Language regarding the handling of information which is confidential to your business is also vital to include in your software consulting contract. This language should be written so as to incorporate your data as well as your processes.

It is important that you, as the client, know that by default, all Copyright is property of the Author. This means that absent any language to the contrary, all source code and documentation developed by the Software Consulting firm belongs to them. For this reason, it is critical that IP Ownership be established by any contract you execute with your vendor.

Some basic guidelines for the performance of the Consulting Services should be established in the Software Consulting Contract. They may include:

• Where will the services be performed?
• Who can request services?
• Who is responsible for travel costs?
• Who is responsible for other ancillary expenses?

All Software Consultants should provide a contract document to be executed before performance of any services. While these contracts can be long, it is crucial that they are read beforehand, as there are some very important provisions which need to be understood by both parties. In the following days, I will post several key provisions in a typical software consulting contract upon which you will want to focus special attention.

Regardless of whether your company is in a large industry or a niche industry, it is always advantageous to find a firm with experience in your industry. There is no substitute for experience, and you will find that firms that already "speak your language" have less ramp-up, meaning that communication is easier. Also, firms that have already provided solutions in your industry may have ideas to bring from past project successes that will add value to your project.