Contract not starting, if you don't mind (5)
I believe the answer is:
lease
'contract' is the definition.
(I know that lease is a more specific form of the action contract)
'not starting if you don't mind' is the wordplay.
'not starting' means to remove the first letter.
'if you don't mind' becomes 'please' (I've seen this before).
'please' with its initial letter taken off is 'LEASE'.
(Other definitions for lease that I've seen before include "Let for money" , "Ghost" , "Contract for use of land or building" , "Summer's has too short a date (Shak.)" , "Let (property)" .)