot do in contact with the management business.
3. Equal opportunity housing: A property management agreement should clarify that both the owner and the management business support and adhere to state and federal regulations.
4. Liability: The contract’s liability clause limits the property manager’s liability. In a property management contract, this is known as the ‘keep harmless provision.’ This clause protects the management business by restricting their liability, except in circumstances when the company has failed to meet its commitments.
5. Contract duration: Property management companies typically sign one-year contracts with their clients. Before signing on for a one-year commitment, property owners should consult with a property lawyer to go over the contract provisions.
6. Termination clause: A lawyer will examine the termination or cancellation provision to ensure that the owner has the right to end the contract before it expires. Obligations arising from termination, such as the payment of dues within a specified time frame, should also be included.

The case for association managers

Management contracts don’t necessarily entail handing over the complete responsibility of a function to a single management firm. They also don’t always involve two firms. The third form of structure, known as the association manager, is sometimes in place, which involves trade associations, NGOs, and other similar organisations. Typically, these organisations do not have a board of directors to oversee their day-to-day operations. These organisations may have budget constraints that prevent them from hiring full-time employees. In such instances, it may be more cost-effective to delegate control to a management firm. Typically, such contracts offer the management firm responsible for services like meeting planning, communication management, account administration, and so on. Depending on the company, the contract could also entail administering sponsorship programmes and managing a website.

Management contracts are also used in the entertainment and sports industries. Athletes and entertainers frequently require the services of a management company to handle endorsements, book sponsorships, public relations, personal money, and other elements of their existence. Meanwhile, athletes and artists may concentrate on the most important aspect of their careers: performing at their best. Typically, the fee is connected to the artist’s or athlete’s annual revenue, which the management company will strive to increase.

The case for food service managers

In the public sector, management contracts are also highly popular. The food service management contract, which is employed in nursing homes, public office buildings, and school sports facilities, and in which a management business provides food and amenities, is of particular relevance.

The management business will pay the building owner a lease and a portion of sales. They will prepare, serve, and advertise the food in the meantime. These contracts are sometimes employed in the private sector, where management corporations assume charge of a company’s feeding functions, ensuring that staff are well-fed. The management contract exists to ensure that a firm’s essential functions are delivered in a timely and efficient manner, even if the core function is not part of the main business.

Advantages of management contracts 

1. The majority of the advantages of a management contract revolve around saving time, ensuring efficient operations, and bringing knowledge and experience to a business function. When a company delegated operational control of a function, the company no longer had to care about that function. The company may now concentrate on the more crucial aspects of its operations.
2. If you are starting a startup, you are undoubtedly focused on getting your company off the ground. You don’t want to be in the situation of having to do your own bookkeeping when you might be focusing on product development and marketing instead. As a result, you might employ a management firm to handle your accounting, allowing you to save time and other resources.
3. Another benefit of employing a management firm is that some functions may not be critical enough to warrant retaining a full-time employee to handle them. In the case of accounting, it’s possible that hiring an accountant isn’t necessary. It’s possible that pursuing a management contract would be a better option. As a result, you can save money in the process.
4. A management contract also assists the company in effectively distributing its tasks. You will never have to worry about separate departments needing to handle their own accounts on top of their primary functions if you outsource your accounting function. For example, the HR department will no longer be required to keep its own books.
5. Outsourcing to a management company also allows a company to benefit from the management company’s knowledge and skills. You might not be as good at money as you are at product development and marketing if you are establishing a startup. That is why outsourcing your accounting function to a management firm is an excellent choice. You are getting professional assistance. When you entrust your finances to a seasoned professional, you can rest assured that everything will go smoothly.
6. A management contract also provides a benefit in terms of consistency. Because everything is handled by one business from the beginning, the same standards will be followed throughout, even if individual managers change.

Disadvantages of management contracts 

1. Despite the obvious benefits listed above, you should not immediately enter into a management contract. Before entering into a contract with a management business, you should ask yourself a few questions about the contract. The privacy issue is the most obvious downside of a management contract.
2. The company is effectively handing over information about its products, finances, and other concerns to a third party. While the contract addresses these concerns and ensures complete secrecy, the information is not limited to your company. If your company is in command of every area of operations, you can keep the information to in-house personnel and facilities.
3. However, with a management firm, you put your information in the hands of someone, you haven’t personally verified and put your trust in handing over information outside of your company’s physical premises. Although the management contract can and should control this risk, it still exists.
4. Furthermore, privacy concerns extend beyond your personal information and your relationship with the management firm. If your company uses third-party suppliers, make sure that your deal with them does not prevent you from making a management contract. Third parties may have specific objections to their information being handled by another corporation, or they may have concerns communicating with a third party rather than your company directly.
5. Finally, keep in mind the bigger picture of conflict of interest difficulties. If you hire a huge management firm, keep in mind that it’s possible the firm also works with your competitors. You want to make sure that the management firm addresses any potential conflicts of interest in your company’s best interests. Your company’s performance should not be hampered by management contracts. When creating the contract, make sure to explicitly identify the persons in charge of your company and talk about how you want any potential conflicts of interest to be handled.
6. While the transfer of operational responsibility of your organisation to the management company should be evident from the definition of a management contract, it’s worth repeating. As a result, you may or may not have a voice in many of the things the function does, depending on the terms of your contract. It’s vital to be conscious of this because, for example, you can find yourself trying to sway decisions when things aren’t going well. You don’t have operational control, so you just have to believe that you made the proper decision.

Management contracts vis-à-vis contract management 

Both the topics of management contracts and contract management are confusing and often mistakenly replaced by one another. As this article discusses the concept of management contracts, the writer feels the need to bring in the topic of contract management as well, so as to help the readers avoid misunderstanding two entirely different topics. 

What is the difference between management contracts and contract management

After a contract has been executed and entered into effect, contract management takes place. As a result, this requires working to guarantee that the contract’s terms and conditions are followed and that all of a party’s contractual duties are satisfied successfully. It’s entirely feasible that conditions will change throughout the contract management phase, forcing changes to the contract agreement. Of course, because the contract management team works closely with the other party to the agreement, they are in an excellent position to determine whether the connection is functioning or if it is required to look for other alternatives. As a result, if contract administrators and managers are indeed independent teams inside a corporation, it makes sense for them to maintain strong communication. 

A management contract is a legal agreement that allows the private sector to manage a portion or all of a public company, such as a specialised port terminal, for container handling at a port or a utility.

Components of contract management 

There are four key components in contract management :

1. Risk analysis

This defines the level of risk as well as the criticality to business and behaves as a contract risk segmentation tool. Risk analysis is a general consideration that is given to risks and criticality. It is highly relevant in the case of contract planning. Risk analysis involves: 

• Contract risk segmentation analysis.
• Proximity to core analysis.

2. Commercial components 

• Benefits tracking: Both contract planning and contract management require benefit tracking. It’s all about setting your contract goals and how they’ll be evaluated and judged in terms of value for money. It’s all about utilising a consistent technique throughout the contract’s life cycle to report on all benefits, both quantitative (e.g. prices, transaction costs, response times) and qualitative (e.g. customer satisfaction, non-financial key performance indicators). Benefits tracking (price monitoring and compilation of other quantitative and qualitative data) at regular intervals and aligning review periods with major milestones are all part of the contract management phase.
• Financial management: Both contract planning and management should take financial management/monitoring into account.
• Pricing reviews: A price per unit of measure is usually included in most contracts. When contracts mention price reviews, the contract manager should make sure that pricing reviews are carried out in accordance with the contract’s terms and conditions and that they are identified at contract execution.
• Financial risk: When risks are mitigated and minimized into lesser risk segments, such as ‘important to the company’ to ‘transactional,’ you can gain value from a contract. Financial risk management is a key value driver, especially for supply agreements in the ‘strategic’ and ‘high risk’ areas. Throughout the life of the contract, it is advised that a regular assessment be undertaken to assess the supplier’s financial sustainability and mitigate financial risks. An approach to reducing risk exposure is to ensure that suppliers have adequate insurance. Contract managers should carry out the following actions : 

1. Acquire and monitor information about supplier currency certificates, such as their values and expiration dates, to ensure that they are at or above the insured amounts;
2. Keep an eye on certifications to make sure they’re still valid;
3. Seek updated certificates from the supplier at least 4 to 6 weeks before the current certificates expire;
4. Include capping of liabilities in the contract segmentation analysis tool if the contract proposes it, as it changes the level of risk associated with the contract; and
5. Ensure that currency certificates are properly stored.
6. Suppliers and contract

• Contract management plan: The goal of a contract management plan (CMP) is to identify and address the important areas of contract management and the achievement of defined goals. It summarises major contract elements and translates contract terms and conditions into a practical guide that outlines the entire contract management strategy.
• Supplier relationship management: Clear lines of communication and duties between the organisation and the supplier are established with good relationship management.
• Transaction management: Transition in and out processes should be considered in contract preparation, when relevant, with a clear programme of actions and a communications strategy for both suppliers and customers of the goods/services. 
• Variation: A variation to a contract is an amendment to a contract for goods and services that are mutually agreed upon. There are various reasons to change a contract that already exists. Changes in technology, resources, organisational needs, market conditions, and so on.

4. Reporting

The contract should include provisions for continuous monitoring and assessment, if applicable. For instance, how often should contract performance be reported (monthly, quarterly, annually, or in accordance with a contractual milestone) and how should performance be assessed. All contracts require performance management to determine whether a supplier is fulfilling their contractual responsibilities. Performance measurements should be developed as part of the contract planning phase and incorporated into the contract terms and conditions. Although the amount of performance management can be scaled, consistency in data recording is critical. Reporting involves the following: 

• Key performance indicators.
• Reporting frequency.
• Reporting hierarchy.

What are the stages of contract lifecycle management (CLM)

The complexity of the particular procurement, its criticality to the organisation’s core activities, and the related risk profile all influence the contract planning and management process. Based on the nature of the purchase, the amount of relevance and frequency of the criteria can be scaled up or down. Contract planning is more important at the strategic end of the procurement complexity scale than at the transactional end of the procurement complexity scale. An average contract’s lifecycle can be split into two distinct parts, pre-signature and post-signature, each coming with its own challenges and responsibilities. 

Pre-signature

The initial authoring of a contract, as well as negotiating, revisions, and approvals, are all included in the pre-signature stage. This is mostly a cross-departmental project that relies heavily on manual labour and negotiating.

1. Contract initiation: The need for a contract is identified at this point, and the contract lifecycle begins. If you are starting a new business relationship with a new supplier, you’ll need to have a contract in place to lay the ground rules.
2. Authoring: It is necessary to draft a contract in written form. One must consider the same as a preliminary draft rather than a finished product. Both parties must examine the suggested document and rule out any necessary adjustments. Certain stipulations will have to be agreed upon to guarantee that both parties receive the most out of the deal.
3. Negotiation: Both parties need to look at the proposed draft and rule out any changes that should be made. Certain clauses will need to be negotiated to ensure that each side is getting maximum value.
4. Editing: It’s time to finish those revisions when all of the talks are finished. Contract management software comes in handy here because it tracks all modifications and allows for quick version comparisons.
5. Approval: This is where the majority of bottlenecks occur. To keep the approvals process operating smoothly, you’ll need a clear procedure and workflows in place. Contract and workflow automation tools can help with this.

Post-signature

Contract management and enforcement, as well as contract renewal and amendment, are all handled by this department. This occurs throughout the contract’s duration, and subtleties can easily be overlooked when working with a large number of contracts of various complexity.

1. Execution: It’s time to put the deal into action, now that it’s been signed. When done manually, however, this can result in a great deal of risk and missed chances. Contracts can be extensive, and some sections may be concealed. You can simply spot hazardous terms of possibilities for greater value by using contract management software.
2. Tracking: Tracking performance throughout the contract lifespan is critical, not just to maintain compliance and maximize value, but also to determine whether the contract should be renewed or terminated.
3. Auditing: You should do a complete audit of all open or recently closed contracts on a regular basis. This will provide you with a detailed analysis of your contract’s performance, open clauses, and future steps.
4. Reporting: It’s one thing to track data; it’s another to access and analyse it without a central, user-friendly dashboard or repository. Good contract lifecycle management software will provide a ‘single source of truth’ for your contact data as well as actionable insights to assist you to make better decisions.
5. Renewing: You’ve followed the contract from the beginning to that of the end. It’s time to make a choice as to whether you want to renew, renegotiate, or terminate your contract? Unfortunately, most businesses miss out on renewal opportunities and lose hundreds of dollars in potential value when they do it manually. Remember that many businesses have upwards of 40,000 open contracts at any given time, making it incredibly impossible to keep track of them manually. However, with automated workflows, you can keep an eye on approaching contract expirations at all times.

Big benefits of a contract management system

1. Risk reduction: Overall contract compliance is improved by enforcing and operating under the most recent terms, conditions, controls, and policies. A contract management system improves compliance management by 55%. Traceable audit trails and compliance monitoring are essential for being compliant and being able to demonstrate it. Standardizing processes and procedures on the buy-side reduces maverick purchasing and supply risk while enhancing spend leverage. As a result, supply chain risks are eliminated, and purchases as a whole become less expensive and more valuable.
2. Financial optimization: A contract management system can help you save money on legal fees and avoid unforeseen service renewals. Another high-value benefit is spending visibility. Companies that link their sourcing and contracting processes are more likely to keep a higher percentage of identified savings, add accounts payable automation solutions to the mix, and cash flow optimization improves even more.
3. Productivity / operational effectiveness: With greater data and analytics, forecasting is dramatically enhanced. A contract management system keeps track of important dates and sends out automated alerts and features that allow users to schedule notifications as needed. You gain more control and enhance process and workflow efficiency by eliminating manual processes and centralising your document repository. Contract negotiations are merely the beginning of a relationship. Companies must guarantee that their commitments and agreements are properly managed. Using the right tools to track and monitor contracts will have a beneficial influence on your business, making a significant difference in how you manage supplier relationships and costs.

Contract management software : an insight

When you think of contract management, you probably picture a filing cabinet with dozens of folders. You are not alone if you still maintain your contracts in a filing cabinet, on a shared drive, or send scanned copies of the final form over email. It’s incredible how many multibillion-dollar corporations still use paper. However, as you have probably observed by now, that manual process is riddled with inefficiencies and hazards, detracting from the tremendous value that contract management can provide. Contract management software provides a computer-based solution to all of these manual issues. 

10 benefits of a contract management software

A contract management software provides critical insight into contract data, facilitates collaboration between parties, and saves time and money while posing minimal risks. The major 10 benefits of contract management software include :

1. Reducing risks: Contracts frequently carry hidden hazards, ranging from authorised clauses to unfulfilled responsibilities. Contract management software mitigates various risks with:

1. Pre-approved clauses.
2. Easier contract audits.
3. And a well-managed contract portfolio.

2. Improve auditing: Contract management lifecycle software typically includes a digital portal with a number of capabilities, such as audit trails, which allow users to access the whole history of amendments with just a few clicks. Not only does this allow a company to track what has been done and when, but it also makes it easier to discover and remedy flaws and mistakes.
3. Saving time: The major source of dissatisfaction for 65 percent of legal practitioners is time spent on repetitive administrative activities. Contract process automation will cut the time it takes to complete these administrative duties in half.
4. Reducing contract costs: Reviewing and monitoring contracts adds significantly to labour costs, which can easily reach the tens of thousands of dollars. Based on average incomes, the average cost of a basic contract ranges from $6,900 to $49,000 for more sophisticated arrangements.
5. Increasing transparency: Organizations that use paper-based systems must keep them in filing cabinets in their offices. Not only do employees have to travel around to obtain the right contracts and templates, but they also can’t see what other people are working on in real-time.
6. Growth and scalability: Because it decreases the amount of manual labour required for accurate contract administration, automation is important to a company’s growth. As CLM software is configurable, it can scale with your organisation, avoiding the need to purchase expensive enterprise systems with a slew of sophisticated capabilities you may not require.
7. Optimising finances: Contract management software reduces legal fees by eliminating spontaneous renewals of undesirable services. It allows users to see where their money is going, ensuring they get the best deal for their money.
8. Better document management: Documents must not only be secure, but they must also be stored correctly for easy management. Co-workers can scan paper documents into the CLM system from anywhere, eliminating the need to keep paper papers in a filing cabinet.
9. Easier to share, collaborate and retrieve: Day-to-day contractual work is more accessible and structured for everyone thanks to a single cloud-based contract administration system. Contracts may be accessed and retrieved by internal and external stakeholders from any place, which speeds up the workflow.
10. Boost productivity: Organizations can automate and identify workflow bottlenecks, such as manual work or antiquated systems like Excel, by using a contract management process.

Frequently asked questions about management contracts

A list of frequently raised questions about management contracts has been addressed hereunder for the readers to be clear with the discussed concept in this article. 

What is the goal of a Management Contract?

The fundamental purpose of establishing a management contract is to lay out the rules under which the management company will take over control of another company. The contract allows the management company to take control of a portion of the company’s operations in exchange for payment, allowing it to operate the day-to-day operations.

How does the contract enable management companies to get things done?

The management contract grants the management company complete control over the company as long as it meets established goals and completes agreed-upon activities. This means that the corporation can do the work itself or hire contractors to do it.

What kind of tasks do management contracts include?

Management contracts can include nearly all of the business functions including providing technical support, personnel management, marketing, sales training, and accounting.

Is a management contract the same as a franchising deal?

Management contracts are frequently confused with franchising agreements because they entrust the management company with operational control of the organisation or function. However, the two are distinct from one another. Both management contracts and franchise agreements provide options to earn money by selling intangibles, and the agreements establish a partnership with another company.

A management contract, on the other hand, provides a company with structure and framework in the form of a deal, whereas a franchisee is a self-contained corporation. A franchise agreement is a contract between a franchiser, who owns a business, and the franchisee, who purchases the right to use the company’s name and other trademarks.

Let’s have a look at the differences using an example. If you operate a hotel chain A, you might consider entering into a management agreement with company B to take control of a certain hotel’s operations. B would assume operational control of the hotel as part of the management contract, and you would pay a fee to firm B in exchange. Company B would be free to operate the hotel according to the terms of the management contract. On the other side, you may enter into a franchise agreement with company C, allowing C to utilise A’s brand as well as certain of A’s business methods and tools. C would pay a specific fee to you, company A, for the rights.

How do management contracts set up payment structures?

Depending on the arrangement, most management contracts include a flat price for services. Payments aren’t reliant on collecting fees for anything other than fulfilling targets in this way. Establishing a remuneration structure like this reduces the risk for both parties because neither can manipulate it to their advantage.

What if I want to have a contract that is based on performance rather than the end result?

A management contract might be structured to focus on a pay-for-performance basis. The operator’s risk will be larger in this instance, which includes asset condition risk, equipment maintenance, and other potential costs.

Conclusion 

Management contracts are a creative way to distribute the responsibility of running a company. Certain operational responsibilities are entrusted to a management firm, which is an entity that specialises in the specialised industry. The management firm will be paid a certain price while guaranteeing that the function is carried out to the best possible standard. Because of their nature, these arrangements are common in areas including hospitality, property management, and even the airline and transportation industries. 

The operations delegated under the management contract might range from basic responsibilities, such as finances, to large-scale corporate management, such as overseeing a specific hotel. Management contracts help a company improve performance through increasing expertise and distributing tasks. Getting another entity involved, on the other hand, will almost always result in privacy concerns and other conflicts of interest. Nonetheless, the system can assist large-scale corporations in better managing their operations or providing more resources to smaller ones. If certain aspects of your business appear to be time-consuming or tough to manage, the contract is absolutely worth investigating.

References 

1. https://www.cleverism.com/management-contract-definition/.
2. https://www.upcounsel.com/management-contracts#:~:text=The%20management%20contract%20details%20just,how%20performance%20will%20be%20evaluated.
3. https://www.procurious.com/procurement-news/benefits-of-a-contract-management-system.

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