You need a form of engagement document, but you don't necessarily need customised letters. An engagement brochure meets the requirements of APES 220 Taxation Services and APES 305 Terms of Engagement. You should make sure the client acknowledges receipt.
This is a legal contract between the law firm and the client setting forth the terms of the legal services to be provided and how the client will be charged for the services.
What is a retainer agreement? A retainer agreement is a long-term work-for-hire contract between a company and a client that retains ongoing services from you (as a consulting business) and provides you with a stable amount of payments.
This is a legal contract between the law firm and the client setting forth the terms of the legal services to be provided and how the client will be charged for the services.
For an engagement letter to be binding, there must be agreement to the terms on both sides. The engagement letter is drafted and, in most cases, signed by the firm, therefore there is clear evidence of the agreement of the contents of the letter on the firm's side.
The service provider typically prepares the Letter of Engagement, be it a law firm, accounting agency, consultancy, or any professional offering services.
It is in the interests of both the entity and the auditor that the auditor sends an audit engagement letter before the commencement of the audit to help avoid misunderstandings with respect to the audit.
An engagement letter is drafted by the company rendering the service, often with the help of a lawyer. It is than presented to the client, and both parties must sign in order for it to be legally binding.
A retainer agreement is a work-for-hire contract. It falls between a one-off contract and permanent employment, which may be full-time or part-time. Its distinguishing feature is that the client or customer pays in advance for professional work to be specified later.