Contract review is typically less expensive than drafting a contract from scratch, since the structure already exists — but cost still depends on the contract's length, complexity, and how much is actually at stake in it.
Length and structure affect turnaround, not just cost
A one-page NDA takes far less time to review than a multi-exhibit commercial lease or a services agreement with several incorporated schedules — both cost and turnaround scale with what actually has to be read and analyzed.
What's at stake changes the depth of review
A contract involving a small purchase gets a different level of scrutiny than one involving a business sale or a long-term commercial lease — higher-stakes contracts justify, and typically cost more for, a deeper clause-by-clause analysis.
Redlines vs. a summary opinion
Some reviews just need a plain-language summary of the risks; others need full redlined language ready to send back to the other side. A review that produces negotiation-ready redlines is a more involved deliverable than a risk summary alone.
Why review before signing is usually the cheaper option overall
Compared to the cost of disputing or renegotiating a bad term after signing — or litigating over one — a pre-signature review is almost always the less expensive path, even before accounting for the stress and time a later dispute costs.