Contracts are useless when shit actually hits the fan, as anyone with motivation and a decent lawyer can wriggle out of them fairly easy. Contracts are a deterrent, and something you can use to keep a client or web provider in line. Sort of like a business nuclear bomb.

And if you're a small guy, either keep your contracts small and simple or don't use them at all. Small biz owners are weary of signing anything and typically work better over a handshake and your word.