Sale or return agreement

Retailer carries stock
Recommended
Save with a membership

Download multiple legal documents and access support through Lawyer Assist at a fraction of the cost.

Key features

This agreement is for the provision of goods on a consignment basis, between a distributor or manufacturer and a retailer. The product may be marketed through shops, online or offline, or at events or shows, temporary or permanent. The retailer holds the stock and accounts as required for sales in the previous period.
Compliant
Compliant with the latest law in
  • England & Wales
  • Scotland
Document propertied
Document properties
  • Length:11 pages (2850 words)
  • Available in:
    MsWordMicrosoft Word DOCXApple pagesApple PagesRTFRTF
watertight guarantee
Backed by our watertight guarantee

If the document isn’t right for your circumstances for any reason, just tell us and we’ll refund you in full immediately.

writing in plain english
Written in plain English

We avoid legal terminology unless necessary. Plain English makes our documents easy to understand, easy to edit and more likely to be accepted.

Notes
Guidance notes included

You don’t need legal knowledge to use our documents. We explain what to edit and how in the guidance notes included at the end of the document.

email
Support from our legal team

Email us with questions about editing your document. Use our Lawyer Assist service if you’d like our legal team to check your document will do as you intend.

Update
Up to date with the latest law

Our documents comply with the latest relevant law. Our lawyers regularly review how new law affects each document in our library.

About this sale or return agreement

This is a comprehensive sale or return agreement for supply of goods on a sale or return basis, also known as a consignment sale basis.

Under a sale or return arrangement, an owner of goods, such as a creator, supplier, manufacturer or distributor, provides products to a retailer who pays for them only once they have been sold. The risk of not making a sale is transferred from the retailer to the owner, making it more attractive to the retailer to offer the products for sale.

This agreement can be used where the retailer sells through a shop or at any other venue, such as a trade show, an office vending machine, or a pop-up railway station stall.

When to use a sale or return contract

Consignment is often used to introduce new products to a market, where the product itself or the brand is relatively unknown.

It can also be used where the method of selling or location is untested and where the items are of high value.

Examples

  • A gift shop might agree to take costume jewellery from a new designer.

  • An art gallery might show work from an artist in return for commissions on sales.

  • A security alarm fitting company might hold several models of alarm system so that it has the most suitable available for a customer when required.

  • Dairy products from local farmers might be offered for sale through vending machines in a community hall.

The essential feature of the agreement is that the retailer takes responsibility for the goods while in his or her care and pays the goods owner only for those he or she has sold. A written agreement is important to use because it establishes that ownership (title) of the goods remains with the supplier and also records what inventory the retailer carries.

This agreement is not suitable as a concession agreement where the concession is staffed by the seller and/or a fixed space is managed by the seller.

The contract can cover a deal for multiple outlets. The template could easily be edited for use with multiple individual shop owners or show managers.

Contents

The contract is comprehensive so as to be able to cover many different variations of consignment deals. Alongside many small legal matters, it covers subjects including:

  • Ordering, delivery and stock management
  • Price management
  • Stock holder obligations - a raft for you to choose from
  • Payment terms and procedure
  • Goods returned by customers
  • Title while the goods are with the retailer
  • Return terms
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Indemnity in case things go wrong
  • Alternative termination arrangements
  • Many other strong provisions
Sample sale or return agreementSample page from the sale or return agreement

Recent reviews

All Was Very Good
09 October 2020
Thisis the first time we have used your service and all was very good
Thank you

Paul Huxford PHVC Ltd
Paul Huxford
Just What We Wanted
16 August 2017
Exactly what we were looking for.
William Hibbert
Straightforward Editing
21 January 2016
Clear and concise document with an easy to follow guide that makes editing to suit my needs straight forward. I would definitely use your service again.
Malcolm Atwill
Read all 5 reviews

Choose the level of support you need

Document only

Complete the document template yourself using our guidance notes
5 Reviews
£42.00 (incl. VAT)
Save with a membership
  • okComprehensive template covering legal and practical points
  • okDetailed guidance notes explaining how to edit each paragraph
  • okUp to date with latest law our lawyers regularly review how new relevant law affects each document in our library
  • okWritten in plain English avoiding legal terminology unless necessary. plain English makes our documents easy to understand, easy to edit and more likely to be accepted
  • okSupport from our legal team email us with questions about editing your document
  • okMoney back guarantee that if the document isn't right
Most Popular

Lawyer Assist

Support from our legal team during and after editing
215 Reviews
£282.00 (incl. VAT)
Save up to 40% with a membership
  • okComprehensive template covering legal and practical points
  • okDetailed guidance notes explaining how to edit each paragraph
  • okUnlimited email support - ask our legal team any question related to completing the document
  • ok
    Review of your edited document by our legal team including:
    • understanding your requirements
    • checking that your document will achieve your goal
    • reporting on whether your changes comply with the law
    • answering your questions about how to word a new clause or achieve an outcome
    • checking that your use of defined terms is correct and consistent
    • correcting spelling mistakes
    • reformatting the document ready to sign

Bespoke

Drafted for you, to your precise requirements
from
£800.00 (incl. VAT)
Save up to 10% with a membership
  • okA document drawn just for you to your exact requirements
  • okPersonalised service provided by an experienced solicitor
  • okFree discussion before we provide an estimate, for you to ask questions and for us to understand your requirements
  • ok
    Transparent fees
    • fixed fee to draw a document to your initial instructions
    • additional or changed instructions charged either at fixed rates or on a time basis as agreed with you
    • no charges for office overheads or third party disbursements
  • okCareful and thorough consideration of your circumstances and your consequent likely practical and legal requirements
  • okProvision of options that you may not have considered with availability for discussion
  • okHelp and advice woven into the fabric of our service so that you can make the best decisions
Membership plans

Standard

For occasional users of small businesses and start-ups
£95.00 per year
no auto-renewal
Save on average £270*
  • Documents included
    (average document price £37)
    10
  • Lawyer Assist Service included
    (average price £196)
  • Discount on further Lawyer Assist
    30%
  • Discount on Bespoke Drafting
  • Telephone support
  • Priority email support
    ok

Professional

For larger businesses and professional service firms
£195.00 per year
no auto-renewal
Save on average £718*
  • Documents included
    (average document price £37)
    25
  • Lawyer Assist Service included
    (average price £196)
  • Discount on further Lawyer Assist
    40%
  • Discount on Bespoke Drafting
    10%
  • Telephone support
    ok
  • Priority email support
    ok

Professional Plus

For more frequent users of Lawyer Assist
£375.00 per year
no auto-renewal
Save on average £929*
  • Documents included
    (average document price £37)
    25
  • Lawyer Assist Service included
    (average price £196)
    2
  • Discount on further Lawyer Assist
    40%
  • Discount on Bespoke Drafting
    10%
  • Telephone support
    ok
  • Priority email support
    ok
* Calculated on the basis of average price.
© 1999 - 2025 Net Lawman Limited.
All rights reserved