Legal Road Map®: copyright, trademark and business law info for online entrepreneurs

Navigating the world of LLCs, bookkeepers, and legal can be tough when you’re new to the business world. But doing it in the middle of Covid? That’s a lesson in patience and perseverance! Boudoir and personal branding photographer Layra Marte shares how she navigates the world of online business and in-person connections to grow her photography business. In this episode, we’ll cover: How saying ‘yes’ to unpaid opportunities can sometimes pay off BIG Why surrounding yourself with people who inspire you can help you uplevel your business Why it’s so important to be crystal clear with your clients about what to expect during their shoot (duration, outfit changes, etc.) The importance of not being afraid to ask questions - to government offices, or to friends who are also running a business How to break through the hesitation to charge for something you love doing BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast162! Resources mentioned in this episode: Layra’s Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/layramarz/ Layra’s website: https://www.layramarz.com This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

It seems there are more ways than ever to grow a thriving photography business. Mini-sessions, branding photography, wedding and events, to name just a few.  But each of these revenue streams presents its own unique set of considerations to make sure you and your photography business are protected legally. While the barrier of entry to the photography and videography business can seem relatively low, if you want to have staying power and create a successful, profitable business, it’s essential to build yours on a solid legal foundation. In this episode, we’ll cover: Why you should still use a (short) client agreement even for a simple mini-session Which contingencies you should definitely include in your contract (you might not have thought of these!) How to make sure you get your clients’ permission to use their photos in your marketing Important special terms your contract should include if you’re a wedding or event photographers/videographers How to get on the same page with your client about who owns the rights to photos or videos you create Why you should always use a model release if you’re creating content you intend to sell or license as stock photos or footage Which type of agreement you should use with a second shooter The essential agreements you’ll want to be sure are included on your website BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast161! Resources mentioned in this episode: Workshops for photographers by Penny Chevalley - https://pennychevalley.com Photography/videography business contract templates: https://awbfirm.com/collections/photographers-and-videographers   This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

There’s an online course for just about everything these days. And for good reason. More people are learning online than ever, and online courses can be wildly profitable if you play your cards right. Jacques Hopkins is a bit of an anomaly in the online course world because he took a subject he’d never taught before (piano) and turned it into an extremely successful course that allowed him to quit his 9 to 5.  And now, it has even led him to begin teaching others how he put his own course together. In this episode, we’ll cover: How Jacques grew his online course by implementing funnels How to work on two different brands simultaneously How to deal with (and plan for dealing with!) haters The value of having a trusted legal advisor you can call whenever a question or problem arises BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast160! Resources mentioned in this episode: The (new and improved!) AWB Firm coaching quiz:  https://awbfirm.com/coaching-quiz Storybrand by Donald Miller:  https://buildingastorybrand.com/ Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson:  https://expertsecrets.com/getesfree-1 Jacques’ Online Course Show podcast:  https://theonlinecourseguy.com/podcasts/ Piano in 21 Days website: https://pianoin21days.com/ The Online Course Guy website:  https://theonlinecourseguy.com/ This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Online courses are quickly becoming one of the most popular points of entry to the online world. They can cover nearly any topic and the online format makes them accessible to a broader audience.  Online courses can be a lot of work to put together with many moving parts ranging from copywriting to video editing, which is all the more reason you want to be sure you put the proper legal protections in place. In this episode, we’ll cover: How to safeguard your business against chargebacks or refund requests How to be sure using social proof (testimonials) from your raving fans won’t land you in legal hot water Why you should use Terms & Conditions for your online course website (even if not required by law) What you need to know about intellectual property ownership when you work with independent contractors who may create graphics, copy, etc., for your course The tricky business of using affiliates to promote your course, plus how you can make things a little less risky for your course business Why it’s so important to make sure no one else is already using the name you choose for your course The differences between ™, ®, and © and where you may want to start using them in your course BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast159! Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 90 of Legal Road Map® podcast:  https://awbfirm.com/podcast90 Your Legal Course - FREE masterclass:  https://awbfirm.com/course Online Course Creator bundle:  https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/online-course-creator-bundle GDPR-compliant Privacy Policy template:  https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-privacy-policy-for-u-s-businesses-gdpr-compliant Terms & Conditions contract template:  https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-terms-conditions-of-use-with-disclosure-policy Episode 71 of Legal Road Map® podcast: https://awbfirm.com/podcast71   This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’re a service provider -- like a web designer or copywriter -- you might feel like you’re tethered to a single revenue stream: designing websites or writing copy. But the online world now offers more opportunity than ever to diversify your revenue streams. A mix of affiliate marketing, memberships, and online education can all be perfect complements to your service-based business. And in this episode web designer Shannon Mattern shares how she’s incorporated many of these revenue streams into her own business. In this episode, we’ll cover: The importance of setting boundaries and expectations with your clients How preparing ahead of time for your boundaries to be pushed can help remove the emotion from dealing with it when it (inevitably!) happens How packaging your services can help you more easily identify AND PREVENT scope creep How combining affiliate marketing with 1:1 design services allowed Shannon to leave her day job faster than she could have with services alone How Shannon has made sure she uses the appropriate disclosures for her affiliate relationships to stay legal What Shannon wishes she would have done in her business 5 years ago BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast158! Resources mentioned in this episode: Shannon’s website: www.shannonmattern.com Launch Party (AWB Firm website designer):  https://www.launchparty.live/ This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Web design is one of the most collaborative creative service relationships we see at the AWB Firm. Because of this unique relationship, it can be especially easy to find yourself dealing with things like scope creep and delays caused by your client. The best way to avoid these issues altogether is… you guessed it… to use a rock solid client contract. But what terms should you include to make sure you’re covered? And that you’re also fair to your client? In this episode, we’ll cover: Autumn’s tips for presenting a proposal and/or contract to a new client How to deal with delays in getting information, images, or copy from the client that you need in order to finish their project Why going through the steps of putting together your client contract can help you proactively think through some worst case scenarios (and how you can avoid them in the first place!) What a ‘pause clause’ is and why you might want to consider including it in your client contract How you can use work product ownership in your client contract as leverage to make sure your project stays on track, and you get paid The best thing you can do when you start growing your team Whether or not you need to form a legal entity or get insurance BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free How to Write Your Own Contracts checklist to make sure your business has solid contracts in place at www.awbfirm.com/podcast157! Resources mentioned in this episode: AWB Firm YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Awbfirm/ Contract template shop: https://www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates Launch Party (AWB Firm website designer): https://www.launchparty.live/ This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Losing sleep worrying over your business is no fun. But Britt Seva, founder of Thrivers Society, found herself in that exact situation before she decided to take care of the legal blindspots in her business.  Learn how Britt has built an extremely successful membership business model by starting small and growing smart. In this episode, we’ll cover: Why starting micro (especially when it comes to courses + memberships) can be your best way to scale Why doing 1:1 work FIRST is an essential step to growing your business How the simplest, plainest way is the best way to start Why overserving in your membership site or online community really isn’t serving your community members at all How honoring your business as a real business can help you reach that next level What it really looks like to manage a team of 16 How getting legal in order can help you sleep better at night and stop worrying about things going wrong in your business Why it’s important to pay attention to outgrowing service providers and making sure you have the right fit for your team BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast156! Resources mentioned in this episode: Britt’s website: https://brittseva.com/ Britt’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittseva/ The Thriving Stylist Podcast: https://thethrivingstylist.com/podcasthome Britt’s membership for hairstylists, Thrivers Society: https://thriverssociety.com/courseinfo This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Membership sites and online communities are some of the most popular business models in the online world. They allow your business (and consistent revenue) to grow quickly and reach more people without necessarily adding more work to your plate. But to anyone who’s ever seen a discussion around social issues turn ugly, or found your own resources pop up on someone else’s site, you know that there are lots of things that can go wrong in the membership site/ online community business model if you don’t set up the right legal protections. In this episode, we’ll cover: How to avoid legal issues by making good business decisions when you’re getting started Best practices for where to include your Terms of Use (TOU) on your website What term you should NOT include in your TOU -- to make sure you don’t get taken advantage of when it comes to refunds How your TOU can help you address social justice issues like BLM  What to consider if you have volunteer mentors or moderators in your community or membership Whether you should protect your content by registering your copyrights BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free How to Write Your Own Contracts checklist to make sure your business has solid contracts in place at www.awbfirm.com/podcast155! Resources mentioned in this episode: Contract template store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates Episodes about employees vs. independent contractors: www.awbfirm.com/podcast37, www.awbfirm.com/podcast144 Membership or Online Community template bundle: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/membership-online-community-bundle This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Interior design can transform the dullest of spaces in your home into an inspiring retreat. But there’s a lot more to a gorgeous design concept than meets the eye. Managing client expectations, coordinating countless vendors, and even a little marriage counseling from time to time.  A designer’s work is complex and requires a lot of focus on process, efficiency, and client relationships - something that Nashville designer Kendall Simmons navigates with grace and ease.  Enjoy this behind-the-scenes peek at Kendall’s unique design business that combines both traditional in-person design work and an innovative e-design approach. In this episode, we’ll cover: The importance of diversifying your revenue streams (especially when a global pandemic happens!) Why the simplest technology is oftentimes your best option The time and money-saving benefits of tweaking and perfecting your intake process How Kendall’s crystal clear client contract has helped her AVOID tricky legal situations in her business over the past six years The importance of thinking about boundaries as you create your client contract Why walking through your contract WITH your client can save you a lot of headaches later on Why it’s helpful to provide a project price range vs. a fixed amount or flat fee BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast154! Resources mentioned in this episode: Kendall’s website: https://www.kendallsimmons.com/ Kendall’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendallksimmons/ This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

To an outsider, interior design or decorating can seem like a fun and easy gig. You pick paint colors, recommend a few pieces of furniture, top your vision off with a few accessories. Done! But actually, interior design and decorator contracts are some of the more complex contracts we work on at the AWB Firm, with moving parts like who’s responsible for install, will you pass along your designer discount to your client, if you hire a photographer can your client use the pictures, and many more questions. In this episode, we’ll cover: Why interior designer and decorator contracts are more complex than other creative service providers’ contracts, and what terms should be clearly spelled out What to be sure you make clear (both with the photographer and with your client) when you hire a photographer to capture your finished product The higher risks in an interior design or decorator business and why you’ll definitely want to form an LLC or corporation, and be covered by insurance How your designs have automatic copyright protection under US law, but why you still might want to register them What you need to know about using other people’s creative work in your business BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free How to Write Your Own Contracts checklist to make sure your business has solid contracts in place at www.awbfirm.com/podcast153! Resources mentioned in this episode: Miles & Kirk Design: https://www.milesandkirk.com/ The Green Room Interiors: https://www.thegreenroominteriors.com/ Interior Designer contract template: This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Copywriting can be intimidating to a lot of online business owners. It seems like an elusive yet necessary skill to running your business successfully and increasing sales. But copywriting genius Ashlyn Carter joined us in this episode to give a behind-the-scenes peek at what starting and growing her agency/curriculum-based business looks like, including some pretty big legal lessons she’s learned along the way. In this episode, we’ll cover: How Ashlyn learned the importance of client contracts the hard way The value of forming and nurturing in-person relationships in an online business Why Ashlyn still tracks her time (even if she doesn’t bill hourly anymore) How batching your tasks and days can give a real boost to productivity How clarifying and naming your signature process can help you protect your IP more easily The benefit of working with an emotionally uninvested third party (i.e., a trusted lawyer!), especially if you tend to be emotionally invested in your business BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast152! Resources mentioned in this episode: The ONE Thing by Gary Keller: https://www.the1thing.com/ Essentialism by Greg McKeown: https://gregmckeown.com/book/ Powersheets: https://cultivatewhatmatters.com/ Focus Keeper app: http://bit.ly/focuskeeper Ashlyn’s website: www.ashlynwrites.com Ashlyn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashlynscarter/ Ashlyn’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshlynWrites/ This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

The words you write help business owners sell their products or services like hotcakes. Word of mouth is starting to do its thing and you’ve got a waitlist of people dying to have you write copy for their emails, sales page, or website. So how do you make sure you grow your copywriting business legally? Do you really need to form an LLC or get business insurance? And how do you make sure you’re protected when (not if!) your relationship with a client gets sticky? In this episode, we’ll cover: How a solid proposal can really make or break a copywriting gig Why you really need both a proposal and a contract The essential information your contract should always include What a “pause clause” is and why you should consider including it in your contract How you can use ownership of rights to your work as leverage if you’re not getting paid The essential legal documents you need to be sure are on your website The must-have contract to use if you start growing your team with one or more independent contractors Whether you need to form an LLC or worry about insurance in your copywriting business BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast151! Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 147 of the Legal Road Map® podcast for branding and graphic designers: www.awbfirm.com/podcast147 Client Proposal template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/client-proposal-template Website documents bundle: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-pages-bundle Independent Contractor agreement template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/independent-contractor-contract-template Creative Service Provider bundle: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/creative-service-provider-bundle  Client Agreement contract template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/client-contract-template This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Ecommerce can be intimidating to a lot of entrepreneurs, because they have misconceptions about needing tons of startup capital or product to get started (myself included!). But ecommerce business owner and business coach Vivian Kaye has debunked all those myths on her way to 7 figures.  In this episode, in addition to a lot of inspiration and laughs, we’ll cover: Why you don’t need a warehouse full of product to start your physical product business Vivian’s favorite way to exercise your confidence muscle How the “go big or go home” mentality can cause your business to fail before it even begins The disservice that not talking about money is to women The ins and outs of participating in a subscription box as a product-based business Why you should subscribe to your ecommerce platform’s blog + newsletter How being the face of your company lends credibility to your business Who Chad is and what he can teach you about being bold in your business How sticking to a niche can be the key to scaling big BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast150! Resources mentioned in this episode: Kinky Curly Yaki website: https://www.kinkycurlyyaki.com/ One of Vivian’s favorite affirmations: I am worthy. I am talented. I am successful. I am healthy. I am wealthy. Money comes naturally to me. Everything I touch turns to gold and I provide value in everything I do. 4 Steps to Niching Your Business (Vivian’s course on Shopify Compass):  https://www.shopifycompass.com/learn/niche-it-4-steps-to-niching-your-business Vivian’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsviviankaye Vivian’s website: https://viviankaye.com/ This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Ecommerce is booming, with more brick-and-mortar stores taking their products online.  And while there are tons of online store platforms that make the transition to online selling easier than ever, there are many pitfalls to not setting up your ecommerce store legally that you might never see coming. Get our best legal tips for ecommerce businesses to make sure your online store doesn’t cause you major headaches down the road. In this episode, we’ll cover: The best way to work with independent contractors as you create products and market your shop What you need to know about licensing agreements for your ecommerce business (this may surprise you!) Why you’ll likely want to form a corporate entity and have insurance for your product-based business The important legal documents you need on your ecommerce website (one of these is required by law!) What you should do from day one to avoid issues with the name of your shop and products When it comes to registering copyright vs. trademark, which process Autumn says you can probably do yourself, and when she recommends you work with an attorney Best practices for using other people’s intellectual property on your products, your website, or in your marketing and social media efforts BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast149! Resources mentioned in this episode: Independent Contractor Agreement contract template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/independent-contractor-contract-template Website Privacy Policy for U.S. Businesses template:https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-privacy-policy-for-u-s-businesses-gdpr-compliant Website Terms and Conditions of Use template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-terms-conditions-of-use-with-disclosure-policy Bundle & Save: Website documents bundle (includes Privacy Policy + Terms and Conditions): https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-pages-bundle Meet Wick the Gnome of Almanac Supply Co.: https://almanacsupplyco.com/blogs/articles/meet-the-maker-eryn-garcia?_pos=5&_sid=e07ad022e&_ss=r This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Signature offers, growing a team, landing big clients, proprietary methods, taking care of legal, and more. This interview with Kathleen Shannon and Tara Street of Braid Creative will give you a behind-the-scenes peek into growing a successful graphic design and branding agency, and how a contract helped them feel confident enough to stick to their guns to work with Brené Brown. In this episode, we’ll cover: The benefit of having one signature offer for clients to access your creative services How creating solid contracts can help you be more clear and consistent about the deliverables you provide to your client The difference between men and women when it comes to negotiating contracts (!) How growing your team first can bring in bigger clients later The importance of having clearly defined roles for your team members Why no contract can replace trusting your gut and intuition (Kathleen’s Oprah clause!) BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast148! Resources mentioned in this episode: Braid Creative website: https://braidcreative.com/blog The Chalkboard Method: https://braidcreative.com/worksheets/BraidCreative_ChalkboardMethod.pdf Contract templates for your graphic design or branding business: Project Proposal template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/client-proposal-template Client Services contract template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/client-contract-template Website Privacy Policy template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-privacy-policy-for-u-s-businesses-gdpr-compliant Website Terms and Conditions template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-terms-conditions-of-use-with-disclosure-policy Independent Contractor contract template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/independent-contractor-contract-template Creative Service Provider contract template bundle: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/creative-service-provider-bundle This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

You obviously have your logo design skills nailed down (hello, graphic designer!) and word of mouth about your gorgeous branding packages is starting to spread. You’re ready to make things business-official. But what about legal for your new graphic design or branding business? What do you even need to tackle and when? What are the things that could go wrong that you don’t know you need to worry about? In this episode, we’ll cover: Why you should always start your client relationship with an official project proposal, in addition to your client contract The one document that will take care of 99.9% of all legal (and client) issues in your graphic design business Why it’s super important to spell out how you or your client can end the relationship, and who owns the intellectual property you create How to make sure your website isn’t breaking the law Some of the most common pitfalls you may encounter when working with an independent contractor (and how to avoid them) What you need to know about forming an LLC, staying a sole proprietor, or choosing another corporate entity The most important thing to know if you’re incorporating other people’s work into any designs you create for a client BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast147! Resources mentioned in this episode: Project Proposal template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/client-proposal-template Client Services contract template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/client-contract-template Website Privacy Policy template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-privacy-policy-for-u-s-businesses-gdpr-compliant Website Terms and Conditions template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-terms-conditions-of-use-with-disclosure-policy Independent Contractor contract template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/independent-contractor-contract-template Creative Service Provider contract template bundle: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/creative-service-provider-bundle Launch Party (AWB website redesign): https://www.launchparty.live/ This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

The only thing worse than not protecting your business at all is putting legal protections in place -- but not following through so that they’re actually effective. You probably know by now that I think contracts are the simplest, best way to protect your online business. But if you don’t get them signed, they won’t do you any good if you run into an issue. In this episode, we’ll cover: What a signed contract really means What types of agreements MUST be in writing (we think all agreements should be in writing!) Why you must give your purchasers the opportunity to read your Terms and Conditions BEFORE they purchase Why you should definitely consider using an e-signing platform to get your contracts signed The types of documents that can NOT be signed electronically  BONUS:  If you’re starting something new, or this episode has spotlighted areas of your business that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your business is in good shape legally. Download our free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation at www.awbfirm.com/podcast146! Resources mentioned in this episode: Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/ AWB Firm contract template shop: www.awbfirm.com 

As much as we don’t want to think about things going wrong in our business, calculating risk is part of being a responsible business owner. So how can you set up your business when you’re just getting started to make sure your personal home, car, bank accounts, and other assets are protected if something happens later? What role does insurance play in managing risk and do you even need to form a corporate entity at all? In this episode, we’ll cover: The best way to protect your personal assets in case your business gets sued Which corporate entity you should choose if you have low risk in your business (you might be surprised!) Additional steps you should take to get your business set up as a sole proprietor Which corporate entity you should avoid if you have a business partner What you definitely DON’T want to do with your finances that could cause you to lose liability protection for your personal assets Why you’ll probably need to have an attorney on call to help you if you form a corporation The additional protection that insurance can provide to you and your business A few professions where you may not need a corporate entity at all BONUS:  Are you brand new to business and stuck on which corporate entity you should form your new business as? With all the options, it’s hard to know what’s what and understand which is the best fit for your type of business. Download our free corporate entity cheat sheet below. Resources mentioned in this episode: Find your local Small Business Administration (SBA) office: www.sba.gov This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.  

For many business owners, arriving at the point of needing to hire someone because you have more work than you can handle is an absolute dream come true.  But loose hiring practices can lead you to make some extremely costly mistakes -- like hiring an independent contractor who really should be classified as an employee, or not using a contract to make sure you and your worker are on the same page. In this episode, we’ll cover: Why it matters what state your worker lives in, and where your company is located How the number of hours worked and whether or not your worker has other clients can help you determine if they should or should not be classified as an independent contractor The potential costs (monetary and otherwise) of misclassifying a worker Why you should never work with an independent contractor without a contract The top things to include in a contract with your independent contractor Why a noncompete agreement may not be the best option for you and your independent contractor Why it’s important to understand who owns the rights to the content your independent contractor creates for you Resources mentioned in this episode: Legal Road Map® Episode 37: www.awbfirm.com/podcast37  *Please note that this episode was recorded prior to significant changes to California employment laws dealing with the classification of independent contractors, and therefore does not address these changes. If you live in California or your worker lives in California, please consult with legal counsel about these important changes to the law. Independent Contractor Agreement Template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/independent-contractor-contract-template This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

The online space is its own unique ecosystem - no other industry does things quite the way we do them here. And never has that been more evident than over the last weeks and days as we have seen the outcry about the death of George Floyd unfold and the subsequent flood of activity calling out racism and police brutality (and each other) in online forums. DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) consultant Erica Courdae joins this episode to share best practices for facilitating difficult conversations in places like Facebook groups and other online communities. We are grateful to Erica for lending her voice to help educate us and our listeners and to continue invaluable conversations like this one. In this episode, we’ll cover: The critical step to take BEFORE sharing your values and beliefs with your audience What you should know about when to speak up and when not to Steps you can take to educate yourself without burdening people of color to do it for you Why it’s important to examine the actual cause of any problems within your team (hint: the problem might be you!) Why erasing posts and turning off comments in the age of social media is no longer a viable option to moderate difficult discussions How to create a protocol for when (not if) difficult discussions take place in your online community and how you can minimize harm Resources: Erica’s website: www.ericacourdae.com Pause on the Play: www.pauseontheplay.com Erica’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericacourdae/ This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.