A: It would have certainly helped a lot. Aside from having a legally protectable document containing both of your signatures, the purpose of a contract for services is to clearly define each party's obligations and expectations. Even though you had the verbal conversation ahead of time, a thorough contract may have been able to spell out crucial details such as:
- Time before delivery
- Details of the logo
- How many drafts are included with the fee
- Payment schedule (i.e., some up front and some upon completion)
- What to do in the event of a disagreement
To name a few. And in the event you want to take it to small claims, you've got that much more evidence on your side.
