A distribution agreement is a legal document that secures a contract between the company (who provides goods and services) and the distributor (operates distribution of goods). The distributor is usually a company that intends to market and sell the goods and products from the manufacturer. A distributor either sells the product directly to the store or other companies.
The distribution agreement or contract specifies the various terms and requirements, including commission rate, length of the contract, cost of the goods, and control channels of a distributor.
A distributorship agreement is a report or document that builds a relationship of distributorship between a manufacturer and a distributor. The agreement gives the distributor the right to supply the manufacturer’s goods within a range or regions. Such rights may be exclusive within that particular region/regions.
What to Include In a Distributorship Agreement?
Exclusive Distributor
A large section of distributors enjoys exclusive or patent or copyright rights in any decided geographical boundary. In an exclusive agreement, only the designated distributor may be authorised to sell the products of the company in the specified regions. In a non-exclusive agreement, the manufacturer shall hold the benefits of selling to other distributors as well.
Terms and Conditions of Sale
The distributor purchases the products made by the company and further supplies them to dealers or end-users found across different locations. This needs prior understanding between the people about payment cycles, warehouse and shipping requirements. The procedure for businesses with each step involved may be detailed. For instance, the method of placing a purchase request or order by the distributor.
Pricing
How the distributor may fix the costs or prices of the product should be mentioned along with the best price at which they may sell it to the approved dealers or end-users.
Term of the Agreement
Distributorship is regularly granted for a fixed number of years. But, it can be done to be renewed yearly or after a fixed number of months in order to save the interests of the parties. This can avoid legal arguments just in case any party is not satisfied with the working of the agreement.
Marketing Rights
To promote the higher sale of the stocks, the seller or distributor must be allowed to take out marketing activities that may include representing the manufacturer as a bona fide representative. This can be specified in the agreement.
Trademark Licensing
Usage of trademarks and other intellectual properties of the manufacturer is required for the distributor for day to day services including publications or advertisements and other representations before buyers of the products. There should be a structure built for permitted usage by the distributor.
The Geographical Territory Included by the Agreement
One of the most significant aspects to be included in a distributorship agreement is the geographical area within which the distributor may be allowed to exchange the goods of the manufacturer. Once the area is specified, any particular rights need to be highlighted.
Performance
Perform or perish is the mantra in business arrangements or contracts. The sales volume to be performed by the distributor should be determined in advance. If the distributor is not able to keep up with the objective, the agreement may be provided to terminate at the option of the manufacturer.
Termination
The circumstances in which the contract may be terminated should be detailed. There must be benefits available for both parties to rescind or cancel the agreement if they are not satisfied with the result or performance of the other party.
Basic Distribution Agreement Checklist
Other than a developer distribution agreement, which is a different separate type of agreement, a primary distribution agreement should include a certain language and style to make it lawfully binding. Such information comprises:
- Recognizing the people and stating, in the introduction, that the contract is for resale of the supplier company’s product
- Representing the territory where the seller can sell
- Whether the agreement is exclusive or whether the distributor is just one of multiple distributors in the region
- Termination of the contract for a cause or just if the parties decide not to extend their business relationship
- Defining the goods or product and its delivery dates
- Specifying whether the amount is commission-based or whether there is a different type of fee arrangement
- Describing the connection between the parties, such as the distributor being a self-governing contractor and not an employee of the supplier
- A report that the supplier must take the distributor’s orders on time
- How and when to pay the distributor
- That the contract is legal, binding, enforceable by the laws of a state defined by the parties, and whether agreement must lead to any lawsuits
- How long the deal is in effect and what date it takes effect
Distribution agreements appear in many forms and have many working components, so they must be designed properly from the outset to avoid disagreements among parties down the road. If you need guidance in creating a distributor agreement, think of using a distribution agreement template to help secure its draft properly.
