Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

B2B definition

What does B2B mean? Business-to-business (B2B) describes commercial contracts and transactions where each party is acting in the course of a trade, business or profession, rather than as a consumer. It is a descriptive expression used across practice areas (e.g., supply, distribution, manufacturing, SaaS/IT services, procurement frameworks, outsourcing), not a defined statutory term. In B2B contracts, consumer protection legislation generally does not apply (e.g., Consumer Rights Act 2015 in the UK; Consumer Rights Act 2022 in Ireland). Risk allocation is primarily governed by the negotiated terms, common law and core sale/supply statutes: Sale of Goods Act 1979 and Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982...

B2B commercial contracts: formation and enforceability; key operative clauses, liability and indemnities, data protection, termination and boilerplate—drafting and negotiation guide

Published by a LexisNexis Commercial expert

Practice notes

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This Practice Note examines principal terms and conditions within business-to-business commercial contracts. It highlights general drafting considerations and reviews key operative provisions, such as:

term
primary obligations
warranties
price and payment
confidentiality
intellectual property rights
data protection
liability and limitation of liability
indemnities
termination
consequences of termination

For links to fuller commentary on commercial contracts, see:

Commercial clauses—overview
Definitions—overview
boilerplate clauses—overview
Practice Note: The role of boilerplate

Initial considerations

Structure and form

The first consideration for any contract is its form, shaped by what the arrangement seeks to achieve and the context in which it will be concluded. Simple contracts may arise orally, in writing or by conduct; others demand formality and must be executed as a deed...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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