The 12-month contract: a love story

Every great love story starts with a meet-cute. Ours starts with a "free strategy session." You were vulnerable, your website had scored 31 out of 100, and we were wearing a very good blazer.

The honeymoon

Those first weeks were magic. We replied to emails within the hour. We sent a hamper. Our CEO called you "a visionary," twice. You thought: finally, an agency that gets me.

The commitment

Then we asked the big question: twelve months? You hesitated. We said month-to-month agreements were "for agencies who don't believe in themselves." You signed. Somewhere in a warehouse, a bottle was opened. Not for you; for the sales team's commission.

Growing apart

Around month four, things changed. Emails took days. Your account manager left without saying goodbye. The reports got longer but said less. When you asked "where is this going?", we said "you're so close to a breakthrough," which is what people say when there is no breakthrough.

The talk

In month eleven, you asked to leave. We were hurt. Then we were helpful: under clause 14(b)(iii), notice must be given 90 days before the renewal date, in writing, by registered post, to an office we've since moved out of. So really, we're together for another year. Isn't that romantic?

Happily ever after

And we lived happily ever after, invoicing monthly, until you met someone who let you leave whenever you liked. Apparently that's a thing people want now.

Epilogue

We still think about you. Mostly on the first of each month, when the direct debit from the contract you forgot to cancel goes through. Some love stories never really end. Ours has an auto-renewal clause, which is basically the same thing.

P.S. Stay with an agency because it's working, not because a clause says you have to. Here's where that starts.