Release & Indemnification: The Hidden Shield Most Businesses Overlook

If your business provides services—especially when those services involve working on, transporting, or storing a client’s property—a Release and Indemnification Agreement isn’t just a formality. It’s a necessity.

Imagine this: you repair equipment, transport goods, or even store a client’s belongings. If property is damaged, lost, or stolen—or if someone is injured during the process—you could face claims that threaten your business. A well-drafted Release and Indemnification Agreement shifts that risk. It ensures the client understands and accepts the potential risks of the service, and it requires them to release your business from liability for those risks.

These agreements also provide an added layer of protection by requiring the client to indemnify (that is, reimburse and defend) your business if third parties bring claims related to your work. That way, you’re not left footing the bill for lawsuits and expenses you didn’t cause.

Release and Indemnification Agreements are common in industries like equipment repair, transportation, moving and storage, construction, and professional services where client property is handled. But they can—and should—be tailored to fit almost any service-based business.

The bottom line: if you’re providing services without one, you’re leaving your business exposed.