End-of-financial-year energy hits hard.

Suddenly, your inbox is full of “reminder to update your details” emails from your accountant, your calendar is stacked with meetings you swore you’d book earlier, and your to-do list looks like it could take down a small country.

If you’re an online business owner, EOFY isn’t just about spreadsheets and receipts. It’s also the perfect time to tighten your legal backend, so you head into the new financial year with clarity, confidence, and clean systems.

But let’s be honest: you don’t need everything legally perfect before June 30.

Here’s what to prioritise now, and what can wait.

FIRST: What you should wrap up before EOFY 

1. Client Contracts + Scopes of Work 

This is the big one. If you’re working with clients past June 30, now’s the time to:

• Review your Services Agreement
• Update scope of work if packages/pricing change in the new FY
• Lock in payment terms for upcoming retainer work or projects
• Include any planned fee increases with 30-day notice (if required)

Foundd Tip: If you’re adjusting prices or changing packages, now is the perfect time to reset your agreements.

2. Team + Contractor Agreements 

Hiring or renewing contractors? EOFY is your built-in checkpoint.

• Review existing Independent Contractor Agreements
• Confirm termination or renewal dates
• Update scopes, rates, and deliverables if needed
• Confirm IP ownership and confidentiality clauses are still relevant

Reminder: Team legals are not just about protecting you, they’re about protecting the relationship. Clear expectations = smooth working relationships.

3. Website Legal Policies 

Selling digital products? Collecting email addresses? Running ads? 

Your Website Terms, Privacy Policy, and Refund Policy should:

• Match how your business actually runs in 2025
• Be compliant with updated privacy laws
• Include contact, refund, and dispute info

Foundd Tip: If you’ve changed how you collect data (email marketing, pixels, quizzes), update your Privacy Policy accordingly.

4. Business Structure Check 

EOFY is also a great time to speak to your accountant and check whether your structure still suits your goals. Ask:

• Should I move from sole trader to company?
• Should I separate business income streams?
• Are there tax efficiencies I’m missing?

While this is accountant territory, it's smart to understand how your legal structure impacts risk and flexibility.

5. Prepping for EOFY Offers or Campaigns

Running your own EOFY sale in June?

Now’s the time to check:

• Your Terms & Conditions for promos or discounts
• Any affiliate agreements if you’re working with others
• That your sales copy aligns with actual offer terms (and won’t get flagged as misleading)

Foundd Tip: Marketing and legal need to speak to each other. If you’re promising something in a sale, your contract needs to back that up. 

What can wait (but don’t forget them forever)

1. Trademark Registrations 

EOFY is a smart time to plan your IP protection, but don’t stress about filing before June 30 unless you’ve got something urgent. 

If your program, course, or brand name is gaining traction, flag it for July, and set a date to start the process.

Pro Tip: You can’t claim ownership just by using the ® symbol. Trademarks = real protection.

2. New Offer Templates (If the offer isn’t live yet) 

Launching something mid-year? No need to rush contract creation before EOFY if it’s not public yet. 

However, have your legals prepped, so it’s ready before cart open.

3. Long-Term Strategic Shifts 

Planning to restructure your biz, license your IP, or hire employees?

Amazing. But those aren’t EOFY panic jobs.

Instead:

• Note the move
• Schedule legal planning in Q1 FY26
• Focus on protecting what’s active right now

Your quick EOFY Legal Checklist 

✔︎ Active Client Contracts Updated 
✔︎ Contractor Agreements Reviewed 
✔︎ Website Policies Up-to-Date 
✔︎ Business Structure Reviewed 
✔︎ Promo Terms Ready 
✔︎ Trademarks Assessed 
✔︎ New Offers Drafted 
✔︎ Strategic Legal Projects Booked for Q1 

EOFY Isn’t about perfection, it’s about protection

No, you don’t need to overhaul your entire legal backend before June 30.

But if you:

• Have clients
• Are collecting payments
• Are updating offers or team
• Are planning a promo…

Then this is the exact moment to get legally aligned.

Clean foundations make EOFY less chaotic, and the new financial year 10x smoother.