Terms and conditions for a bespoke furniture maker

A bespoke furniture maker builds one of something, over weeks, from a drawing the customer approved and timber that moves with the seasons. The terms have to make the drawing the specification, take deposits that cover materials, explain why a commission cannot be cancelled once made, describe timber and finish as living materials, and deal with delivery where access was not measured. I draft those terms for a fixed fee of £995, delivered in five working days.

Who this is for

Bespoke furniture makers, cabinet makers, joiners and designer-makers in England and Wales making commissioned pieces for homeowners and for businesses such as restaurants and offices, and selling ready-made pieces online.

What matters in bespoke furniture terms

Drawings, specification and approval

The commission is defined by the drawing and specification the customer approves in writing: dimensions, timber, finish, hardware and any fixed features, and the terms should say that the maker builds to the approved drawing, that changes after approval are charged and may affect the timetable, and that the customer is responsible for confirming the dimensions suit the room, the access and the use. A drawing approved by email is a contract; a conversation is not.

Deposits, stages and payment

The terms should take a deposit at order that covers materials, a stage payment when the piece is in build or ready, and the balance before delivery, and should say that work does not start until the deposit is received. Business customers pay interest and fixed compensation on late payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, and the terms should say that a piece is released for delivery on payment in full.

Made to measure and cancellation

A commissioned piece is made to the customer's specification and is excluded from the fourteen-day cancellation right by regulation 28 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, and the terms should say so before the customer commits, along with a cancellation position for the period before timber is cut (the deposit or a stated charge for design work) and after it (the price payable). Ready-made pieces sold online carry the cancellation right, and the terms should distinguish them. Any upholstered piece must meet the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

Timber, finish and living materials

Timber moves, colour changes with light and grain varies from samples, and the terms should say that these are characteristics of solid wood rather than defects, that finishes are applied as specified and will wear and mark with use, that care instructions form part of the piece, and that a piece matching its approved specification meets the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requirement to be as described. Central heating and direct sun are the customer's environment to manage.

Delivery, access and installation

The terms should say that the customer is responsible for confirming that the piece can be delivered into the room through the available access, that a failed delivery for access reasons is charged and a return visit is at the customer's cost, that delivery is to the room where the customer directs with the maker not responsible for the customer's floors and walls beyond taking reasonable care, and that installation, fixing to walls and site work are separate services. Goods are at the maker's risk until delivered under section 29 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted for your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want them checked and brought up to date. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Buying online forms the engagement on payment. The scope is what the terms and conditions drafting page describes, you accept the Terms of Service at checkout, and I email you within four working hours to get started. If you would rather ask something first, email me.

What you get

• A full set of bespoke terms drafted for your business, reflecting the legal requirements that apply to your business and sector
• A note in plain English explaining the terms I have drafted for you
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions that protect your position and are drafted to withstand scrutiny from the other side
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly
• Your questions and comments answered by email or phone
• One round of amendments to finalise the terms ready for use

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers (I am happy to quote for this as an additional service if required)
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country
• Tax advice

Questions I am often asked

The table would not fit through the door. Who pays for the return and the rework?

If the terms make the customer responsible for confirming access and dimensions, the failed delivery and any alteration are the customer's cost. Measure the access on the survey and record it in the specification if you can.

The customer cancelled a commission after we had bought and cut the timber. What can we keep?

If the terms say the piece cannot be cancelled once production starts and the customer was told before ordering, the price is payable, less what the maker can save by stopping. The deposit should have covered the timber in any event.

An oak top has developed a small crack after a winter of central heating. Is that a fault?

If the terms describe movement and seasonal cracking as characteristics of solid timber, and care instructions warned about humidity and heat, it is not a fault. A structural failure from poor construction is a different matter.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Contract review, £495
• Terms and conditions for a carpenter and joiner
• Terms and conditions for a business selling made-to-order or personalised goods

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.