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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You’ve started your business, created your products, and maybe even made a few sales.

Think you’re ready to scale? Not so fast…

Messaging and marketing expert Lisa Princic joins the podcast to talk about the importance of nailing down value proposition BEFORE you scale, the most common marketing mistakes she sees businesses make, and more.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why identifying your value proposition is critical to scaling your business
• How you can prevent marketing burnout by tracking where your leads come from
• Why getting in front of more people isn’t necessarily the best way to scale your business
• How risk factors into deciding if it’s the right time to register your trademark
• What you need to know about whether or not you need to register your trademark in a foreign country (Lisa’s Canadian but has a lot of U.S. clients)
• Why it really is worth it to narrow your marketing focus

BONUS: Worried you’ll make one of the mistakes mentioned in today’s episode? We’ve got you covered. Our guide to using other people’s content has you covered. Download your free copy below. 

Resources:

Lisa’s website: https://scalingdeep.com/

Lisa’s Messaging Toolkit: https://scalingdeep.com/toolkit/

Lisa’s Marketing Roadmap: https://scalingdeep.com/roadmap/

Scaling Deep podcast: https://scalingdeep.com/podcast

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Building a beautiful website and creating compelling content takes time and resources (financial or otherwise). And when you’re just getting started, you may be short on both. 

It’s tempting to just “borrow” a bit here and there and hope no one notices. 

But the consequences can be severe… not to mention potentially devastating to your business.

So what’s allowed and what isn’t when it comes to using other people’s images, video, music, or other intellectual property, and what best practices should you follow?

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How using an image from a Google search without permission can become an extremely expensive mistake
• How getting permission to use someone’s image might be a lot easier than you think
• Why it’s risky to rely on “fair use” as a justification for copying or borrowing someone else’s content
• The ways that copying another business’s emails, website copy, or social media captions can really damage your reputation
• Why it’s super important to do a trademark search (you can DIY this!) BEFORE you choose and start using a brand or product name in your business.

BONUS: Worried you’ll make one of the mistakes mentioned in today’s episode? We’ve got you covered. Our guide to using other people’s content has you covered. Download your free copy below. 

Resources:

Legal Road Map® podcast Episode 71 - How to do your own TM search: www.awbfirm.com/podcast71

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

You’ve made the plans to take your business online, and decided on the basics we covered in part 1 of this series. Now what? 

Part of the beauty of starting an online business is that you can get up and running quickly, but there are still a few more things you need to tackle before you open your virtual doors.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How the terms and conditions on your website are different from your terms of use with your paying customers, plus why you’ll want to use both, especially if you’re a course creator
• The simple wording to include on your marketing materials, downloadables, and branding to protect your copyrights and trademarks
• The types of service providers that need to use a more robust contract, plus what should be included in this type of contract
• E-signing contracts vs. print, sign, scan and send back
• The essential policies every online retail store should include on their website
• Why you shouldn’t use a payment app like Venmo for your business
• What you need to know about email and social media marketing rules

BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or coronavirus 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! 

Resources:

AWB Firm Contract Template Store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Episode 4 - Do I need an LLC or corporation for my business?: www.awbfirm.com/podcast4

Privacy Policy Contract Template: bit.ly/PrivacyPolicy_AWBFirm

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

From retail to restaurants, businesses in every industry are flocking to the online space.

Navigating the ins and outs of online business can add another layer of unclear rules and laws to sift through as you set up your business. So, how do you know where to begin?

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How to choose the right model for your online business (what are you going to sell and how are you going to sell it)
• Choosing the best online venue for your online business (hint: you may not even need a website!)
• If you do choose to create a website for your online business, why making it functional is actually more important than how it looks
• How to choose a good website domain (hint: even if a domain is available, the business name itself may already be in use!)
• Which documents are you required to have on your website, and which are optional but still a good idea to include
• Other policies you should make sure you have spelled out for your customers (shipping, pickup, gift cards, and more)

BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or coronavirus 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! 

Resources:

Legal Road Map® Episode 71 - What is a trademark search and how to do one?: www.awbfirm.com/podcast71

Privacy Policy contract template: https://bit.ly/PrivacyPolicy_AWBFirm

Website Documents contract template bundle: https://bit.ly/WebsiteBundle_AWBFirm

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to let legal fall to the bottom of the priority pile. It can be much more exciting to work on your branding or website, or work up some new product ideas. But if you skip a few basic protections now, it could lead to big problems later. 

In this episode, I walk through the three actions I think every business owner should take before making their first $5k. 

(And, even if you’ve already crossed the $5k mark, don’t skip this one - you might learn about an important legal protection you haven’t tackled yet!)

• How going to the worst case scenario can help your contracts provide the greatest protection in your business
• Negotiating contracts (hint: they’re not set in stone!)
• Why protecting yourself from chargebacks is one of the first things you’ll want to do in your business
• What documents you need to make sure your website has from day one
• Why you SHOULDN’T worry about registering a trademark before you reach $5k
• What you SHOULD do before you choose a business or product name to set yourself up for later success

BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or coronavirus 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! 

Resources:

The AWB Firm Contract Template Store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Episode 71 of the Legal Road Map® podcast on trademark searches: www.awbfirm.com/podcast71

USPTO trademark search: http://tess2.uspto.gov

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to let legal fall to the bottom of the priority pile. It can be much more exciting to work on your branding or website, or work up some new product ideas. But if you skip a few basic protections now, it could lead to big problems later. 

In this episode, I walk through the three actions I think every business owner should take before making their first $5k. 

(And, even if you’ve already crossed the $5k mark, don’t skip this one - you might learn about an important legal protection you haven’t tackled yet!)

• How going to the worst case scenario can help your contracts provide the greatest protection in your business
• Negotiating contracts (hint: they’re not set in stone!)
• Why protecting yourself from chargebacks is one of the first things you’ll want to do in your business
• What documents you need to make sure your website has from day one
• Why you SHOULDN’T worry about registering a trademark before you reach $5k
• What you SHOULD do before you choose a business or product name to set yourself up for later success

BONUS: If you’re starting something new, or coronavirus 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! 

Resources:

The AWB Firm Contract Template Store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Episode 71 of the Legal Road Map® podcast on trademark searches: www.awbfirm.com/podcast71

USPTO trademark search: http://tess2.uspto.gov

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Hiring a lawyer for one-on-one help to protect your business probably seems like an impossible goal for a lot of business owners I know, especially in the midst of a pandemic. 

But did you know there are steps you can take on your own that will have you worrying less about things like refund requests, scope creep, and clients stealing your content, and more about how you’ll be able to scale to serve all the new clients coming your way? (And some of these steps won’t cost you a dime!). 

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How often you should be updating your client contracts
• How friction with your clients can help guide you to make smart changes in your business, and your contracts
• FREE ways to begin protecting your intellectual property
• Why using old contracts for new offerings can leave you and your business open to problems
• Why you should be using a contract, even for your side hustle

BONUS: If you’re ready for a break from Netflix by now, or coronavirus 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 the free legal checklist to make sure your business has a strong legal foundation! 

Resources:

Contract template store: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

The new AWB Firm website got a facelift recently - if you’ve discovered that your contract isn’t quite doing what you need it to (i.e., protecting you and your business), check out our new contract template shop at www.awbfirm.com. All templates and bundles are 40% off through April 30. No code needed.

If you know your way around the business section of your favorite book store, there’s no way you haven’t heard of Autumn’s guest this week: Mike Michalowicz. His simple but powerful business principles are featured in his incredibly popular books Profit First (a personal favorite), The Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, and his newest release Fix This Next.

In this interview, Mike shares his experience with growing multiple large and small businesses, navigating licensing deals, dealing with copycats, litigation, and more.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• The importance of taking deliberate action in your business, not just any action
• Why more is not always better when it comes to legal for your business
• How Mike has used licensing to spread and teach his business principles to more people
• Mike’s advice to business owners about how to pivot during COVID-19
• Smart communication tips you can use right now

Resources:

Mike’s website: www.mikemichalowicz.com

Mike’s Recession Response website: www.recessionresponse.com

Fix This Next: https://mikemichalowicz.com/fix-this-next-book/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! We start every VIP Day with a Legal Road Map® session, but you can schedule this session separate from a VIP Day too. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session

Looking up to some of the most successful people in your industry can either motivate you or make you feel like you’ll never get there. But one of the best ways to find success in your own business is by learning from those who are a few, or even many, steps ahead of you. 

Autumn is dishing on some of the simple ways her 7-figure + online course rockstars have set their businesses apart and become the household names we know and love. And the best part? Everything she shares in this episode is 100% actionable for you - no matter what stage of business you’re in.

In this episode, we cover the benefits of:

• Serving a very narrow niche without compromising your secret sauce
• Unabashedly being yourself even if know that means you won’t be for everyone
• Consistently giving away incredibly useful + valuable content for free
• Being willing to fail repeatedly on the road to success and seeing failure as data
• Starting with a digital product vs. 1:1 service
• Trying lots of different things before landing on your signature offering

BONUS: The new AWB Firm website launched recently - if you’ve discovered that your contract isn’t quite doing what you need it to (i.e., protecting you and your business), check out our new contract template shop. All templates and bundles are 40% off through April 15. No code needed

Client websites:

Katrina Ubell: https://katrinaubellmd.com/

Kara Loewentheil: https://unfckyourbrain.com/

Amy Porterfield: https://www.amyporterfield.com/

Corinne Crabtree: https://www.phit-n-phat.com/

Vanessa Levin: https://www.pre-kpages.com/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

This episode was recorded April 1, 2020.

If you’re a small business owner, you may feel like you’ve been dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for months already. You may have had to lay off employees, temporarily close your business, and more. Times are leaner and cash is oxygen for your business.

So what do you do when it comes time to pay your rent, your employees or yourself? Because you can’t pay these with a credit card.

Autumn explains all the options that may be available to small business owners to make sure they can get the cash they need to survive the current Coronavirus economic crisis.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• The importance of figuring out how much cash you need to run your business (and why this includes looking at your personal finances, too)
• Why now is the time to make sure your books are in order
• What free money may be available to you under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”)
• How unemployment benefits have changed (hint: benefits may be available to you when they previously were not - i.e., independent contractors, freelancers, self-employed, etc.)
• What you need to know about paid sick or family leave, as an employee and as an employer
• Why you’ll want to make a phone call to your mortgage company, landlord, bank, student loan servicer, and credit card company (please don’t just stop paying your bills!)
• What you need to know about small business loans - including SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Small Business Interruption Loans (SBIL) and the forgivable Payroll Protection Program loans, (PPP) - Autumn explains the alphabet soup!

BONUS: The new AWB Firm website launched recently, and while we had a big celebration planned, it just didn’t feel right to move forward with it given the current state of the world. BUT, we also know that a lot of business owners are dealing with refund requests, event cancellations, and more. If you’ve discovered that your contract isn’t quite doing what you need it to (i.e., protecting you and your business), check out our new contract template shop. All templates and bundles are 40% off through April 15. No code needed.

Resources:

AWB Firm COVID-19 / Coronavirus resources page, including step-by-step guide: www.awbfirm.com/covid19 

NY Times Coronavirus stimulus package article: https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-stimulus-package-questions-answers.html

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

When it comes to online marketing, there’s one name that stands above them all: Amy Porterfield. She worked with some of the biggest names in the business before striking out on her own and growing into a multimillion dollar online course business, now supported by a team of 15.

Amy is a client and friend of the AWB Firm, and in Autumn’s interview with Amy, you’ll get to hear about Amy’s business-building journey (including candid stories about mistakes along the way), working with our firm, growing her team, and why she wishes she’d dealt with legal much earlier in her business.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why a pivot in your business doesn’t always have to be drastic or even obvious
• How to recycle your existing content to create a new course or product
• Why having different avatars for each of your products is crucial to your sales
• How unprotected trademarks = unprotected revenue streams
• The unexpected issues that can come up when you start building a team
• How Amy delegates day-to-day legal matters to her team
• They key mindset shifts that Amy credits with reaching incredible levels of success
• And, since we were recording in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we talked about how it’s affected Amy’s business

BONUS: Are you stuck Googling the answers to what you need legally, and what’s just a good idea to have, before launching your online course? Head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast132 to get free access to my masterclass The 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business Is Probably Missing to make sure your online business is digital course-ready. 

Resources:

AWB Firm COVID-19 / Coronavirus resources page: www.awbfirm.com/covid19 

Amy’s website: www.amyporterfield.com

Amy’s podcast, Digital Marketing Made Easy: https://www.amyporterfield.com/amy-porterfield-podcast/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Have you poured your heart and soul into creating an online course? How upset would you be if one of your students copied some or all of your course content and tried to sell it as their own? Perhaps a more important question: how upset would you be with yourself if you didn't have an agreement in place that expressly prohibits your students from doing something like this? Our Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle can help you lock down your course content in the time it takes you to catch a few episodes of your latest Netflix binge. To buy your bundle and start protecting your online course today, visit www.onlinecourselegal.com/yes

This episode was recorded on March 17, 2020.  Find all of our Coronavirus resources here: www.awbfirm.com/covid19

There’s no denying it, we’re all in the same uncharted waters as the global Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic touches each and every one of us. Everyone is asking new questions and thinking through new scenarios, especially when it comes to our businesses.

This special episode is designed to answer some questions that may have come up for you in the wake of events cancelling, clients finding themselves in economic difficulty, and leading your business through this unprecedented time.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• What to do if your client wants to cancel or can’t pay for your services
• What to look for in your contracts to see if or how you’re covered in a pandemic
• Why it’s a great time to take a look at your business’s values and use them to guide your response in a crisis
• How digging your heels in when it comes to your contract can really cost you in the long run
• The importance of being proactive when it comes to cancelling your live event
• How technology can help you pivot your live event
• Why it may just be the perfect time to launch a new offer

BONUS: Do you have a team that helps you run your online business? Wondering what your best practices should be to make sure you take care of them while also taking care of business? Download our new FREE resource for employers during the Covid-19 pandemic at www.awbfirm.com/podcast131.  We’ll also send additional resources for best practices in these uncertain times as we develop them.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

When you’re already running a business, carving out the time to actually work on your online course can seem utterly impossible. Your clients always come first, so how do you balance continuing to provide them with the stellar service you’re known for, and make time to draft your course outline, record your modules, write copy for your student worksheets, and market your course?

More practical than legal advice, in this episode Autumn is sharing some of the best practices she’s seen working with our 6 and 7-figure + online course creators to help you start thinking creatively about how you can buckle down and present your course to the world.

In this episode, we cover:

• The importance of starting with something you’re not just good, but GREAT, at teaching
• Why you want to make sure you can offer a tangible, repeatable result to your students
• How to win BIG by starting with just one measurable result that will produce a significant positive outcome for your students
• The importance of thinking about marketing and sales before you start building your course
• How soliciting suggestions + ideas from your audience can translate into a very successful course launch
• Why Autumn loves to batch her tasks
• How selling your course before you create it can help you avoid lackluster (or zero) sales
• Why it’s so important to weigh the costs and benefits of paying an expert vs. you spending your time (what’s your hourly rate, again?) doing something you’re not great at
• How writing a launch date on your calendar can become your biggest motivator

BONUS: Are you stuck Googling the answers to what you need legally, and what’s just a good idea to have, before launching your online course? Head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast130 to get free access to my masterclass The 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business Is Probably Missing to make sure your online business is digital course-ready. 

Resources:

Positive Parenting Solutions: https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com/

Dana Malstaff’s Boss Mom® Ideal Client Scale course: https://boss-mom.com/ideal/ 

Lewis Howes’ How to Sell a Product Online (Before You Create It): https://lewishowes.com/sales/how-to-sell-a-product/

Kendrick Shope’s Authentic Selling University: https://learn.authenticsellinguniversity.com/asu-waitlist-join

Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy: https://www.amyporterfield.com/dca-waitlist/

Thinkific online course resources: https://www.thinkific.com/ and https://www.thinkific.com/blog/10-steps-creating-successful-online-course/

Teachable online course resources: https://teachable.com/ and https://teachable.com/blog/create-awesome-online-courses

Kajabi online course resources: https://kajabi.com/ and https://blog.kajabi.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-creating-and-selling-online-courses

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! Visit www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates.

Putting together an online course is a huge undertaking. There are so many moving parts - writing copy, sourcing or creating images/video, making sure your tech is working, marketing + sales, and more. I’m tired just thinking about it! 

If you’re not careful, all of those pieces can take you away from the parts of your business that are making you money now, and you’ll start out at a deficit before your course even launches. So what can you do to ensure your online course enables you to create more income, instead of draining the success you have already created?

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How paying commission to your affiliates can still help you exponentially increase your overall sales - and profit!
• The importance of using an affiliate agreement with all affiliates
• How outsourcing certain parts of creating your online course can actually end up saving you money in the long run
• Why it’s so critical to always use a contract when hiring an independent contractor
• Autumn’s tips to keep making sales of your course, even when you’re not launching

BONUS: Are you stuck Googling the answers to what you need legally, and what’s just a good idea to have, before launching your online course? Head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast128 to get free access to my masterclass The 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business Is Probably Missing to make sure your online business is digital course-ready. 

Resources:

Micro Famous, Matt Johnson: https://www.amazon.com/MicroFamous-Become-Famously-Influential-People-ebook/dp/B084ZGWVHJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=how+to+become+microfamous&qid=1582889149&sr=8-1

AWB Firm Contract Template Store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! We start every VIP Day with a Legal Road Map® session, but you can schedule this session separate from a VIP Day too. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session

It seems like everyone is adding a digital course to their arsenal of offerings these days. With tools like plug-and-play platforms and even courses on how to create your course, it’s easier than ever to start earning serious income from these popular products.

But what about the legal side of digital courses? In the rush to get your course up and running, it may be the last thing on your mind, but not taking the time to put even the most basic legal protections in place can create some real nightmares for you later on.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• One thing you must have on your website if you’re collecting any type of personal data from visitors (hello, newsletter sign ups and opt-in forms!)
• Why Terms and Conditions are an especially good idea to include on your website if you’re looking to add a digital course to your offerings
• When not including disclosures on your website can land you in a lot of trouble
• How having a client contract (Terms of Use) with your course students can provide a tremendous amount of protection for you (even if it’s not required by law)
• The refund/chargeback/payment plan nightmares you can avoid in your Terms of Use
• Why having a proven result from working with your 1:1 clients is the secret ingredient for big success with your digital course
• Autumn’s top questions to ask your ideal clients before you create your course

BONUS: Are you stuck trying to Google the answers to what you need and what’s just a good idea to have legally to launch your online course? Head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast128 to get free access to my masterclass The 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business Is Probably Missing to make sure your online business is digital course-ready. 

Resources:

Legal Road Map® Episode 126: www.awbfirm.com/podcast126

Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy: https://help.amyporterfield.com/article/67-dca-details

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

Growing your Instagram following can be tricky business. If you’ve ever struggled with your IG account, you know my guest is an expert on the platform: Jasmine Star!

Jasmine is a law school dropout, turned photographer, turned business strategist, who has transitioned from offering 1:1 services, to digital courses, to now a membership model to help business owners grow their social media reach.

In this episode, she’s dishing on some lessons she learned the hard way, sharing a couple of embarrassing stories she’s NEVER told before, and continuing to be an all-around inspiration.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Jasmine’s challenges in transitioning from selling online courses to a membership or subscription model
• How Jasmine overcame finding out the domain she wanted was already owned by someone else
• What a “side hustle clause” means, and why you might want to include it in your employment or independent contractor agreements
• A few alternatives to consider if you need a contract but can’t afford to hire a lawyer to create one from scratch

BONUS: By now, you now know you need a Privacy Policy on your website or landing page to make sure your FB ad is approved, but what other legal documents do you need to include on your website? Head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast127 to download our free website documents checklist to make sure your website or landing page isn’t missing anything that might cause your ad to be rejected. 

Resources:

Jasmine’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/jasminestar

Jasmine’s website: www.jasminestar.com

Jasmine’s Social Curator subscription: www.socialcurator.com

AWB Firm Contract Template Store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Have you poured your heart and soul into creating an online course? How upset would you be if one of your students copied some or all of your course content and tried to sell it as their own? Perhaps a more important question: how upset would you be with yourself if you didn't have an agreement in place that expressly prohibits your students from doing something like this? Our Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle can help you lock down your course content in the time it takes you to catch a few episodes of your latest Netflix binge. 

To buy your bundle and start protecting your online course today, visit www.onlinecourselegal.com/yes 

If you’ve been paying attention to Facebook over the last couple of years, you’ll know that FB is making a big push for users to engage in groups. So, not surprisingly, FB groups have been popping up everywhere, whether they’re free and open to anyone, or private and part of a paid membership or online course.

But what happens if someone’s behavior in your FB group goes against your standards? And what happens when your group grows so large that you have to enlist some help in monitoring activity and enforcing your rules?

Plus, what are the consequences of bad-talking others in Facebook posts or comments?

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• The rules two of the biggest names in online business use in their FB groups, and why
• The most common pitfalls in groups to be aware of and how you can avoid them by carefully crafting your group guidelines
• Why it’s a good idea for some of your guidelines (i.e., admin’s right to remove people from the group) to be open-ended, but not too open-ended
• What defamation, slander, and libel really are, and what can go wrong if you are bad-talking others in Facebook groups

BONUS: By now, you now know you need a Privacy Policy on your website or landing page to make sure your FB ad is approved, but what other legal documents do you need to include on your website? Head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast126 to download our free website documents checklist to make sure your website or landing page isn’t missing anything that might cause your ad to be rejected. 

Resources:

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/

Get a Privacy Policy (and other website documents) in the AWB Firm Contract Template store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Dana Malstaff’s Facebook group guidelines for Boss Mom® : https://www.facebook.com/groups/BossMomGroup/about/

Marie Forleo’s Facebook group guidelines for B-School Alumni: https://www.facebook.com/groups/571503882933914/

Boss Mom® group  guidelines:

Boss Mom® group  guidelines:

1. No Promotions or Spam

Give more than you take to this group. Self-promotion, sharing links to your personal page, spam, use of hashtags and irrelevant links aren't allowed.

2. Members may not go live, share videos of themselves or their friends without admin approval.

You may not go live in our group or share promotional content on behalf of your friends in the Boss Mom Facebook group.

3. No Unsolicited PMing of Members

Direct sellers or any other business may not personally message members unsolicited. Have value to share? Put it in the group. Posts that lead to: "I'll PM you" will be deleted

4. No sharing news stories or articles into the group

We do not allow members to share ANY news stories or articles into the group. Please ask questions and engage on relevant topics but no sharing articles.

5. No Hate Speech or Bullying

Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn't allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity will not be tolerated.

6. Be Kind and Courteous

We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let's treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.

7. No Long Form Teach Posts

Posts should not sound like a blog post ora motivational speech. These kinds of posts are better for your Instagram feed or as a blog post.

8. No political, religious, or cultural posts

If your post talks about a particular event or situation you did not like and its sole purpose is for others to agree with your point of view then it may be removed from the feed.

9. No Motivational quotes

While we appreciate your desire to motivate others in the group, the best way to do that is by commeting on their posts.

10. No Prompts allowed

We love when you ask questions, but we do not allow you to ask prompt questions like (share wins, where are you from, raise your hand if)

B-School Alumni group guidelines:

1. Be Kind. Encourage and support your fellow B-Schoolers. Never make anyone feel unwelcome or judged; treat everyone with love and acceptance.
2. No venting. This is the place to lift others up. We don’t put anyone down — be it other programs, industries, teachers or people. Ie "I'm so upset this web designer did this" or "All coaches should be certified"
3. Be Generous. Give more than you ask. Share what you’re working on, but keep a larger emphasis on sharing support, wisdom, and encouragement. Think 3:1. Give 3X more support, insight, and encouragement than you ask for.
4. Don't Share Your Work or Services. All offerings of yours or someone else's, including free and beta, belong on one of our three sharing threads. All posts shared from an outside source (FB page, YouTube, blog) will be removed.
5. No massive "like parties." Don't ask people to “like” your FB page, follow your Instagram account or follow you on Twitter or LinkedIn. This also includes putting together social media “pods," blog shares & watch parties.
6. Be Ethical and Original. This is a safe place to share your work and get feedback, not a place to reuse or repurpose other member’s content.
7. Respect Each Other's Privacy. Always get permission to contact or direct message another member or add them to your newsletter list.
8. Do Your Due Diligence. If you choose to work with another B-Schooler, make sure you get a clear, written service agreement in place.
9. No asking for votes, likes or shares. Any post that asks someone to take an action outside of this page will be removed. Including asking folks to vote for you, like your page, share your work, or read an article.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! Visit www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates.

If you rely on Facebook or Instagram ads to make sales in your business, losing your ads account is probably one of your biggest nightmares. A shut-down account could cripple your next launch and have a serious effect on your bottom line. 

I’m sharing juicy stories from online business owners who have dealt with this super frustrating situation, and, in several cases, what they were able to do to get their accounts reinstated.

The good news is, if you understand the rules and regulations for ads accounts, you can (in most cases) avoid having your account shut down.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Steps you can take if you think your account has been flagged or shut down by mistake
• Why your ad’s landing page is just as important as the content in your ad itself
• Which kinds of keywords in your ads or other content will increase your chances of getting shut down
• How a ‘final’ determination from Facebook isn’t always final

BONUS: By now, you now know you need a Privacy Policy on your website or landing page to make sure your ad is approved, but what other documents do you need to include? Head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast125 to download our free website documents checklist to make sure your website or landing page isn’t missing anything that might cause your ad to be rejected. 

Resources:

Get a Privacy Policy (and other website documents) in the AWB Firm Contract Template store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

FB Ads Policies: https://www.facebook.com/policies/ads/

FB Community standards: https://www.facebook.com/communitystandards/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! We start every VIP Day with a Legal Road Map® session, but you can schedule this session separate from a VIP Day too. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session

Facebook ads can seem like a mystery - it’s no wonder there are people who have made a whole career out of helping others set up ads that work.

Whether you’re a seasoned social media ad user, or you’re just starting to think about using them, you know ads can be a powerful tool to help move the needle when it comes to driving traffic, generating leads, and making sales.

But ads often get rejected… repeatedly. And for different reasons than you might think. So, what do you need to know before you run that ad so you can avoid any potential problems?

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How your ad’s copy or images may not be the reason it keeps getting rejected
• The essential elements you need on the landing page your ad leads to
• The potentially tricky business of using other people’s content in connection with your ad

BONUS: From today’s episode, you now know you need a Privacy Policy on your website or landing page, but what other documents to you need to include? Head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast124 to download our free website documents checklist to make sure your website or landing page isn’t missing anything that might cause your ad to be rejected. 

Resources:

FB Ads Policies: https://www.facebook.com/policies/ads/

FB Community standards: https://www.facebook.com/communitystandards/

Get a Privacy Policy (and other website documents) in the AWB Firm Contract Template store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

If you’ve reached Scale Phase, your business has “made it”. You’re making six to seven figures and might even have your sights set on eight. Your team has grown to include mostly employees with a few independent contractors, but they’ve all grown to be dependent on your business’s success for their own.

More money, more problems indeed, which is why you’ll want to listen to this episode to see what legal pitfalls you need to keep an eye out for and how you can prevent them.

Even if you’re still in Launch Phase, this is a great episode to listen to so you know what lies ahead.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why different revenue streams can require different legal protections
• The importance of sitting down to ‘issue spot’ with an attorney when you’re in Scale Phase
• Why your business is likely to become a copycat magnet in Scale Phase
• Why your corporate structure may no longer be enough to protect your business assets and what to do in addition to choosing the right corporate structure (hint: it’s time to get insurance!)
• How critical it is to handle employment matters properly - not doing so can actually land you in jail!
• Why it’s time to consider having an attorney on retainer in Scale Phase

BONUS: Scale Phase Entrepreneur Checklist -- head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast123 to learn about what can go wrong legally as you enter the Scale Phase of your business, and simple actions you can take now to avoid costly problems later, in our Scale Phase Entrepreneur Checklist.  We’ll be releasing a brand-new legal checklist for each phase of your business building journey, free with every episode this month!

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Have you poured your heart and soul into creating an online course? How upset would you be if one of your students copied some or all of your course content and tried to sell it as their own? Perhaps a more important question: how upset would you be with yourself if you didn't have an agreement in place that expressly prohibits your students from doing something like this? Our Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle can help you lock down your course content in the time it takes you to catch a few episodes of your latest Netflix binge. 

To buy your bundle and start protecting your online course today, visit www.onlinecourselegal.com/yes  

If you’re in the Success Phase of business - your business is stable, you’re making consistent revenue you and others depend on (from $50,000 to low six-figures) and you’ve built a team  - this episode is for you.

Learn some expensive mistakes you could be making in your business, whether you’re a done-for-you service provider, a coach, or a course creator. 

And even if you’re still in the earlier Launch Phase or Solopreneur Phase, or in a later phase of building your business, you’ll want to tune in to make sure you’ve taken care of your legal basics, or get an idea of potential problems that lie ahead.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why it’s important to distinguish between independent contractors doing ongoing work for your business and those who just handle a one-time project
• How misclassifying a worker can be one of the most expensive mistakes you make
• Why it’s absolutely essential to use a written agreement when you’re collaborating with another business or individual
• The one trademark you need to register once you reach the Success Phase

BONUS: Success Phase Entrepreneur Checklist -- head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast122 to learn about what can go wrong legally as you enter the Success Phase of your business, and simple actions you can take now to avoid costly problems later, in our Success Phase Entrepreneur Checklist.  We’ll be releasing a brand-new legal checklist for each phase of your business building journey, free with every episode this month!

Resources:

Previous episodes about working with contractors and employees the right way:

Legal Road Map® episode 91 - www.awbfirm.com/podcast91

Legal Road Map® episode 49 - www.awbfirm.com/podcast49

Legal Road Map® episode 37 - www.awbfirm.com/podcast37

Legal Road Map® podcast archives (all episodes) - www.awbfirm.com/podcast

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! Visit www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates.

If you’re in the Solopreneur Phase of business - your business is no longer a baby, you’re making revenue you depend on (up to $50,000) and you’re still the one doing all the things  - this episode is for you.

Learn some expensive mistakes you could be making in your business, whether you’re a done-for-you service provider, a coach, or a course creator. 

And even if you may still be in Launch Phase, or in a later phase, you’ll want to tune in to make sure you’ve taken care of your legal basics, or get an idea of potential problems that lie ahead.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why the Solopreneur Phase is a really great time to take care of legal (even if it seems too early)
• How your website might not be covered legally if you’re missing specific documents required by law
• Why it’s so critical to protect your primary revenue stream at this stage
• How to avoid common client problems, like: 
• • Non-payment
  • Scope creep
  • Refund requests
  • Ghosting in the middle of a project
  • Disputes about who owns the work product
  • Firing a nightmare client
  • Copycats
  • Flaking on payment plans, or 
  • Causing drama in your community or group

BONUS: Solopreneur Phase Entrepreneur Checklist -- head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast121 to learn about what can go wrong legally as you enter the solopreneur phase of your business, and simple actions you can take now to avoid costly problems later, in our Solopreneur Phase Entrepreneur Checklist.  We’ll be releasing a brand-new legal checklist for each phase of your business building journey, free with every episode this month!

Resources:

Legal Road Map® Episode 81: www.awbfirm.com/podcast81

Contract templates: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! We start every VIP Day with a Legal Road Map® session, but you can schedule this session separate from a VIP Day too. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session

If you’re starting or growing your business in 2020, my guess is you don’t know half of the things that can go wrong legally in your business. 

All season, we’re talking about dreaming + scheming, and the expensive legal pitfalls you’ll want to avoid in each stage of starting, building, and scaling your online business. 

If you’re in Launch Phase of business - maybe you still have a day job while you get started, or you’re full-time but still getting your business off the ground - this episode is for you.

(Even if you’re further along in business, you might find that you still need to button up some of the legal issues I discuss in this episode!)

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why launch phase is the perfect time to create a strong foundation for your online business
• If you need to form a corporate entity when you’re in launch phase
• Why it’s important to check that no one’s using the name you want for your business before you get started
• Why you probably don’t need to worry about registering your trademark in launch phase
• If you need to have a contract for any collaborations when you’re just getting started
• Why it’s essential to make sure you keep your business and personal expenses separate
• Why using other people’s intellectual property (i.e., images, music, etc.) is one thing you absolutely want to avoid when you’re just getting started
• What is perhaps the most important thing to remember in launch phase

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast120 for show notes.

BONUS: Launch Phase Entrepreneur Checklist -- head to www.awbfirm.com/podcast120 to learn about what can go wrong legally as you launch your business, and simple actions you can take now to avoid costly problems later, in our Launch Phase Entrepreneur Checklist.  We’ll be releasing a brand-new legal checklist for each phase of your business building journey, free with every episode this month!

Resources:

Legal Road Map® episode: LLC vs. corporation for your online business www.awbfirm.com/podcast108

Legal Road Map® episode: Making partnerships and collaborations successful  www.awbfirm.com/podcast35

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

Learn what trends we’re seeing with our 7+ figure online business owner clients for 2020.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The benefits of a membership or subscription model, that go beyond recurring revenue
• What's coming up with live events - and how you can use photos or video of your in-person event to promote the next one
• Why you might want to niche even further when it comes to your online course
• Why you might want to offer done-for-you services alongside your online course

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast119 for show notes.

Resources: 

Legal Road Map® podcast: interviews with Corinne Crabtree - www.awbfirm.com/podcast34, www.awbfirm.com/podcast88

Legal Road Map® podcast: interview with Kara Loewentheil - www.awbfirm.com/podcast92

Legal Road Map® podcast: interview with Tara McMullin - www.awbfirm.com/podcast79

Legal Road Map® podcast: Affiliate episodes - www.awbfirm.com/podcast95, www.awbfirm.com/podcast97

BONUS: What’s your contract missing? Get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.  

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Does the idea of working with a lawyer make your palms sweat? If you’ve never worked with a lawyer, it just might! 

Learn what it's really like to hire our firm to help with your legal needs, from start to finish.  You'll hear about the entire process, and why working a lawyer doesn’t have to be scary.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Why we ask potential clients to fill out a questionnaire before we provide a quote for a particular project
• Why it's best to work with a lawyer who specializes in the area of law you need help with
• The steps we take before we can start on a client project to ensure success
• Why, even when you've got a lawyer on your side, you’re still responsible for making the final decision

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast118 for show notes.

BONUS: What’s your contract missing? Get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! We start every VIP Day with a Legal Road Map® session, but you can schedule this session separate from a VIP Day too. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session  

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Boss lawyer-turned-strategist Heather Hubbard shares her experience making the leap into entrepreneurship, why contracts are critical, and her recent Legal VIP Day experience with the AWB Firm.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The importance of knowing you are bigger ‘why’
• Why you need to use contracts with your collaborators - every time!
• Why it's also critical to still have an actual conversation about what’s in your contract with your customers
• How documentation is essential when faced with a credit card chargeback or dispute
• When it’s time to hire out different types of tasks in your business
• Heather’s experience with the AWB Firm’s new Legal VIP Day

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast117 for show notes.

BONUS: What’s your contract missing? Get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

Heather’s website: https://www.heatherjoyhubbard.com/blueprint/

Hustle & Flow podcast: https://www.heatherjoyhubbard.com/podcast/

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! Visit www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Our firm works with successful 7 & 8 figure online business owners every day, and we've started to notice a few important qualities that they share.

We're sharing the four things they consistently do to create and sustain success (and how you can implement these into your business NOW).

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Why continuing to “bootstrap it” into seven-figures is a recipe for burnout
• The first two positions CEOs / founders typically fill on their teams
• How handing over marketing to another team member can be a big stumbling block for seven-figure founders
• Why CEOs spend time with people who are further along in business than they are, not just their peers
• Why making 1, 5, or 10 year goals and being proactive is essential to get you to the business of your dreams
• What CEO/founders know about spending money to get in front of people (leads aren’t free!)

Key takeaway: Keeping an eye on those who are further along in business is one of THE best ways to ensure you reach their level.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast116 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

Get Paid podcast with Clare Pelletreau: https://clairepells.com/category/podcast/

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/ 

Have you poured your heart and soul into creating an online course? How upset would you be if one of your students copied some or all of your course content and tried to sell it as their own? Perhaps a more important question: how upset would you be with yourself if you didn't have an agreement in place that expressly prohibits your students from doing something like this? Our Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle can help you lock down your course content in the time it takes you to catch a few episodes of your latest Netflix binge. 

To buy your bundle and start protecting your online course today, visit www.onlinecourselegal.com/yes  

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Physician-turned-life-coach Katrina Ubell shares her experience growing her weight loss coaching business and the importance of using contracts.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Why having your team members sign a contract doesn’t mean there’s a lack of trust
• Signs that it’s time to add professional advisors to your team
• The business-growing benefits to hiring employees vs. independent contractors
• Why having a solid client services contract can be the best first legal investment to make in your business (and what could go wrong if you skip it!)

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast115 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

Weight Loss for Busy Physicians: www.katrinaubellmd.com

Weight Loss for Busy Physicians Podcast: https://katrinaubellmd.com/podcast/

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

We kept hearing from our clients that they didn't have time to get legal projects done.  

So we created a solution tailor made for online business owners with the least amount of time, who still want to protect their business.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• What the AWB Firm’s Legal VIP Day looks like: a 360-degree overview of the entire experience
• How you can get more legal projects done in less time
• The value of having white space on your calendar - for legal AND non-legal projects
• How blocking off an entire day to focus on legal for your online business can actually be FUN!

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast114 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

Legal VIP Day: www.awbfirm.com/VIP-day

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! We start every VIP Day with a Legal Road Map® session, but you can schedule this session separate from a VIP Day too. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session   

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn tips, tricks, and course creator best practices from Teachable’s Cameron Mattis.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The importance of having a specific audience and niche with for your online course
• How using the language that your audience uses is gold when it comes to connecting with them
• The ‘before and after’ exercise Cameron recommends when putting together your online course
• How setting clear expectations for your online course can help you and your students avoid frustration down the road
• How “perfect is the enemy of done” is one of the best pieces of advice for course creators
• The pros and cons of a membership model vs. a course
• Why providing continued value doesn’t necessarily have to mean creating new content each month

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast113 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR LISTENERS! Enter the code AWBPODCAST to upgrade your account for one free month of our Pro plan (normally $99). 

Everything Is Teachable podcast: https://teachable.com/podcast/everything-is-teachable

Atomic Habits, James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

James Clear’s The Habits Academy (hosted on Teachable): https://habitsacademy.com/

Teachable’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachable

Teachable’s Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/teachable

Teachable’s website: www.teachable.com

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! Visit www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn how you can protect your online course with trademark and copyrights and what recourse is available to you if you discover someone is copying all or part of your course.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The roles that trademark and/or copyright protections can play in helping you avoid copycats
• The frustrating limitations of copyrights
• What ‘trade dress’ is and how it might apply to your website or online course
• How strong terms of use on your website is your first line of defense
• The importance of registering your copyrights if you want to be able to defend them
• Why (immediate!) screenshots are your best friend if you see your content being copied

Key takeaway: Imitation in the online course world doesn’t always feel like flattery. If you put the right protections in place early on, you have a strong leg to stand on when it comes to dealing with copycats.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast112 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

Legal Road Map® podcast, Episode 110 (How to use other people’s content in your course): www.awbfirm.com/podcast110

Legal Road Map® podcast, Episode 99 (Copyrights for course creators): www.awbfirm.com/podcast99

Have you poured your heart and soul into creating an online course? How upset would you be if one of your students copied some or all of your course content and tried to sell it as their own? Perhaps a more important question: how upset would you be with yourself if you didn't have an agreement in place that expressly prohibits your students from doing something like this? Our Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle can help you lock down your course content in the time it takes you to catch a few episodes of your latest Netflix binge. 

To buy your bundle and start protecting your online course today, visit www.onlinecourselegal.com/yes  

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Celebrity copywriter Laura Belgray dishes on what it’s like to co-produce an online course with Marie Forleo, how she reluctantly shifted from high-end service provider to course creator, and more.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The simple addition to your contracts that can help you step up your portfolio and testimonial game
• The power in finding the favorite part of your business
• Why every partnership needs a clear “divorce” clause in the contract
• How solid contracts and documentation can help you win a chargeback
• Why Laura recommends doing things before you feel ready

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast111 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

Laura’s website (it’s brand new and so good): https://talkingshrimp.com/

Laura’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingshrimpnyc/

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn the best ways to avoid landing in hot water (copyright or trademark infringement) when you use other people’s content in your online course.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The 3 best ways to be able to use other people’s content legally 
• What the “public domain” is and how to navigate it
• The risky business of using images you find on Google (spoiler: just don’t do it!)
• The tricky side of using images from and on social media platforms
• What “fair use” is

Key takeaway: Best practice is always to create your own content, but with a little legal legwork and know-how, it can be possible to use other people’s content in your online course or business, the right way.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast110 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

Cornell University public domain chart: https://copyright.cornell.edu/publicdomain

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our Legal Road Map® session. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session 

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Have you ever wondered whether you need a patent for your business?

Do you have an idea, invention, method or system you'd like to protect?

Learn the ins and outs of patent law from my friend, patent attorney John DeBoer.  In this episode we’ll cover:

• The basics about patents + what’s protectable
• Why filing your patent application FIRST is critical (spoiler: it doesn’t matter if something was your idea first if someone else files first!)
• Some important reasons you should keep your idea to yourself until you're ready to file your patent application
• Why you might want to use an NDA when discussing your idea + what to include in your NDA to make sure it actually protects you
• How much does a patent application costs
• Lifetime costs associated with maintaining your patent
• Hurdles you may have to overcome if you want to patent your process or system

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast109 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

John’s website: www.rdoipi.com

John’s contact info: john@rdoip.com, 281-372-6114

Video/slides for this episode: https://www.rdoip.com/blog/2019/9/3/john-deboer-speaks-with-autumn-witt-boyd-about-patent-pitfalls

NDA contract template in AWB Firm Contract Template Store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! Visit www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

How do you know when it's time to form an LLC or corporation?

Learn why it’s a good idea for course creators to form a corporate entity, and which entities work best for different types of businesses.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Why it’s critical to speak to both a lawyer AND a CPA when you’re making the decision about the best legal entity for your business
• What "liability protection" actually means, and how forming an entity helps you get it
• How to safeguard your personal home, car, bank accounts, and other assets from things that might go wrong in your business
• Higher risk course topics that may affect which entity you choose
• Why adding a physical location or hiring employees may mean it’s time to form an entity
• Tax and insurance issues to consider when choosing which entity to form
• Different types of entities and when it’s a good idea to consider each one
• A few steps you’ll need to take to open your business bank account (and what order to do them in!)
• What the "corporate veil" is and why you do NOT want a court to "pierce" it!

Key takeaway: Protecting your personal assets is the name of the game when it comes to forming a corporate entity, but consulting with a trusted advisor (or two!) can help you make the right choice for your business.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast108 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

Corporate entity cheatsheet: www.awbfirm.com/podcast108

GDPR podcast episodes: www.awbfirm.com/podcast38, www.awbfirm.com/podcast39, www.awbfirm.com/podcast40

Have you poured your heart and soul into creating an online course? How upset would you be if one of your students copied some or all of your course content and tried to sell it as their own? Perhaps a more important question: how upset would you be with yourself if you didn't have an agreement in place that expressly prohibits your students from doing something like this? Our Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle can help you lock down your course content in the time it takes you to catch a few episodes of your latest Netflix binge. 

To buy your bundle and start protecting your online course today, visit www.onlinecourselegal.com/yes 

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn how Tyler J. McCall built his business teaching business owners how to use Instagram by incorporating an online course with his membership community.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• How the questions all your clients are asking over and over again maybe the key to creating content in your online course
• Why including an online course with your membership community can be a best practice
• The surprising ways your membership community changes when you scale
• The important reasons to do a trademark search BEFORE you fall in love with your product, service, or business name
• Why being serious about growing your business means acknowledging you can’t do everything yourself

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast107 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

Tyler’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerjmccall/ 

Tyler’s website: https://www.tylerjmccall.com

Follower to Fan Society: https://www.followertofansociety.com/closed

DIY your own trademark search: https://awbfirm.com/podcast6/

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn when you absolutely SHOULD register a trademark for your online course name and when you can likely wait.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• How to decide if now is the time to register your trademark
• How trademark law is really designed to protect consumers (as well as your business)
• The downsides of relying on common law trademark rights
• What enforcing your trademark rights really looks like in your business
• How a registered trademark can increase your business's value when it comes to sell your business or license your course, method, or process
• When you may NOT want or need to register your trademark

Key takeaway: A registered trademark is the best way to shut down a copycat, but there are some important questions to ask yourself to make sure it’s the right time for your business.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast106 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

Episode 99 of the Legal Road Map® podcast - Copyrights: www.awbfirm.com/podcast99

Episode 104 of the Legal Road Map® podcast - Choosing a Good Course Name: www.awbfirm.com/podcast104

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it’s probably time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn how Boss Mom Dana Malstaff created one of the most popular communities on Facebook, and how she’s using courses in her business.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The challenges of cultivating a successful online community and the importance of setting firm boundaries from the start
• The surprising cost (financial and emotional) of enforcing your registered trademark
• Some of the criteria to consider when creating your policy for admitting new people into your online community
• Tweaks to your your onboarding and documentation process that can go a long way to protect your business
• A good question to ask yourself if you’re considering starting a membership program

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast105 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

The Vault: https://boss-mom.com/vault-membership/

Boss-Mom® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BossMomGroup/

Dana’s first interview on the podcast: www.awbfirm.com/podcast24

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! Visit www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn what makes a strong trademark, how-to DIY your trademark search, and what to steer clear of when choosing a name for your digital course.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The different types of trademarks and the pros and cons of each
• What a suggestive trademark is and why it may be the best route to go when choosing your course name
• What a descriptive trademark is and why it’s the most difficult to register
• What’s required to register your own name as a trademark
• Ways you can DIY your trademark search

Key takeaway: A legal checkup before you run FB ads can mean the difference between a super successful campaign and throwing money down the drain.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast104 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

FREE Naming Guide: www.awbfirm.com/podcast104

Episode 45 of the Legal Road Map® podcast - How to DIY Your ™ Search: www.awbfirm.com/podcast45

USPTO search: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-application-process/search-trademark-database

Namechekr: https://www.namecheckr.com/

Have you poured your heart and soul into creating an online course? How upset would you be if one of your students copied some or all of your course content and tried to sell it as their own? Perhaps a more important question: how upset would you be with yourself if you didn't have an agreement in place that expressly prohibits your students from doing something like this? Our Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle can help you lock down your course content in the time it takes you to catch a few episodes of your latest Netflix binge. 

To buy your bundle and start protecting your online course today, visit www.onlinecourselegal.com/yes 

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn the important role courses have played in Rick Mulready building his online business.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The importance of validating the concept of your course before investing your time and money to create it
• Why you need to be sure your user experience is ready to go before running Facebook ads
• How documenting your processes and procedures early on can help you grow your team and business
• Why you should review Facebook’s ad policies monthly if you’re running ads
• The importance of using contracts with an ads expert or manager

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast103 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

Rick Mulready: https://rickmulready.com

Rick’s Accelerator Mastermind: https://rickmulready.com/accelerator

The Art of Paid Traffic podcast: https://rickmulready.com/category/aoptpodcast/

Rick’s Instagram: @rickmulready

Loom: www.loom.com

Working with professionals in your business podcast episodes: Legal Road Map® episodes 41-44, www.awbfirm.com/podcast

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it might be time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn how the legal health of your business can affect how you run Facebook or Instagram ads, or even if they’re approved.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Why you’ll want to check out Facebook’s ad policies before you start working on your ad images or copy
• What FB checks out when you submit an ad for approval
• How your site’s privacy policy (or lack thereof) can affect your ad approval
• What you need to know about intellectual property when it comes to FB ads
• Things you may be required to disclose in connection with your FB ads

Key takeaway: A legal checkup before you run FB ads can mean the difference between a super successful campaign and lighting hundred dollar bills on fire.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast102 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

Contract template store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our Legal Road Map® session. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session 

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Stacy Tuschl shares about being in year four with She’s Building Her Empire, growing her brick-and-mortar business, and shifting into online business.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• How Stacy uses inexpensive digital products to grow her reach
• The importance of a clear result students can expect from taking your course
• Why it’s important to consult an expert when it comes to your trademark
• How providing great customer service can help when it comes to disputes like chargebacks

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast101 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

Stacy’s first interview on the podcast: www.awbfirm.com/podcast20

She’s Building Her Empire: www.shesbuildingherempire.com

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! Visit www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

(S4E100) 100th episode! A behind-the-curtain peek inside the AWB Firm

We’re celebrating our 100th episode! Emily Thompson of the Being Boss podcast and Almanac Supply Co. interviews Autumn about:

• What it's been like to build the AWB Firm for the past four years
• Growing a team
• Legal lessons learned (yes, even lawyers need legal!)
• Work-life balance as an owner of a successful law firm + a mom to 3 young kids
• Designing a life you don’t need a vacation from

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast100 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Have you poured your heart and soul into creating an online course? How upset would you be if one of your students copied some or all of your course content and tried to sell it as their own? Perhaps a more important question: how upset would you be with yourself if you didn't have an agreement in place that expressly prohibits your students from doing something like this? Our Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle can help you lock down your course content in the time it takes you to catch a few episodes of your latest Netflix binge. 

To buy your bundle and start protecting your online course today, visit www.onlinecourselegal.com/yes 

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn what copyrights can protect when you should register them, and the benefits EARLY copyright registration provides.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• The types of content that can be protected by copyrights
• Why facts and ideas aren’t protectable by copyrights (and what you actually can protect instead)
• Why the automatic protection provided by U.S. copyright law isn’t as great as it sounds
• The extra benefits of registering your copyrights, and registering them early
• Who owns the copyrights when you create a work as an employee or an independent contractor
• Who can use the © symbol, and how you should be using it the right way
• What type of business should hire a copyright attorney to register their copyright, and who can probably DIY the process
• Who can use © and how you should be using it

Key takeaway: Copyright protections are automatic under US law, but you can’t enforce them without taking the time to file a registration. Best practice for your online course is to register them early!

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast99 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources: 

U.S. Copyright Office: www.copyright.gov

Legal Road Map® podcast, episode 8 on fair use: www.awbfirm.com/podcast8

Contract template store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle: https://onlinecourselegal.com/yes/

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our Legal Road Map® session. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business and provide you with a report of recommended steps personalized for your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, visit https://awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session 

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Lawyer turned Thinkific CEO Greg Smith talks about lessons learned when developing his own online course and shares some of his best tips for course creators who are just getting started.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Greg's best tips to make your online course successful
• The value in proving your concept before pouring countless hours and dollars into what you think your final product needs to be
• What a "takedown notice" is and how it can give you some peace of mind if you worry about having your course content copied or stolen
• The top terms Thinkific recommends you make sure are a part of your course terms of use
• Why you should consider including progress tracking, quizzes, and assignments in your online course

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast98 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write solid contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include. www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

Thinkific: www.thinkific.com

FREE Student Engagement Course: get.thinkific.com/awb

If you’re so in love with your course, product, or business name that you’re ready to say “I do”, it might be time to register your trademark. The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our seamless process and flat-fee pricing (i.e., no surprise bills for you!). If you’re ready to learn more or get started, visit www.awbfirm.com/trademark-copyright/.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn about the important terms your affiliate program agreement needs to include. This is part two of a two-part series on affiliate programs.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Why you may want to think twice before referring to your affiliate collab as a “joint venture” or “partnership”
• How contracts can help your affiliate program be more profitable
• Why it’s so important to spell out exactly what your affiliates are required to do to promote your product or services
• Things to consider when defining how and when you’ll pay your affiliates’ commission
• Why you might want to limit the term, or length of time,  your affiliates are in your program
• Why the general terms at the bottom of your contract can sometimes be the most important

Key takeaway: Clear terms in your affiliate agreement provide a strong foundation for your affiliate program to grow on.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast97 for show notes.

BONUS: get your hands on our FREE resource to help you write your contracts: The 5 terms I think every contract should include: www.awbfirm.com/5terms 

Resources:

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/

Want to make sure your business is protected but working one-on-one with a lawyer just isn’t in the budget? Our customizable contract templates are a great, affordable way to get protection for yourself and your business without breaking the bank. Shop our selection of contract templates for online businesses and protect your business today! www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Scalability expert Haley Burkhead shares how she’s grown her online business to a half-million dollar brand in just 12 months, plus some tough legal lessons learned (yes, hackers are a real thing!)

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Automation in your business and how it can help you prevent burnout
• The vital importance of communicating with and listening to your audience
• Why handling PR nightmares with grace will serve you better than the alternative
• Why you don’t necessarily need to grow your audience before you launch a course or affiliate program
• The importance of being selective when approving affiliates to promote your products or services

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast96 for show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Worried about the legal blindspots that may be lurking in your business? The AWB Firm can help! Clients love our Legal Road Map® session. One of our experienced attorneys will take a one-hour deep-dive into your business. And you’ll be confident you’re not missing anything essential now, and you’ll learn what you might need to do later. For more info or to book your Legal Road Map® session, click here!  

Resources:

Haley’s FREE training: profitplanner.co/grow

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn how affiliate programs can increase the reach (and bottom line!) of your online course without having to hire an entire sales team.

In this episode we’ll cover:

• Important things to consider when you’re thinking about who you want to be your affiliates
• Some of the potential downsides to having a large number of affiliates
• Why it’s important to outline what your affiliates are required to do, and what type of training, perks or collateral will you provide them with
• Why you want to make sure your process is running like a well-oiled machine before you start your affiliate program

Key takeaway: With a little bit of forward planning, affiliate programs can help your online course sales skyrocket.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast95 for show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Marie Forleo affiliate page: https://marieforleobschool.com/bschool-affiliate-partner-info/

ConvertKit affiliate page: https://convertkit.com/affiliate/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Professor turned CEO Dr. Lindsay Padilla helps teachers become entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs become teachers with her signature method that focuses on helping students to actually finish online courses.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The two things you need in order for your course to succeed
• Lindsay’s B.E.T.A. framework for course creation and how it can help you build your course faster than you ever thought possible
• Why your course is never really done
• How ironclad contracts can help you set boundaries and prevent burnout
• Trademark considerations when you’re looking to rebrand
• The importance of marketing your course to your ideal student

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast94 for show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Lindsay’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlindsaypadilla/

FREE 90-Minute Course Creation Masterclass: http://omg.lindsaympadilla.com/optin

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Collaborating with a guest expert for your online course is a great way to provide incredible value to your students. But mapping out (in writing!) things like who’s doing what, and how the expert is compensated is crucial to preventing a guest expert collaboration from going south.

In this episode you’ll learn the important questions to ask when you’re collaborating with a guest expert in your online course:

• What type of collaboration is this? - Is your guest expert contributing material for a single lesson, creating the course with you 50/50?
• Who’s earning what? - Is your guest expert paid a percentage of sales, a flat fee, or something else? Or is your guest expert paying you in exchange for exposure?
• Who is paying the expenses? - Who pays the invoice from your graphic designer, videographer, etc.?
• Who is responsible for marketing? - Is your guest expert required to send emails to their list, do a FB live, etc. to promote your launch?
• What happens if it falls apart?
• Who owns the intellectual property? - Is your collaborator allowed to create a spin-off live event from the online course or is that not allowed?
• Do you need a nondisclosure agreement? - Are you lifting the curtain on your business’s secret sauce?

Key takeaway: Guest experts can make a great addition to your online course, but asking some key questions and agreeing to terms in writing can help you ensure the collaboration is a success.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast93 for show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/?ref=br_rs

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Have you ever felt like you were doing all the right things, but not getting the results that were *supposed* to magically appear?

Then you need to listen to this episode with Harvard-educated lawyer turned feminist mindset life coach Kara Lowentheil, who shares about her unconventional launch strategy, initially failing to succeed in business, and her experiences registering trademarks and hiring employees.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The importance of learning even the bare minimum of the marketing strategies you want to use in your business, even if you plan to outsource it, and how this can save you money in the long run
• Why you should get crystal clear on your messaging before you invest big bucks in marketing
• How being willing to fail (and fail repeatedly!) can help you succeed
• Why registering your trademark right off the bat might not be the best idea
• What you must consider when you’re ready to hire your first employee

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast92 for show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Kara’s FREE 5-Day Confidence Challenge: www.unfuckyourbrain.com/challenge

Unfuck Your Brain Podcast: https://unfuckyourbrain.com/podcasts/

The Clutch: https://unfuckyourbrain.com/theclutch

The Life Coach School: https://thelifecoachschool.com/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

You’re a busy entrepreneur, and you *probably* can’t handle every single task it takes to create a successful online course.  You'll likely need to enlist the help of graphic designers, copywriters, videographers, and more to complete your online course.

But how do you make sure your working arrangement, and your content + brand!, are protected?

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why you MUST use a contract with your independent contractor
• The most important thing you need to look for if you use your independent contractor’s agreement instead of sending your own
• If you can include a non-compete clause in your independent contractor agreement
• The one term you definitely should include in your own independent contractor agreements

Key takeaway: Working with independent contractors to create a successful online course can be a breeze if you take the time to consider the terms of your agreement with them.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/?ref=br_rs

Legal Road Map® to Protect Your Online Course contract template bundle: www.onlinecourselegal.com

Individual contract templates: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Have you had issues with customers not fulfilling their payment plans?  Gravy’s Casey Graham talks about the value of personalized human interaction in an age where automation is the online business practice du jour.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How being nice can make all the difference when you’re working to resolve payment issues with your customers
• Why quick action is essential in the payment recovery process (80% of recovery happens in the first 7 days!)
• How to make sure your emails about payment issues actually get opened
• Why a “magic moment” within a week of purchasing will help you gain a loyal follower instead of just another disengaged purchaser
• The power of a cleaned out inbox
• What the 55 cent principle is, and how it can really up your customer service game (it's one of our favorite things we use with our own clients here at the AWB Firm!)

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Autumn’s link to try out Gravy: www.sharegravy.com/autumn

Payment Recovery Success Chart:

Full Story screen capture: https://www.fullstory.com/

Casey’s Instagram: @caseygraham

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, the AWB Firm will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. We have experience with these companies, and recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

If you sell an online course, digital product, or do business online, you may offer payment plans to your customers. But what do you do when the customer stops paying?

In this episode you’ll learn:

• If it’s possible to totally avoid chargebacks (spoiler alert: it is, but only if you stop taking credit cards altogether)
• Some practical customer service tips to help you cut down on chargebacks
• Why including a clear refund policy in your terms of use will be your strongest evidence to fight an invalid chargeback claim
• The (potentially) tricky business of payment plans and what regulations you may need to comply with
• Tech & practical tips to make sure your customers follow through on a payment plan
• The important payment plan details you should definitely include in your terms of use

Key takeaway: Between including clearly outlined terms in your contract and using a few practical & tech tips, you can make sure your payment plans don’t become non-payment plans.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Legal Road Map® podcast episode 85: www.awbfirm.com/podcast85

Autumn’s Gravy affiliate link: www.sharegravy.com/autumn

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, the AWB Firm will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. We have experience with these companies, and recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

Corinne shares how legal has helped her grow her online weight loss community with confidence.  She now uses an online course as the entry point for all new members to her community.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The benefit of downloading everything you want to teach from your brain, all at once
• How courses and community can complement one another
• Why scaling back your offerings may actually be the best step to grow your business
• The benefit of designing your course with your least tech-savvy customer in mind
• How contracts elevate your business
• The importance of having strong advisors on your team

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Legal Road Map® podcast episode 34: www.awbfirm.com/podcast34

Corinne’s Free course: www.pnp411.com

Losing 100 Pounds podcast with Phit-n-Phat: http://pnptribepodcast.com/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you are providing an online course or digital products to students, members, or customers, you’re bound to come across a few tricky situations sooner or later. But are you doing all you can on the front end to prevent these situations from the start?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The importance of clear payment language in your terms of use
• How tech tools can prevent your students from copying your course content
• Why including a dollar amount for damages in your terms of use can save you a lot of headaches if someone does copy your course content
• Important legal and practical tips for managing your online community
• Why including disclaimers in your terms of use could be essential, depending on the nature of your online course/program topic
• Why promising guaranteed results is tricky business
• Why you should keep your refund policy on the strict side in your terms

Key takeaway: We all want to believe the best in people, but in business, it’s next to impossible to completely dodge unpleasant situations. By taking a closer look at your terms of use, you can prevent or avoid a lot of them.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Your Enneagram Coach, Beth McCord, talks with Autumn about growing your business with online courses, certification programs, and more.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How understanding enneagram types can change the way you work with your team
• The importance of patience when you’re growing your business
• Why investing in legal right out of the gate may not be the best move
• How one-on-one coaching, online courses, certification programs, and books can all live within one business

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Your Enneagram Coach - https://www.yourenneagramcoach.com/

Instagram: @yourinneagramcoach

Free Enneagram assessment: https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Terms of Use, Terms of Service… whatever you call it, you might not think of it as a contract, but it is – and an important one at that! This week’s solo episode is all about this critical contract between you and your customers, students, or clients.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Where your TOU must be linked on your website
• The 11 terms you should include in your TOU to protect you and your students
• Why including more strict terms in your TOU is always better, and how you can be gentler when difficult circumstances come up
• Why including a “refunds at our discretion” clause is a bad idea
• How your TOU can give you a way to resolve issues with someone stealing your intellectual property, without having to file a costly copyright or trademark lawsuit

Key takeaway: Unlike your website’s privacy policy, TOU are not required by law, but they are the legal foundation of your course business.  Strong TOU will put you and your customers on the same page and will save you a lot of legal headaches.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Contract templates: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

AWB Firm Masterclass: www.awbfirm.com/course

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Go-to gal Jaclyn Mellone joins Autumn on the podcast to talk about the importance of contracts and her atypical path to running a successful online business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why new practices, without doing mindset work, won’t get you the results you’re after
• How using contracts in business shows trust rather than suspicion or doubt
• Why you need to look extra closely at your contracts with your vendors, especially your payment processor
• The value of meeting up in-person, even when you work online

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast84 for a transcript and show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Jaclyn Mellone: www.jaclynmellone.com

Instagram handles: @jaclyn_mellone and @go.to.gal

Member Vault: www.jaclynmellone.com/goodies

Jaclyn’s Free LIVE Class (May 8): www.jaclynmellone.com/class

Go To Gal podcast: www.jaclynmellone.com/gotogalpodcast/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’re running an online business, it’s highly likely that you’re collecting some form of personal information from your website visitors. But do your visitors know what happens to their data once they’ve given it to you?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• When you must have a privacy policy on your website
• What your privacy policy needs to include
• Extra steps you need to take if you’re collecting information from children under 13
• Where your privacy policy must be present on your site post-GDPR
• What GDPR penalties are being handed out, almost one year after the new rules went into effect

Key takeaway: Whether your business must comply with GDPR or not (odds are it does!), the trend is that privacy regulations are becoming more stringent across the board. Taking simple steps to comply now can prevent you from having to implement an expensive fix down the road.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast83 for a transcript and show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

FREE download - Website Documents Guide: www.awbfirm.com/podcast81

Privacy policy + GDPR guide: www.awbfirm.com/podcast83

GDPR in-depth episodes of the Legal Road Map® podcast: www.awbfirm.com/podcast38, www.awbfirm.com/podcast39, www.awbfirm.com/podcast40

Running list of GDPR enforcement actions as of February 2019: http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/777680/Data+Protection+Privacy/GDPR+Enforcement

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Video marketing & YouTube expert Liz Germain joins the podcast in this episode to talk with Autumn about keeping integrity at the forefront of your business and some legal lessons learned.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How offering online courses can unlock your time as a business owner
• How to use online courses to prequalify potential 1:1 clients
• Why too much learning and attending too many conferences can be a bad thing
• Important lessons Liz learned about required FTC disclosures for sponsored content
• The downsides of using Paypal for payment processing, plus how your written refund policy can be your saving grace

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast82 for a transcript and show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Liz Germain: www.lizdoesvideo.com

Liz’s Video Growth Course: https://videogrowthcourse.com/

Marketing School Podcast: https://marketingschool.io/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Your website is the front door to your amazing online course. But if you don’t include the right legal documents on your site, it’s like leaving your door wide open.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Which documents are required by law on your website and which are just a good idea
• Why disclaimers are essential for online businesses in the health and wellness field
• The ins and outs of FTC disclosures and when you must use them on your website
• The easy addition to your course materials or downloadables that could deter someone else from copying them (and help you enforce your rights if it does happen)

Key takeaway: It’s easy to get caught up in how your website looks and what it can do, but every online business owner must make sure the proper legal protections are in place to lay a smart legal foundation for your website, and business.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast81 for a transcript and show notes.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

FREE download - Website Documents Guide: www.awbfirm.com/podcast81

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’re an online course creator, you may not even know what you need to worry about when it comes to legal for your business. In Season 4 Autumn is alternating solo episodes with interviews of some of the biggest names in the online course world, like Beth McCord, Chris Winfield, Corinne Crabtree, and more.

Solo episodes will focus on legal issues for course creators, like:

• The policies and documents you need to have on your website, such as privacy policy, terms & conditions, disclaimers, and disclosures
• GDPR - the European Union law affecting personal data collection and privacy
• Using guest experts
• Working with affiliates
• And last but not least, copyright and trademark

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com for instant access to the 10 Step Checklist we use with our million dollar clients, and make sure you've got the legal basics covered for your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Tara (Gentile) McMullin, author and the founder of the What Works Network, formerly CoCommercial, joins us this week to share how she pivoted her business model to help turn small business owners into tomorrow’s economic powerhouses.

Listen and learn:

• The less common motivation behind registering your trademark
• Why consulting your ideal customer can help you fine-tune your perfect product
• How a licensing program can broaden your reach
• How understanding the difference between an independent contractor and an employee can help make the hiring leap less scary

KEY TAKEAWAY: When you “don’t know what you don’t know”, legal can seem intimidating. But sometimes doing your due diligence and tackling something scary like legal can open doors to help you grow your business more effectively.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast79 for show notes and to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Being Boss®  founders, Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson, share valuable insights about partnering with others in business and the ins and outs of publishing a book.

Listen and learn:

• How essential a written Partnership or LLC Operating Agreement is when partnering with others
• Why self-publishing may not be the best route for your book
• How having a trusted tribe of bosses can be so valuable in navigating business decisions

KEY TAKEAWAY: Legal may not always be necessary early on in business, but it is essential to avoid misunderstandings when you’re partnering with others and start making real money. Working with a lawyer who knows your business can help you and your partner(s) reach your long term vision through short term goals.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast78 for show notes and get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Original Boss Mom®, Dana Malstaff, shares how protecting her brand was not only an early, key business strategy but also now provides her with peace of mind to reach her big goals.

Listen and learn:

• How a registered trademark protects the meaning behind your business, not just its name
• How DIY’ing legal isn’t always a good idea
• The pros and cons of DIY’ing legal for your business, and when it’s time to level up and hire a lawyer
• Why having the right professionals on your team can make all the difference

KEY TAKEAWAY: Working with a lawyer doesn’t have to be an intimidating one-way street. Having the right legal support on your team can keep you from needlessly spending on non-strategized legal work.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

The Sales School and Authentic Selling founder shares about hiring a lawyer to create a custom contract for her online sales coaching business, and how her lawyer was able to talk her off a cliff during a difficult customer situation.  

Case Study Highlights:

• How the universe responds when you take your business seriously and set things up the right way
• How she knew it was time to work with a lawyer on a contract, but really appreciated Having a lawyer on her side later during a difficult customer situation
• Why you don’t want to be on the wrong side of not having the right protection for your business — you’re working too hard, spending too much time away from your family to lose it
• Why it’s been important to work with professionals who understand online business
• The education process of figuring out the legal protections you need for your business
• Why she does not DIY legal for her fast-growing business

KEY TAKEAWAY: Having a trusted legal advisor on your team will help you figure out what to do and get through situations that aren’t so fun.  

Kendrick Shope is the creator of Authentic Selling® and expert who empowers women to make millions without sacrificing their integrity. Kendrick also hosts her own radio and podcast show host, is in development with 2 Market Media on her own reality show and is finalizing a deal on her first book, “Sell Like A Woman.” Today, Kendrick runs an online Sales School where she teaches women how to create massive success using Authentic Selling®.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

When should you run (not walk) to submit your trademark registration application? Learn when waiting to register a trademark can be a huge mistake.

In this week’s episode you’ll learn:

• How the level of investment behind your business or product can determine whether a registered trademark is a necessity
• How long it takes to receive a trademark registration certificate from the USPTO
• The advantages of “intent to use” applications in US trademark law
• When you can use the ® and TM symbols
• How a registered trademark can make your licensing or certification program more valuable to your licensees
• Why a registered trademark can make your business more attractive to potential buyers
• When a registered trademark in the US can help you obtain a foreign trademark if you plan to sell products or services internationally

Key takeaway: If your business is up-leveling in a major way, a trademark registration becomes a necessity, not a nice-to-have. Since the registration process is not quick, working with a trusted legal advisor who specializes in trademark law can help you plan ahead.

Visit https://awbfirm.com/vimeo-video/podcast75/ for the video version and www.awbfirm.com/podcast75 for the audio version of this podcast episode. While you're there, sign up for a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This is the final episode of Season 3.Don't worry, Season 4 will launch on April 1, 2019 with loads of valuable information for online course creators and new interviews with top online course business owners. In the meantime, we'll be releasing  interviews from the archives you may have missed the first time around. Stay tuned!

Resources

Legal Road Map® episode 68: www.awbfirm.com/podcast68

Legal Road Map ® episode 71: www.awbfirm.com/podcast71

Legal Road Map ® episode 31: www.awbfirm.com/podcast31

Legal Road Map ® episode 32: www.awbfirm.com/podcast32

Legal Road Map ® episode 33: www.awbfirm.com/podcast33

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Finding out someone else has registered a trademark you’re using in your business can really sting. But so long as you started using it first, not all is lost.

In this week’s episode you’ll learn:

• What winning the race means when it comes to trademarks and defending your rights
• What the “opposition period” is and why it is crucial to monitor the USPTO Gazette if you’re relying on common law trademark rights
• How a cease and desist letter may stop a similar trademark application in its tracks
• When the USPTO will actually deny a trademark application for a similar trademark without you lifting a finger
• How challenging a trademark that’s the same as or similar to yours after a certificate has been granted can be more difficult, but not impossible
• Why, in order to defend your trademark rights, you have to actually be using your trademark

Key takeaway: Challenging an application for a trademark that’s the same or similar as yours is not an area of legal you want to DIY. Consulting with a trusted legal advisor who specializes in trademark law is the best way to defend your trademark rights and prevent brand or product confusion.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

Next week is the final episode of Season 3 of the Legal Road Map®  podcast, all about when you must  register a trademark.

I'm so excited to bring Season 4 to you - it's all about legal for course creators - so be sure to stay tuned!

Additional Resources:

Get your ALL ACCESS PASS for the Online Course Success Summit, classes will be live Feb. 11-22: http://awbfirm.com/ocss/

USPTO Official Gazette, published weekly: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/official-gazette/trademark-official-gazette-tmog

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Hashtags are everywhere these days. It may seem appealing to register one that you use in your business as a trademark, but is it even possible?

In this week’s episode you’ll learn:

1. How to figure out if you’re really using a hashtag as a trademark
2. Why using your hashtag outside of social media may help you protect it as a trademark
3. The downsides to registering your trademark with a hashtag instead of just the words
4. Why a registered trademark hashtag is really difficult to enforce

Key takeaway: It takes some special circumstances to make the time and effort needed to register a hashtag as a trademark worth it. Consulting with a trusted legal advisor ahead of time can help you determine if you’re ready to take on the task or not.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast73 for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

Resources:

Get your free ticket NOW for the Online Course Success Summit, classes will be live Feb. 11-22: http://awbfirm.com/ocss/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Did you know that a federally registered trademark isn’t the only form of trademark protection available?  There are actually three levels of protection in the U.S. trademark system -- common law, state law registration, and federal (USPTO) registration.

While common law or state trademarks may work for some businesses, there are some significant downsides to each.

In this week's episode you’ll learn:

1. What a common law trademark is, and the limited rights this type of trademark provides
2. The drawbacks to relying solely on a common law trademark
3. Which types of trademark you can use the ® and ™ symbols
4. The benefits to filing a federal trademark registration
5. The protections provided by a state trademark registration
6. The downsides of relying solely on a state trademark registration

Key takeaway:  There are a few different levels of trademark protection offered on the state and federal level, as well on a common law basis. Which one is best for your business depends on multiple factors. It’s a good idea to consult with a trusted legal advisor to make sure you’re protected in the right ways and places for your business.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

Resources

Get your free ticket NOW for the Online Course Success Summit: http://awbfirm.com/ocss/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Registering a trademark is a lengthy, multi-step process, and it can be tempting to skip the first step of running a trademark search before filing that registration application. But I’m sharing all the reasons why skipping the search is a bad idea.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What a trademark clearance search is and why you should do one every time you choose a name for a new business, product, or service
• How you may be able to DIY your clearance search
• When you still may be able to use a business or product name even if it’s already being used by someone else
• How a knockout search helps determine what (if any) risks you may face if you apply to register your trademark with the USPTO
• Why it’s so important to look at trademarks used for products and services that you don’t sell, but are related to what you sell, in a knockout search
• What a search will tell you about how strong your trademark is, and how hard it will be to defend it if you do receive a trademark registration certificate

Key takeaway: Whether you start the trademark search process on your own, or work with a lawyer from the very beginning, one thing is for sure: failing to spend a little time and/or money on a trademark search early can be costly down the road.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Some trademarks are stronger than others. But unfortunately, for a lot of business owners, they only find out their trademark isn’t strong when they’re denied when they try to register it with the USPTO.

So, what makes a good trademark?

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Who trademark law is really protecting
• The four different types of word trademarks, and the pros and cons of each
• Why sometimes you can use your last name as a trademark, and sometimes you can’t
• The litmus test for understanding what in your business is or isn’t actually a trademark

Key takeaway: Choosing a strong trademark doesn’t have to be difficult. But to avoid heartache down the road, choosing the right name for your business and products early on is always best practice.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Your business is established and thriving. Or maybe you haven’t even earned your first dollar yet. So, WHEN is the right time to register your trademark?

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The downsides to waiting to register a trademark
• Why you may want to register a trademark for your product before you start selling
• The ONE question to ask yourself to determine if you’re ready to register your trademark
• How often you should take inventory of your business’s IP to evaluate what trademarks you have, and whether it’s time to register
• Why failing to defend your trademark rights could result in your losing them

Key takeaway: Deciding on the right time to register your trademark depends on a lot of different factors in your business. But asking yourself the right questions will help you determine when you should register.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

We talk a lot about trademarks on the podcast, but you may still be wondering why you would ever need to register a trademark in your business.

While it may seem like a hassle, registering a trademark is one of the most valuable protections you can put in place in your business.

In this episode I cover:

• The types of things that can be protected by a trademark
• How a trademark can set you up for success if you ever decide to expand into other states
• How a registered trademark can save you time and hassle if you ever have to file a lawsuit around your trademark
• The advantage to registering your trademark if you do business abroad
• How a trademark can help prevent counterfeiting
• The value a registered trademark can add to your business if you ever look to sell or take on investment
• How registering your trademark shows competitors you mean business

Key takeaway: If you’re committed to protecting your business for the long haul, a trademark registration should be on your list for 2019.

Additional resources:

Legal Road Map® episode 5: www.awbfirm.com/podcast5

Legal Road Map® episode 6: www.awbfirm.com/podcast6

5-minute IP audit: www.awbfirm.com/podcast

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

You’ve probably heard you automatically have copyright protection under US law.  But did you know you must register early in order to be able to fully enforce those protections?

Sounds tricky, right?  It doesn't have to be!

Listen to this week’s episode where I walk you through a copyright audit for your business:

In this week’s episode I walk you through planning for 2019 with a copyright audit for your business:

• The main difference between copyrights and trademarks and where they may overlap
• What can (and can’t) be protected by copyright in your business
• Who owns the copyrights if an employee or contractor creates photos, graphics, videos, copy, or other content for you
• How your contracts can protect your copyrights when you're working with independent contractors
• The one thing you MUST do in order to take advantage of the rights afforded under copyright law
• The huge financial benefits to registering your copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office early, before your work is copied

Key takeaway: The key with copyrights is to start thinking about them early on. The sooner you begin locking down your copyrights by registering them, the more your business will be able to shut down copycats.

Additional resources:

5-Minute IP Audit worksheet: www.awbfirm.com/podcast

Contract template store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

The AWB Firm gets more questions on trademarks than anything else. Trademarks are not only a smart investment to make sure everything you’ve worked so hard to create (your brand) is protected, but they can also be used as a tool to create additional revenue streams. Learn what you should trademark and how to plan for it in 2019.

In this week’s episode I cover:

• The types of things in your business that can be protected by trademark (and those that can’t)
• Reasons you should consider trademarks for your business
• Great resources + tips for preliminary, DIY trademark searches
• An advanced strategy to broaden your reach in 2019

Key takeaway: Even if you’re not ready just yet, taking a few simple steps now can help you prepare to take advantage of trademark protections in your business in 2019.

Additional resources:

5-Minute IP Audit worksheet: www.awbfirm.com/podcast

USPTO Trademark Search: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-application-process/search-trademark-database

Alternate trademark checker: www.namechekr.com

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap/

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Working with a lawyer usually isn’t at the top of people’s priority list for their business. But now is a great time to start thinking ahead about the legal needs your business might have in the coming year.

You can start getting your business ready for 2019 now by:

• Performing a quick audit and updating your contracts if needed (including those on your website!)
• Taking inventory of the content you’ve created over the past year to see what you might need to protect with a trademark
• Adding a budget line item for legal
• Getting a lawyer’s eyes on your business to see any legal blindspots
• Considering if you’re ready to have a lawyer on your team long-term through an ongoing retainer arrangement

Key takeaway: Being proactive about legal in your business now can help set the firm foundations to prepare it to really take off in 2019.

Additional resources:

5-Minute IP Audit worksheet: www.awbfirm.com/podcast

Legal Road Map® checklist: www.awbfirm.com/checklist

Legal Road Map® session: www.awbfirm.com/legal-road-map-session

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Growing a business to the point where it’s producing steady revenue is a milestone accomplishment for any business owner. But what are you doing to protect your revenue stream(s)? And when the time comes to grow your team, how are you making sure that the very things that make your business successful are protected?

In this week’s episode I cover the contracts you need in your business to protect revenue and grow your team:

• The basics to include in a client services contract
• Why you need to spell out who will own any intellectual property in your contracts
• Special contract considerations for event planners and for coaches
• When you need to have contracts in place if you sell a physical product
• The contracts you need if you do live events, especially if you work with sponsorship
• Important contract terms for affiliate or referral programs
• Why you may not want to use Paypal for affiliate payout
• Which contract to use with your employees to protect your trade secrets
• Why it’s not a good idea to use both your independent contractor’s and your contract (just pick one to sign)

Key takeaway: Hard work pays off for a lot of business owners, but if you’re not using contracts to protect your business, it could all be for nothing.

Additional resources:

Contract template store: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Legal Road Map® podcast episode 12 - www.awbfirm.com/podcast12

Legal Road Map® podcast episode 37 - www.awbfirm.com/podcast37

Legal Road Map® podcast episode 49 - www.awbfirm.com/podcast49

Legal Road Map® podcast episode 50 - www.awbfirm.com/podcast50

Legal Road Map® podcast episode 51 - www.awbfirm.com/podcast51

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

If you've realized you're missing a key contract for your business, visit http://awbfirm.com/contract-templates/ to learn more about our customizable contract templates, and sign up for a free worksheet to help you write your own contracts.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Most businesses these days have a website. With all the online platforms available, it’s easier than ever to DIY this business essential. But one area of your website that you definitely don’t want to DIY is contracts: privacy policy, terms and conditions, disclosures, disclaimers, and more.

In this week’s episode I talk about the contracts you need for your website:

• The one contract every website needs (even though no one will ever read it!)
• Why just linking to your privacy policy in the footer of your website might not be enough under the EU’s new GDPR laws
• The best practice contract you should have on your website even though it’s not required
• How terms & conditions on your website can help if you have to go after a copycat
• Which industries need to worry the most about including a disclaimer on their website
• The determining factors for disclosing if you’re being compensated for promoting a product or service

Key takeaway: It can be super simple to set up a website these days. But without the proper contracts in place, your website could create legal problems down the road.

Additional resources:

Legal documents, notices, and disclaimers you must post on your website and what to include (episode 3 downloadable): https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast3

Contract templates: https://awbfirm.com/contract-templates/

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

It can be easy to get caught up in the flashier parts of your business,  like selling a course or putting together an affiliate program, but if you don’t protect your business with contracts, you could lose everything you’ve worked for.

This week's episode starts my month-long focus on this business essential, covering important items like:

• A few business scenarios in which you might need a contract (some of these might surprise you!)
• How a solid contract works wonders for your professional image
• Why signing a contract is really an act of trust - not the opposite!
• The five most important things to consider for your contracts
• A clever tip to get a (mostly) custom contract for your business even if you don’t have a big legal budget
• The one type of contract that all businesses with a website need
• Why podcast hosts need contracts

Key takeaway: No matter what type of business you run, in order to protect it, you need to be using solid contracts. Protecting everything you’ve worked for now with a contract can prevent devastating consequences down the road.

If you've realized you're missing a key contract for your business, visit http://awbfirm.com/contract-templates/ to learn more about our customizable contract templates, and sign up for a free worksheet to help you write your own contracts.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

It’s easy to want to check out when you’re ready to sell your business, but making sure you have a team in place to help with a smooth transition is an essential part of the sale process.

In this episode I talk about important questions to ask and preparing your team for the sale of your business:

• Important things to consider when thinking about who will run the business after you sell
• Terms to have in writing if you plan to stay on after the sale to help with the transition
• Why you might be required to sign a non-compete agreement
• Making sure your trade secrets are protected by nondisclosure agreements
• The right time to let your key employees know about the sale of your business
• Making sure your employees and independent contractors are appropriately qualified before you sell
• What you need to know about your independent contractor contracts before you sell

Key takeaway: Making a break from your business can be a stressful process, but with the right people and protections in place, you can confidently move on to the next adventure.

Additional resources:

Contract templates: https://awbfirm.com/contract-templates/

Episode 12: https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast12

Episode 37: https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast37

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you're a business owner, it's easy to get caught up in the month-to-month or year-end numbers. But when it comes to putting a price tag on it, how are you supposed to figure out what your business is worth?

I’m joined by Shannon Farr, CPA of Scenic City Consulting, who’s an expert in all things business valuation.

Shannon and I talked about the three standard business valuation approaches and more:

• How to figure out your business's value if it owns a lot of intangible assets (like copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets)
• Why you might need to do your own due diligence inside your business before the valuation process
• Why the Income approach is the most popular way to calculate a business's value
• What you need to do now if you may be looking to sell or take an investor in your business in the future
• Why it's difficult to compare your small business to other similar businesses in the market
• Important things to discuss with your CPA if you’re preparing to sell your business
• How getting an independent valuation is kind of like an appraisal for your business
• Why you shouldn’t be afraid of business valuation as a small business owner

Key takeaway: Business valuation might seem like an avoidable expense, especially if you’re a small business. But placing the right value on everything you’ve worked to build can help you make sure your exit from the business is a positive one, so you don't leave money on the table.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast60 for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

Additional resources:

Shannon’s company Scenic City Consulting: www.sceniccityconsulting.com

Heather Pranitis, Number Nerd Bookkeeping Solutions: www.numbernerdbookkeepingsolutions.com

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Are you thinking about selling or taking an investor for your business?

While we hope if you're thinking about selling, it's so that you can retire to the Maldives, whether for good or bad reasons, selling a business can be a stressful process. But a little planning and preparation now can make for smooth sailing when the moment to sell (or invite investment) arrives.

In this episode we cover the three main types of transactions and considerations for each:

• What are the assets and liabilities in your business?
• An asset sale - and why this can be more complicated than other types of transactions
• A stock or membership sale - and possible pitfalls
• A merger - and why getting a CPA or tax expert involved early is crucial when considering a merger
• Why it’s important to understand what your business actually owns before you start negotiating a transaction or investment (and a free resource to help with this!)

Key takeaway: There are many ways to structure a sale or investment transaction. Figuring out what assets and liabilities your business owns with a trusted legal and financial advisor can help you make sure you’re not leaving anything on the table.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

Additional resources:

5 minute IP audit: www.awbfirm.com/podcast

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn what to expect during due diligence if you’re looking to buy, sell, or invite investment into your business.

In this episode, I talk about what to expect during due diligence, and how you can prepare:

• Who pays for due diligence? (and why you might want to consider a good faith deposit during negotiations)
• The important reasons you should use an NDA - nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement
• The different types of documents you’ll be asked to provide
• Why you might be required to produce your tax returns or bank statements and other financial records
• Why you need to make sure that contracts with your key business relationships are in order
• How protecting your intellectual property now could mean a bigger profit if you decide to sell down the road

Key takeaway: Not having your legal house in order can kill a buy/sell or investment deal in an instant. Preparing for due diligence with a trusted attorney and tax advisor can help ensure a successful transaction or agreement.

If you need an NDA (nondisclosure / confidentiality) agreement like the one mentioned in this episode, be sure to check out our contract template store: https://awbfirm.com/contract-templates/  Our templates are fully customizable by you and available for immediate download!

Additional resources:

Legal Road Map® episode 43 with bookkeeper Heather Pranitis:  https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast43

Emily Ramsey with J. Smith Lanier in Chattanooga, risk management and insurance for large or high-risk companies, regardless of your location: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyramsey14/, http://www.jsmithlanier.com/

5 minute IP Audit worksheet: http://awbfirm.com/podcast

Contract template store: https://awbfirm.com/contract-templates/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Are you considering selling your business, stepping back from it, or thinking of taking on a partner or investment to grow it further?

Learn about many steps you can take early on to set yourself and your business up for success down the road when you're ready for an exit, in this month’s series of podcast episodes.

In this episode, I cover the legal basics you need to have in place before even thinking about leaving or stepping back in your business:

• The importance of making sure your contracts are airtight (and a resource to help if you're not sure yours are)
• Why your contracts need to be regularly revisited, especially if an exit is on the horizon
• The importance of choosing the right corporate entity
• Getting a handle on your business's intellectual property assets with an audit or inventory

Key takeaway: A little preparation before you’re ready to sell or take on a partner or investor in your business will take time and financial resources.  But if you’re planning to build your business to sell it so you can lounge on the beach with a cocktail in your hand, or take on investment so you can grow your business to the next level, planning for the future now has its benefits.

Additional resources:

Forbes.com article about Autumn: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyhoey/2018/09/20/podcasting-and-working-with-influencers-is-how-this-attorney-is-scaling-her-practice/#3199465331f5

AWB Firm Legal Road Map® checklist: www.awbfirm.com/checklist

Small Business Administration: www.sba.gov

SBA checklists: TSBDC Checklist and TSBDC Small Business Orientation Packet

Customizable contract templates for online businesses: https://awbfirm.com/contract-templates/

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Lewis Howes is an inspiring entrepreneur whose backstory is almost more amazing than the incredible success of his 7+ figure online business.

In this case study, I cover how Lewis Howes:

• Used his area of expertise (sports) to spot a hole in the market and  start building the online business he has today
• Utilized online and in-person networking to up-level his business
• Tests online product ideas by selling before creating (and some of the potentially serious legal consequences of doing this)
• Participates in affiliate marketing in his business, and a few things you MUST know if you earn commissions as an affiliate, too

Key takeaway: As the saying goes, “start(ing) before you’re ready” can produce incredible results for some business owners. But you have to make sure all of your necessary legal protections are in place first to avoid any sticky situations down the road.

Additional Resources: 

Lewis Howes: https://lewishowes.com

Lewis’s affiliate page: https://lewishowes.com/resources

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Michael Hyatt has had a long, successful career ranging from traditional book publishing to the online space he operates in today. He has created and manages an interactive community platform, sells online courses, books, planners, subscription boxes, and runs a high level mastermind along with other live events. He and his business make for a fascinating case study of a robust and multifaceted online business.

In this case study of Michael Hyatt I cover:

• How Michael’s first business went under by growing too fast, and how you can potentially avoid the same mistakes
• Smart personal liability protections to put in place when starting your business (and why they may not 100% protect you if something goes wrong)
• How Michael created online training and resource platform by first writing a book
• If you run a membership or community, what you need to make sure is in your Terms of Use with your customers
• The special intellectual property considerations for physical products (Michael sells a planner)
• How to make sure you can use all the great photos you capture at live events in later marketing campaigns

Key takeaway: A business with multiple profit centers can present a wide variety of potential legal issues. When you're playing at Michael's level, it's essential to have an experienced attorney who can help you with big-picture strategy and make sure you're protected

Additional resources:

Legal Road Map® podcast episodes:

• Copyrights & trademarks: 6, 7, 8

Michael Hyatt: https://michaelhyatt.com

Platform University: https://platformuniversity.com/

Full Focus Planner: https://fullfocusplanner.com

Amy Porterfield: http://amyporterfield.com/

Pat Flynn: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Marie Forleo is arguably the original “multi-passionate entrepreneur”. She manages to effortlessly incorporate her love of things like dance and hip-hop while operating a multimillion-dollar online marketing and development company and inspiring millions.

In this episode, I did a case study on how Marie:

• Has built her digital marketing and development brand over a nearly 20-year (!!) career
• Successfully navigated collaborations - including when she created her signature product, B School
• Optimizes sales of her signature product through affiliate marketing - and how you can do the same in your business
• Protects her intellectual property while doing affiliate marketing

Key takeaway: Business strategies like affiliate marketing can exponentially increase your sales and your bottom line if done properly. But if you don’t work with an experienced lawyer to make sure you and your business are properly protected in the process, it could spell disaster.

Additional resources:

Legal Road Map® podcast episodes:

• GDPR - episodes 38, 39, 40
• Marie Forleo’s affiliate program for B School: https://marieforleobschool.com/bschool-affiliate-partner-info/

Marie Forleo: https://www.marieforleo.com/

B-School: https://marieforleobschool.com/

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Danielle LaPorte’s online business empire kicks off my September series of case studies. I'm pulling back the curtain of online businesses I admire and pointing out critical legal and business decisions, issues, and protections that helped them achieve their success.

From Danielle's early days as a consultant to her current position as creator of one of the most recognizable lifestyle brands on the market, this episode covers investment, book deals, certification programs and more.

In this episode, I cover how Danielle:

• Paid a high price from taking on investment the wrong way early on in her entrepreneurial journey
• Started her current business by going back to basics
• Leveraged her intellectual property to create an online content empire
• Navigated the world of self-publishing for her books
• Created a certification program (and what you should do to make sure your content and brand are protected)
• Grew from a one-on-one consultant to a global business that reaches millions

Key takeaway: Choosing the right time to stop DIY’ing legal and start working with a lawyer can help you avoid potentially devastating missteps in your business.

Additional resources:

Legal Road Map® podcast episodes:

• Book deals - episodes 26, 27, 28, 29
• Licensing - episodes 30, 31, 32, 33
• Trademark - episodes 5, 6, 21, 25, 45
• Copyright - episodes 5, 7, 52

Danielle LaPorte: http://www.daniellelaporte.com/

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Learn all things copyright for your business in this joint podcast episode + training with lawyer Rachel Brenke.  

Copyright law is designed to protect creative works, but in order to take advantage of those protections, you have to take certain steps first. In this episode I cover:

• The many benefits of registering your copyrights, especially in licensing
• The importance of spelling out who retains ownership of creative works in contracts with independent contractors
• Why it’s even more important to have a contract in place when working with friends and family
• Who has ownership of a podcast episode with a guest appearance
• When you can appropriately use the © or ® symbols
• What constitutes infringement

Key takeaway: Copyright law can be complicated, with a lot of potentially expensive implications for your business. Working with a trusted attorney upfront can save you time, effort and money when it comes to enforcing your copyrights.

Additional Resources: 

www.rachelbrenke.com

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Providing employee benefits is a great way to retain talented employees for the long-haul, but as an employer what is your responsibility and what rules and regulations do you have to follow?

In this episode I cover:

• Vacation and PTO, and when rules and regulations kick in
• Which state you must consider when offering vacation and/or PTO
• Sick leave and family leave, and what jurisdiction’s rules and regulations might apply
• The level of responsibility required when setting up a retirement plan for your employees
• Important considerations for health, disability, and life insurance

Key takeaway: As a small business owner, there are many ways you can provide important employee benefits to make sure your employees are taken care of and protected in their personal lives, but you also need to make sure that you’re providing benefits in a way that protects you and your business, so be sure to consult with a qualified benefits provider.

Additional Resources: 

IRS guidance on providing benefits

Department of Labor resource on fiduciary responsibilities

Department of Labor info on FMLA

Melissa Curtis - Woodall Agency Insurance- life, disability and long-term care insurance agent

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Having virtual team members classified as employees can carry complex legal considerations. This week I’m joined by our resident labor and employment whiz Michelle Coakley to talk about what you need to know to make sure your business is protected legally when it comes to having employees on your virtual team.

In this episode I cover:

• The importance of properly classifying your workers
• Two reasons why the government cares how you classify your workers
• Best practice for how often you should audit your employment policy to check for federal and state & local compliance
• Why you should be sure to do regular performance reviews
• What you need to know about non-disclosure and non-compete agreements

Key takeaway: Employment laws and ordinances can vary widely not only from state to state, but in some cases city to city. It’s important to seek out the right kind of advisors (legal, financial, human resources, etc.) to make sure your business is protected when it comes to employment matters.

Additional Resources: 

Episode 12: Hiring employees and contractors the right way(with FREE download)

Episode 37: Labor & employment chat with AWB Attorney Michelle Coakley

LastPass

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Having a virtual team is a great way to grow your business, but how do you make sure you are properly classifying your team members? In this episode, I’ll explain what you need to know about building and managing a virtual team.

In this episode I cover:

• How W-2 employee vs. 1099 independent contractor affects taxes and regulations
• The biggest factor that determines who is or isn’t an employee
• What you should be sure to include in your contracts
• Who owns the intellectual property created by an independent contractor
• The downside of including a non-compete clause in a contract

Key takeaway: It can be tricky to determine if one of your team members is an independent contractor or an employee. Make sure you consult with a trusted attorney when building your team to avoid issues down the road.

Additional Resources:

Episode 12: Hiring employees and contractors the right way (with FREE download)

Episode 37: Labor & employment chat with AWB Attorney Michelle Coakley

Sign up below to get a free Employee vs. Independent Contractor Cheat Sheet.

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

In this episode, I explain what you need to know about taxes for location-independent businesses from a legal standpoint. Whether you’re running a location-independent or virtual business, or you have locations or customers in other states, one fact remains the same, your business has to pay taxes!

In this episode I cover:

• The different types of taxes your business may have to pay
• What you need to prepare for if you sell to customers in a state outside the state where your business is registered
• Registering in other states where you have employees or customers
• The consequences you could face if you don’t pay your taxes
• Some free resources to help

Key takeaway: No matter which state your 6-7 figure+ location-independent business calls home, you have to pay taxes. Make sure you’re not at risk for a potentially costly audit by seeking the advice of a professional.

Resources mentioned: Small Business Administration

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Operating a location-independent or online business may mean you have to register in other states where you are doing business. But what constitutes “doing business” in another state? And what could be the consequences of not registering as a foreign entity?

In this episode I cover:

• Why registering as a foreign entity could apply to online businesses as well as location-independent businesses
• What constitutes “doing business” in another state
• The tricky nuances of having independent contractors in other states
• Why failing to register in the appropriate state could prevent you from being able to file suit
• The consequences of not registering as a foreign entity in states where you do business

Key takeaway: Fifty states can mean 50 different answers when it comes to doing business in a state outside your own. Seeking the advice of a trusted lawyer can prevent a legal nightmare for your location-independent business.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Legal for location-independent businesses can be a totally different ballgame and is not an area you want to DIY. This episode is the first of a 3-episode series on running a location-independent business.

In this episode I cover:

• Considerations for choosing the right corporate entity for your location-independent business
• Where to set up your entity
• What a registered agent is, and why you might need one, especially if you’re location independent
• How to handle your business’s address (you usually can’t use a P.O. Box)
• Why you need to consult with a tax expert
• Choosing a bank that will work for you, wherever you’re located in the world

Key takeaway: Making sure you have your legal ducks in a row will allow you to truly enjoy the freedom that a location-independent business provides.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

When are you violating someone else’s trademark rights?  OR, flip-side, when should you get in touch with someone you think might be infringing your trademark and ask them to change it?  

How can you interpret your search results when you type your trademark into the USPTO website?

I received this great question in an online business community, CoCommercial, and realized I’ve never dug into how lawyers, courts, and the USPTO evaluate when trademarks are too close.

This is a meaty episode on a complex topic, where I covered:

• Consumer confusion - what trademark law is intended to prevent, and why this matters
• Who has “priority rights” over a trademark in the US
• When might you need to evaluate whether one trademark is too similar to another?
• How to figure out if trademarks are too close
• Does it matter if one trademark has a few extra words?
• What about different spelling?
• When are two logos too similar?
• Does it matter if someone copied a trademark intentionally, or by accident?
• Examples of trademarks that are and are not too similar
• When you need to bring in an experienced IP attorney to help you evaluate a potential trademark infringement

Key takeaway: trademarks do not have to be identical to potentially be infringing!  

If you have questions about whether one trademark is too close to another, post them in our Legal Road Map® Facebook group!  Just request access and we’ll let you right in.

Next month we’re diving into the legal issues that come up with running a location-independent business.  You will definitely want to tune in if you’ve ever thought about living that laptop life and traveling the world while running your business!  Tune in next week for the first episode in this series.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Virtual Chief Operating Officer (COO). business strategist, and project manager Emily Allen and I discussed how a virtual COO can help your business.  Learn how you can stop getting distracted by all those shiny objects and actually meet your goals!

We chatted about why PLANNING is so critical to growing your business to seven- or eight-figures, and why it’s so hard for most entrepreneurs to find the time to do it.  Emily explained how a good project manager can help you prioritize which projects are going to help you achieve your big goals, and break them down into pieces so you can actually tackle them, or delegate to team members.

And, we talked about tracking project progress and outcomes to be sure you’re actually achieving what you set out to do.

Emily shared some of the benefits clients gain from working with a virtual COO or project manager, especially making sure you have the right team members in place and are filling their plates with the right tasks.

We talked about when it makes sense to bring in a project manager or virtual COO -- this is not something a new business owner needs, but is critical when moving from six to seven figures.

I gave some insight to the changes I’ve seen in my own business after just a few weeks of working with Emily, and a few of my own a-ha moments.  And Emily talked about some mistakes business owners make trying to scale rapidly on their own without bringing in an experienced business strategist.

Emily Allen is a Virtual COO (Chief Operating Officer) for small to medium-sized woman-owned companies that don’t yet require the services of a full-time COO, but have the need for more strategy, more time to work on what they do best, and more structure with systems and processes without giving up more of their time.

Her main focus is on execution. Through working together, she is able to help define/refine the business strategy and provide accountability for execution to the appropriate members of the team.

She ensures that the company's everyday activities run smoothly and that there is a company-wide strategic plan in place to support the vision of the company. Emily brings her experience in business planning and project management from her previous corporate life.

Emily is a wife, mom of 3 kiddos, certified project management professional living in northeastern Wisconsin and loves all things planning and organizing.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Bookkeeper and financial advisor Heather Pranitis from Number Nerd Bookkeeping Solutions and I talked about why you need to know the numbers in your business if you want to scale to seven-figures.  

We talked about what numbers you should be keeping your eye on (overhead! profitability!) as you grow.  Heather also explained what a bookkeeper can help with, and why it’s worth talking with one early in your business when you’re still keeping your own books, to make sure you are set up and recording things correctly.  

We also chatted about when is the right time to hire a bookkeeper, and how to find someone who understands YOUR business’s revenue streams and systems.  Heather stressed how your professional advisors (attorney, CPA, bookkeeper) should work together and be able to talk to each other to support your growing business.  

Heather outlined the benefits of working with a bookkeeper, including understanding what your numbers really mean, getting time back by outsourcing bookkeeping, and gaining an outsider’s perspective and analysis of your business’s finances.

Then we went down the rabbit hole of how it might cost you more, in the long run, to keep your own books once your revenues reach a certain point, especially if you are using Paypal or Stripe or running payroll.

You can find more from Heather and Number Nerd at http://numbernerdbookkeepingsolutions.com/ and Heather likes to hang out on Instagram as @numbernerdbookkeeping

Find Heather's business workflow templates (they're awesome) here:

http://numbernerdbookkeepingsolutions.com/business-workflow-templates/

Number Nerd Bookkeeping Solutions is a full-service virtual bookkeeping firm that helps individuals and businesses of all sizes get their numbers in order. Number Nerd offers monthly bookkeeping and payroll packages, QuickBooks file reviews, QuickBooks training, accounting software setup, accounting cleanup, and business process consulting services to their clients around the world. Owned and operated by experienced bookkeeper and accounting workflow consultant, Heather Pranitis, Number Nerd excels at delivering customized solutions to bookkeeping challenges, easy-to-read financial reports, and simple answers to tough finance-related questions. The Number Nerd team partners with their clients to improve bookkeeping processes and establish good accounting habits.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.  

Tax advisor and financial strategist Melissa Whaley and I talk about why having a tax pro on your team is essential as you grow your business towards seven- or eight-figures! Learn the benefits of working with a financial advisor, how a pro can save money both short-term and long-term, and some pitfalls of DIY’ing this area of your business.

Melissa also explained the tax advantages to filing taxes as an S corporation, and when a business owner should at least have a consultation with a financial advisor who can help with tax planning.

We even talked about how you can lose the liability protection an LLC or corporation provides for your personal assets if you are commingling personal and business funds (piercing the corporate veil).

You can find more from Melissa at https://melissawhaley.com/

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

This month is all about building your team of professional advisors to reach your seven- and eight-figure business goals. I’m teaching why it's crucial to have a CPA or tax professional, bookkeeper, operations or business manager (COO), financial advisor or CFO, and yes of course a lawyer!, as well as other advisors, on your team.

In this episode I cover:

• How new businesses can begin building your professional network of “advisors” even if you’re not ready to hire them yet
• When business owners should hire experts
• The types of experts a seven- or eight-figure business needs
• How to find the right experts to work with your business
• Why you should budget for these professional services
• The benefits of hiring the right professionals to help you plan your business’s growth
• How our firm works with businesses on retainer for predictable, consistent legal guidance (it may surprise you!)

I'll also be interviewing a few of my favorite pros in these categories later this month, you don't want to miss it!

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

In our third and final GDPR mini-training ("GDPR" is the European Union's new General Data Protection Regulation), I covered:

• What the GDPR is (briefly!)
• Changes US businesses may need to make with their website if they use cookies
• How do you know if your website uses cookies? (hint: if you use the Facebook ad pixel, Google analytics, or other ways to track your website visitors to other sites or target advertising to them, you’re using cookies!)
• Three options for US businesses to comply with GDPR if they use cookies, including pop-ups, banners, and an “I agree” button
• Recommended plug-ins to get your website GDPR compliant
• Steps you can take right now in your business to comply with GDPR, not just with cookies

Ready to download our updated GDPR-compliant privacy policy template and get a free GDPR checklist? You can find it here: www.awbfirm.com/gdpr/

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

In our second GDPR mini-training ("GDPR" is the European Union's new General Data Protection Regulation), I covered:

• What the GDPR is (briefly!)
• Changes US businesses may need to make with their email marketing, list building, lead magnets, opt-ins, downloadables, freebies, contact us forms, and checkout procedures for digital and physical products
• Three options for US businesses to comply with GDPR in their opt-ins, including checkboxes on forms, double opt-ins, and more transparency
• Do you need to delete your whole list, or do a re-engagement campaign?
• What “consent” means under GDPR

Ready to download our updated GDPR-compliant privacy policy template? You can find it here: www.awbfirm.com/gdpr/

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit.  You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

You may have heard about the "GDPR," the European Union's new General Data Protection Regulation. This huge change to the legal rules in the EU will affect all U.S. companies that have a website, and goes into effect May 25, 2018. Each week this month on the podcast, I'm releasing a mini-training on GDPR, to break down the law into smaller, more digestible parts.

In this week's first GDPR mini-training episode, you'll learn:

• What the GDPR is
• Which businesses need to comply
• Penalties you could face if you don't comply
• An overview of the changes required by the law

(Ready to download our updated GDPR-compliant privacy policy template? You can find it here.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit. You’ll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

We’re talking labor and employment legal matters this week with our own Michelle Coakley! Join us as we discuss important employment law tips you need to know if you’re looking to grow your team.

Listen and learn:

• Why ‘control’ is the keyword to think about when determining whether to go, independent contractor or employee,
• The challenges of working with employees or independent contractors in different states or countries
• If and when contracts are necessary when you’re hiring an employee
• How helpful detailed job descriptions can be
• Which questions you should avoid asking on any job application you create
• Things to keep in mind when it comes to terminating an employee

KEY TAKEAWAY: Labor and employment issues can seem completely overwhelming to creative entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their team, and this type of issue can be extremely complicated. Working with an attorney is a cost-effective way to avoid expensive issues down the road.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Jenny Shih of the Success Your Way podcast joins us to talk about the importance of knowing when it’s time to pivot your business and how crucial work-life balance is to online entrepreneurs.

Listen and learn:

• When is the perfect time to hire help
• How to tell if it’s time to shift your business model
• The pros and cons of a one-on-one vs. group model
• Why finding balance in life is good for business
• The importance of understanding any contract you sign

KEY TAKEAWAY: Many people set out to work for themselves so they have more control over their schedule, but much of the time the opposite becomes true. Setting boundaries and being clear on what work-life balance looks like to you will help your business succeed.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

We’ve all probably heard a partnership or collaboration horror story or two. Join me in this week’s episode to learn ways to protect your partnership or collaboration from the start.

Listen and learn:

• The four essentials to address before you partner up
• What type of agreement can help you gain ownership of work created by your independent contractor
• How even email can save your partnership or collaboration

KEY TAKEAWAY: Get it in writing! No matter how advanced you are or aren’t in your business, spelling out the essentials in clear, plain language from the beginning can save you a lot of headache(and legal fees) down the road.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast to sign up for a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

In this week’s episode, Corinne Crabtree of Phit-N-Phat shares valuable insights from year 10 in business. Join us to hear about her experience in transitioning from a hobby to a thriving and quickly-growing business.

Listen and learn:

• Why building community is so important and can help extend your business’s reach
• How to deal with the criticism that comes with growing in your business
• How contracts can protect your friendship when you’re working with friends
• How important streamlining your client experience can be
• A valuable mindset shift to help you transition into the person you want to be

KEY TAKEAWAY: Sometimes our business callings find us. When navigating the unique issues of unexpectedly starting and growing a business - from website privacy policies to employee/contractor contracts - it’s essential to have a trusted lawyer who knows your business inside and out.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Giving someone permission to use your process, teaching method, or body of work can feel overwhelming. This week’s episode covers many of the important things to consider when you’re developing a licensing agreement.

Listen and learn:

• A good litmus test for creating your licensing program rules and regulations
• The the three elements that every licensing agreement needs
• How advances and royalties work under a licensing agreement
• The pros and cons of having a territory clause
• The most important word to keep an eye out for in a licensing agreement

KEY TAKEAWAY: From payment arrangements to use of social media and termination clauses, there are a lot of things to make sure you get right in your licensing agreement. Working with a trusted legal advisor can make sure that your work or program is experienced the way you designed it to be, whether you’re the one sharing it or not.

Sign up below for a 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Join us this week when we talk with Anna Guest Jelley about her experience developing and growing a training and certification business.

Listen and learn:

• Why working with an attorney from day 1 may not always be the best route for a certification business
• How thinking ‘big picture’ from the start can help with scaling down the road
• How a certification program can allow you to focus on the things you love doing most in your business
• How scaling back (even if it’s every once in a while) can actually help you grow your business

KEY TAKEAWAY: Certification programs can increase your reach in ways you never imagined. Working with a trusted attorney along the way ensures that your business growth is smart and strategic.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Have you created phenomenal content or an amazing method, and now you want to give permission to someone else to use it? If you’re considering creating a licensing or certification program this week’s episode will walk you through the top things to think about before you start.

Listen and learn:

• How a licensing program can help you avoid burnout
• Why you’ll want to consider trademark registration before creating your licensing program
• How registering your copyrights is really the only way to fully protect the elements of your licensing program
• Why you need to understand your rights and ownership over every part of your program before you license

KEY TAKEAWAY: Licensing or certification programs can be beneficial for everyone involved. But in order to make sure that you and your licensees are protected, it’s important to work with a trusted legal advisor on making sure your trademark and copyrights protections are in place.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast to sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Tara Gentile, author and the founder of CoCommercial, joins us this week to share how she pivoted her business model to help turn small business owners into tomorrow’s economic powerhouses.

Listen and learn:

• The less common motivation behind registering your trademark
• Why consulting your ideal customer can help you fine-tune your perfect product
• How a licensing program can broaden your reach
• How understanding the difference between an independent contractor and an employee can help make the hiring leap less scary

KEY TAKEAWAY: When you “don’t know what you don’t know”, legal can seem intimidating. But sometimes doing your due diligence and tackling something scary like legal can open doors to help you grow your business more effectively.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’ve written a book or are in the process of writing a book, join me for this week’s episode where I discuss protecting the intellectual property in your book. You pour your heart and soul into the body of work you create. Protecting the intellectual property in your book is essential to making sure all of your hard work continues to work for you and not for others.

Listen and learn:

• Why early copyright registration is essential to protecting yourself and your book
• What elements of your book are covered by copyright
• The potential cost of a copyright infringement lawsuit
• What you should know about co-author agreements
• How contracts can save you when working with independent contractors
• Why you might not be able to trademark your book title

KEY TAKEAWAY: There are a lot of moving parts involved in writing a book, and it can be overwhelming to make sure your legal house is in order. A trusted legal advisor can help make sure you and your book are protected before you publish.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Mary Beth Storjohann, founder of Workable Wealth, shares her experience of doing business in a highly regulated industry and the challenges of self-publishing a book.

Listen and learn:

• The one thing you should consider hiring out from the start when doing business in a highly regulated industry
• Which responsibility will fall to you whether you go traditional or self-publish your book
• How taking a workflow audit can help make sure your client contracts cover everything
• Why leaning on a group of competitors for advice isn’t always a bad thing

KEY TAKEAWAY: DIY can get you pretty far in business and in publishing. But knowing when to bring in legal help can make the difference between reaching your goal or falling short.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Publishing a book is a tricky process to navigate. Traditional publishing and self-publishing both bring their own set of unique challenges. This week’s episode lays the foundation for understanding the process of publishing a book as well as some of the legal issues you’ll need to keep in mind.

Listen and learn:

• What the role of an agent is (and where their expertise ends)
• How a trusted lawyer can bring value whether an agent is involved or not
• The important questions to ask about royalties and advances
• Why a multiple book deal isn’t always best
• The benefits that both traditional publishing and self-publishing can offer

KEY TAKEAWAY: A book deal can be the gateway to growing your business and reaching your big goals (or it may be the goal itself!). Having a trusted legal advisor’s help along the way can ensure your book gets you where you want to go instead.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Being Boss®  founders, Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson, share valuable insights about partnering with others in business and the ins and outs of publishing a book.

Listen and learn:

• Why you should have Terms and Conditions on your website
• How getting a registered trademark can be motivation to level-up in your business
• How essential an Operating Agreement is when partnering with others
• Why self-publishing may not be the best route for your book
• How having a trusted tribe of bosses can be so valuable in navigating business decisions

KEY TAKEAWAY: Legal may not always be necessary early on in business, but it can be essential when you’re partnering with others. Working with a lawyer who knows your business can help you and your partner(s) reach your long term vision through short term goals.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Filing a trademark registration application is no easy task. In this week’s episode, I’ll talk about what happens after you get your trademark registration, and how taking your trademark seriously can make others take you and your business more seriously.

Listen and learn:

• Why it’s a good idea to use the ™ and ® symbols
• Why you should monitor the USPTO for similar filings
• How a simple Google Alert can save you a lot of trademark headache
• Why you need to consult with a trusted attorney if you’re going to send a cease and desist letter

KEY TAKEAWAY: Getting your trademark registration signals a huge leveling-up in your business. Having a trusted attorney on your team who already knows your business can help you feel prepared to defend your trademark.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Original Boss Mom®, Dana Malstaff, shares how protecting her brand was not only an early, key business strategy but also now provides her with peace of mind to reach her big goals.

Listen and learn:

• How a registered trademark protects the meaning behind your business, not just its name
• How DIY’ing legal isn’t always a good idea
• The pros and cons of DIY'ing legal for your business, and when it's time to level up and hire a lawyer
• Why having the right professionals on your team can make all the difference

KEY TAKEAWAY: Working with a lawyer doesn’t have to be an intimidating one-way street. Having the right legal support on your team can keep you from needlessly spending on non-strategized legal work.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Registering a trademark seems like a business no-brainer, but there are some potentially negative consequences that are important to consider before you take the plunge. Join me in this week’s episode where I discuss the downsides to registering a trademark, and why I think you should do it anyway.

Listen and learn:

• Why raising your business’s profile through trademark registration isn’t always a good thing
• How a registered trademark helps prevent consumer confusion
• Why some trademarks can never be registered
• Why time really is of the essence in our U.S. trademark registration process
• How important it really is to work with a trusted legal advisor when registering your business’s trademark

KEY TAKEAWAY: Trademark registration is a complicated process that’s not for the faint of heart. But if it’s a brand that’s important to your business, it’s worth registering your trademark.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Shawn Fink, accidental entrepreneur and founder of Abundant Mama, talks through the desire to create and the fear of trying something new in this week’s episode.

Listen and learn:

• The importance of finding your own story
• Why knowing your ideal customer is so crucial
• How “owning your name” through a trademark can totally change your business
• Why working with a lawyer who understands your business can actually prevent you from unnecessary legal spending

KEY TAKEAWAY: Taking the leap to work with a lawyer doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll find you’ve been doing things wrong all along - it can actually affirm that you’re on exactly the right path already.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

You can file a trademark yourself, but should you? Online platforms like LegalZoom may lead you to believe filing a trademark application is as easy as filling out a form, but in reality it’s a complicated process can require a lot of guidance.

Listen and learn:

• The important first step you can take to prevent having your application denied
• Why working with a trusted lawyer can help you avoid finding out the hard way that your business name is not registerable
• How a lawyer can help you strategize your trademark application to save money long term
• Why a USPTO Office Action isn’t always a bad thing

KEY TAKEAWAY: Trademark applications are tricky a process to navigate. In some cases, if your application isn’t done right the first time you might not get another chance to refile it. Working with a lawyer to file your trademark application not only ensures that your brand is fully protected, but it can also save you time and money in the long run.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Stacy Tuschl of She’s Building Her Empire talks about the benefits of working with a lawyer vs. an online platform when it comes to copyrights and trademarks.

Listen and learn:

• Why putting things out there before they’re (or you’re) ready can be the best way to go
• Why not working with a lawyer on your trademark can leave your brand open to copycats
• The importance of knowing the difference between an independent contractor and an employee, as they relate to your business
• How the right pricing attracts the kind of clients you want to work with
• How valuable it is to have a lawyer on your team who knows your business

KEY TAKEAWAY: If you’re ready to reach your big goals or build your empire, the best place to start is on a firm legal foundation.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Are intellectual property rights important to your business?  This week I talk about why your business may or may not need to protect its copyrights and trademarks. 

Listen and learn:

• Which types of business are more likely to need intellectual property protection
• The difference between copyrights and trademarks
• Who needs to register a trademark or copyright
• The issues your business may face if your brand is built on your own name
• The benefits of registering with the U.S. Copyright Office or U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

KEY TAKEAWAY: Not every business needs to invest in intellectual property protections. For businesses that make their money from their brand, their creativity, or their content, you must make smart decisions early in your business to have strong intellectual property rights that are properly protected for the long haul.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Tradeshow Bootcamp’s founder talks leveling up with legal help and how she transitioned from side hustle to flourishing business.

Listen and learn:

• How keeping your day job can actually help you grow your business
• Why hiring a team can save you money in the long run
• Why registering a trademark may not be the best first step for your business
• Why copycats don’t mean the end of your program or business
• Why contracts are essential when working with independent contractors

KEY TAKEAWAY:  Working with a trusted legal advisor from the start of your business can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’ve never worked with a lawyer, where do you even begin? I usually suggest a custom contract to protect your main revenue stream: client services, group programs, digital products or online courses, event attendee, or wholesale terms.

Listen and learn:

• When it’s time to uplevel the contracts you cobbled together yourself or created from a template
• Why contracts are so important to your business
• What could happen if your business isn’t using a solid contract for the main revenue stream
• What kinds of contracts your business may need  

KEY TAKEAWAY:  Every business needs solid contracts.  As your business grows, the stakes are higher, and contracts custom-tailored to protect your business’s main revenue stream, by a lawyer who understands your business, is a must-have.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

The Sales School and Authentic Selling founder shares about hiring a lawyer to create a custom contract for her online sales coaching business, and how her lawyer was able to talk her off a cliff during a difficult customer situation.  

Case Study Highlights:

• how the universe responds when you take your business seriously and set things up the right way
• how she knew it was time to work with a lawyer on a contract, but really appreciated having a lawyer on her side later during a difficult customer situation
• why you don't want to be on the wrong side of not having the right protection for your business -- you're working too hard, spending too much time away from your family to lose it
• why it's been important to work with professionals who understand online business
• the education process of figuring out the legal protections you need for your business
• why she does not DIY legal for her fast-growing business

KEY TAKEAWAY: Having a trusted legal advisor on your team will help you figure out what to do and get through situations that aren’t so fun.  

Kendrick Shope is the creator of Authentic Selling® and expert who empowers women to make millions without sacrificing their integrity. Kendrick also hosts her own radio and podcast show host, is in development with 2 Market Media on her own reality show and is finalizing a deal on her first book, “Sell Like A Woman.” Today, Kendrick runs an online Sales School where she teaches women how to create massive success using Authentic Selling®.

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.  

How can you save money with legal protections for your business?

Listen and learn:

• Why outsourcing legal is critical when you are in the Integration Phase of building your business
• How outsourcing your legal needs will save you time that you can spend on more profitable activities
• How a legal expert will save you money by prioritizing the correct legal protections for your business
• How working with the right lawyer for your industry and legal issue, not a generalist, will save you money by being more efficient and doing things the right way the first time
• How you may get better deals because people treat you differently when you have a lawyer on your team
• What costly mistakes you can avoid by working with an experienced lawyer

KEY TAKEAWAY: Working with an experienced lawyer who understands your industry will save your business money in the short-term and long-term, help you earn more money by allowing you to focus on your zone of genius, and can result in better deals for your business.  

Sign up below to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit to learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.  

Working with a lawyer has helped Life + Biz Success Coach® Reina Pomeroy feel secure, and make sure she’s focusing on the right legal priorities, as she’s building a fast-growing and successful business.  

Case Study Highlights:

• How Reina transitioned from a prior business in the wedding industry and decided to become a life and business coach
• How Reina + Co’s offerings and services have changed since she’s been in business, and how she made those decisions
• When Reina knew it was time to work with a lawyer, and what they tackled as their first project
• How working with an attorney on a long-term, retainer basis on her team has helped Reina feel secure in her business
• Why it was important to have a lawyer help her make decisions about prioritizing what to protect legally in her business

KEY TAKEAWAY: Figuring out what the real legal priorities are in your business is key to making sure you don’t waste your money on things that aren’t actually important right now.

Reina Pomeroy is the Owner and Founder of Reina + Co, the Life + Biz Success Coaching® Practice for creatives who are right brained and heart-centered. She helps clients stop spinning their wheels and take action on what’s most important. She’s a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach with over 1,500 hours of coaching under her belt. Reina also co-hosts the Creative Empire Podcast where she interviews leaders in the creative industry. She’s based in Washington DC but her clients and creative entrepreneur community live all over the globe. You can find Reina’s work featured on Entrepreneur on Fire, Entrepreneur.com, Brit + Co, The Huffington Post, Honeybook, The Rising Tide Society and Best Friends for Frosting. She also travels around the country speaking and educating creative entrepreneurs.

Sign up below to get a free 10 Step Legal Road Map® Checklist to build a strong legal foundation for your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.  

We’re back with Season 2! This season will teach you legal steps you need to take to be sure you reach your goals as you grow a profitable, sustainable business.    

We’re featuring case studies with high-achieving and ambitious entrepreneurs, talking about how they’ve built their businesses, and the legal lessons they’ve learned along the way:

• Reina Pomeroy - Episode 14, live now
• Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson of Being Boss
• Shawn Fink of Abundant Mama
• Dana Malstaff of Boss Mom
• Kendrick Shope of Authentic Selling
• Katie Hunt of Trade Show Boot Camp
• Stacy Tuschl of She’s Building her Empire
• Mary Beth Storjohann of Workable Wealth
• Corinne Crabtree - PNPTribe
• Jenny Shih - Success on your terms
• Few more surprises in the works

In today’s episode, I’m talking about three phases of growing a profitable, sustainable business, and how the legal issues are different in each of these phases.  I’m also going to give you a sneak peek of what’s to come in Season 2.

KEY TAKEAWAY: When you’re in the integration phase, you have built a business you don’t want to lose, so it’s time to level-up, and start taking care of legal issues.  Building a strong legal foundation will make sure you reach your big goals, and never have to work for anyone else again.   

Sign up below to get a free 10 Step Legal Road Map® Checklist to build a strong legal foundation for your business (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Don’t know where to start getting your creative business legally legit? Hosted by lawyer Autumn Witt Boyd, the Legal Road Map® podcast gives creative entrepreneurs the answers to your copyright, trademark, and business legal questions.

Learn how to protect your rights and stay out of legal hot water, so you can confidently build your dream business. Whether you’re just starting out and haven’t done any legal work on your business, or are going through a transition or growth spurt and want to make sure you’re covered, the Legal Road Map® podcast is a great tool to make sure you haven’t missed any key legal protections for your business.

Who is this podcast for? Creative business owners with big dreams at any point in your entrepreneurial journey.

Who is Autumn? Autumn Witt Boyd has been a copyright, trademark, and business lawyer for more than 12 years and opened her own law office two years ago to work with creative business owners. Most of her clients are online business owners. More information and bio can be found at https://awbfirm.com/about .

What will this podcast teach you? You'll learn how to protect your rights and stay out of legal hot water, so you can confidently build your dream business. Each episode will give you a high-level look at the legal protections you may need for your business, that you can either put in place yourself or hire your own lawyer to help with.

For example: What contracts should you have? What the heck is a website privacy policy or terms and conditions? What should you protect with a copyright or trademark? Do you need an LLC or should you stay a sole proprietor? What should you do if a copycat steals your photos or content? What’s the right way to respond to a cease and desist letter? When is using someone else’s stuff fair use under the law? How should you hire employees or independent contractors?

Season One - 12 episodes:

Episode 1 - How legal can protect your business and make you more money

Episode 2 - All about contracts, the most important legal protection for creative and online businesses

Episode 3 - Every business with a website needs these documents in place

Episode 4 - Do I need an LLC or corporation for my business? Plus licenses, insurance, EIN, and taxes

Episode 5 - Intellectual Property for your business, copyrights, trademarks, patents and more

Episode 6 - Trademark 101, choose a good business or product name and registration explained

Episode 7 - Copyright 101, who owns what, plus the huge benefits of registering early

Episode 8 - Copyright and Trademark 201, using other people's photos, videos, music and more, legally

Episode 9 - Help! I just got a cease and desist letter, what do I do?

Episode 10 - Make more money for your business by licensing your content and brand

Episode 11 - Dealing with copycats who rip off your content and brand

Episode 12 - Hiring contractors and employees the right way, with Ashley Cox of sproutHR

Sign up below to get a free 10 Step Checklist to get your business legally legit (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation

Business is booming and you’re ready to hire help -- make sure you do it the right way! When should you hire an independent contractor and when do you need to pay someone as an employee (and what’s the difference)? Plus contracts for workers, like non-compete and NDAs.

Episode highlights:

• What’s the difference between kinds of workers - independent contractors and employees?
• What could happen if you misclassify a worker as an independent contractor when they should be an employee (or vice versa)?
• What does it mean to be an “at will” worker?
• When should you use a non-compete or NDA (non-disclosure) agreement?
• What forms do you have to fill out when hiring workers?

KEY TAKEAWAY: You could open yourself up to major fines and penalties if you misclassify a worker as an independent contractor when they should be an employee, so it’s essential to look at all the factors and make sure you expand your team the right way, and consult an expert if you’re not sure.

Click here to sign up for Ashley Cox of sproutHR’s guide to the differences between independent contractors and employees (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

As a creative business owner, at some point, you will probably find someone has copied your best stuff or started a business or product with a very similar name as yours. Learn how to respond when this happens to protect your business and brand.

(Be sure to listen to Episode 5 first for an overview of the different kinds of IP; Episode 11 builds on Episode 5).

Episode highlights:

• What steps can you take to avoid someone copying you?
• What evidence should you keep in your files if you find you’ve been copied?
• How can you get someone to stop copying you without a lawyer?
• What is a DMCA takedown notice and how can this help you stop copycats?
• When should you consider hiring a lawyer?
• What is the process for filing an infringement lawsuit and what does it cost?

KEY TAKEAWAY: Protecting your rights from copycats may be easier than you think, many people don’t know how the laws work and often a gentle heads up and request that they stop will work wonders.

Sign up below for swipe copy you can use to write your own cease and desist letter to send to a copycat (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

How can you get paid for the intellectual property your business owns? Licensing might just unlock a hidden revenue stream. Learn about the basics of selling a license, or permission to use your copyrights, trademarks, or patents.

(Be sure to listen to Episode 5 first for an overview of the different kinds of IP; Episode 10 builds on Episode 5).

Episode highlights:

• License = fancy word for permission to use your IP
• What terms should your license include?
• What’s the difference between an exclusive and non-exclusive license?
• What should you charge for a license?

KEY TAKEAWAY: A license is a contract, and like any contract, it’s always best to put exactly what you’re giving permission to do in writing, signed by both the owner of the IP (licensor) and the user (licensee).

Sign up below for swipe copy you can use to write your own basic license (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

You got a letter saying you’ve infringed intellectual property rights in someone’s copyright, trademark, or patent. Now what? Learn what a “cease and desist” letter and “DMCA takedown notice” are, and some steps you might take on your own without hiring a lawyer.

(Be sure to listen to Episode 5 first for an overview of the different kinds of IP; Episode 9 builds on Episode 5).

Episode highlights:

• What is a “cease and desist” letter?
• What is a “DMCA takedown notice”?
• How to investigate on your own
• When a sincere apology might do the trick
• What evidence should you keep in your files
• How to evaluate the risk of a lawsuit
• When you should consider hiring a lawyer

KEY TAKEAWAY: You can avoid getting a cease and desist letter by creating your own stuff or getting permission, but if you make a mistake, you might be able to fix it on your own by apologizing and taking down the infringing content.

Sign up below for a 5 step guide to respond to a cease and desist letter (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

How can you use content created by other people like photos, videos, music, or text (third-party content) the right way in your business? Learn all about fair use and how to stay out of legal hot water with copyrights and trademarks.

(Be sure to listen to Episodes 5, 6 and 7 first for an overview of the different kinds of IP; Episode 8 builds on those episodes).

Episode highlights:

• What’s in the public domain?
• Ask permission - the safest bet
• Using other people’s content on social media (re-pinning, re-posting, re-gramming)
• Copyright fair use - there is no magic % you can change and be safe
• Trademarks - rules for selling things made with licensed fabric, plus can you use college sports and NFL logos, movie and book titles and characters, quotes and song lyrics?

KEY TAKEAWAY: If you don’t have permission, you’re probably infringing. Create your own stuff or get permission (in writing!) or risk getting a nasty letter or being sued.

Sign up below for a cheat sheet to help you use other people’s stuff the right way (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

Want to stop copycats in their tracks? Learn how copyright law automatically protects your creative content like your blog, photos, videos, and e-courses, and the huge benefit you can get by registering your copyrights ASAP.

(Be sure to listen to Episode 5 first for an overview of the different kinds of IP; Episode 7 builds on Episode 5).

Episode highlights:

• Who owns what?
• How to be sure your business owns copyrights when your employees or contractors do the creating
• Tricky ownership issues with co-creators
• What rights does a copyright owner get?
• Crazy good benefits of copyright registration
• How does the federal copyright registration process work? Do you need to hire an attorney?
• How long does a copyright registration last?
• Should you use the © symbol?

KEY TAKEAWAY: Copyright registration is easy and inexpensive -- this is a MUST for any business that’s making money from content like a blog, videos, e-course, or other digital products.

Sign up below for a Copyright 101 guide (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

How can you create the most value in your brand? Start by choosing a great company or product name, then check to make sure no one else is already using it. Plus learn why a federal trademark registration could help your business.

(Be sure to listen to Episode 5 first for an overview of the different kinds of IP; Episode 6 builds on Episode 5).

Episode highlights:

• What kinds of brand and company names make the best trademarks? Fanciful, arbitrary, suggestive, descriptive and generic marks explained.
• How can you search to see if a trademark is already being used?
• Is checking for domain name availability good enough as a trademark search?
• When does it make sense to register a trademark?
• How does the federal trademark registration process work? Do you need to hire an attorney?
• How long does a trademark registration last?
• Should you use the ™ and ® symbols?

KEY TAKEAWAY: One of the easiest legal protections you can DIY is a thorough trademark search to be sure you’re not infringing anyone else’s rights, and are building value in a brand you can actually protect.

Sign up below for a Trademark 101 guide and cheat sheet to help you choose a great business or product name (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

Copyrights, trademarks, and patents, oh my! What intellectual property does your creative business own that’s worth protecting? This primer will help you identify what’s valuable in your business and how you can protect and make money with IP registrations.

Episode highlights:

• Copyrights: protect creative works
• Trademarks: protect brands, company names, logos
• Patents: protect inventions, processes, manufactured designs
• Trade secrets: protect things you keep secret and give you a competitive advantage
• Right of publicity: protects use of your name or likeness (images where your face is
• recognizable)

KEY TAKEAWAY: If it’s valuable to your business, it’s worth protecting. If someone copied your content or started a business with a similar name, would you (or your business income) be devastated? Then it’s worth investing in legal protections for your IP.

Sign up below for a cheat sheet about what copyrights, trademarks, and patents protect and how they’re different (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

Do you need an LLC for your business? Maybe, maybe not. Learn why you might want to form an LLC or corporation, plus info about federal and state taxes, insurance, business licenses, EINs, bank accounts, and sales taxes.

Episode highlights:

• Liability protection - what this actually means
• Federal and state tax issues (hint: talk to an accountant!)
• Pros and cons of Sole proprietorships, Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations
• Changing your business name

KEY TAKEAWAY: Forming a business entity can provide important protection for your personal assets and maybe even tax benefits -- but this decision will be different for every business. This is an area where chatting with an attorney and accountant is money well spent.

Sign up below for a pro/con cheat sheet about the different kinds of business entities (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

NOTE - NEW PRIVACY RULES (EU GDPR) went into effect MAY 25, 2018. Check out episodes 38, 39, and 40 for updated information on privacy policies. This Episode 3 was published in 2016 and does not address the new rules.   

Wonder what those “privacy policies” or “terms and conditions” that you see on websites actually are? Find out about these and other documents and terms your website must have - terms of use, disclaimers, and disclosures.

Episode highlights:

• Terms and conditions: the rules of the road for your website and how you protect your copyrights and trademarks
• Privacy policy: required by law!
• Terms of use: a contract with your e-course or digital product purchasers
• Disclaimers: consider for health, financial, or legal information
• Disclosures: required by the FTC if you receive money or products, and for affiliate links

KEY TAKEAWAY: If you collect any personal information through your website (even just an e-mail address through an opt-in or contact form), you are required by law to post a policy on your website telling your visitors what you will do with this information, such as whether you sell it to third parties or share it with your advertisers or partners.

Sign up below for a list of all the legal documents, notices, and disclaimers you may need to post on your website, and swipe copy you can use to create your own (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

What contracts do you need for your creative business, and what should they say? Contracts are THE most important legal protection for your business. Learn about contracts with your clients or customers, vendors, partners or founders, joint venturers, investors, independent contractors and employees, event attendees.

Episode highlights:

• When is a verbal contract ok, and when should you put it in writing?
• Liability waivers explained
• Why you need an agreement when you let others use your IP (e-courses and digital
• products + licenses)
• Key terms every contract should include
• How to get someone to actually sign a contract

KEY TAKEAWAY: You must put your agreements in writing. Whether you work with a lawyer or just write it up yourself, you’ll have all the terms are in one place if a question or problem comes up later.

Sign up below for a cheat sheet to write your own contracts with five key terms every contract should include (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

Do you need to worry about legal protections for your business? In a word, YES! Find out why you can’t ignore the law, how taking care of legal issues early can save and even make you money, and how legal protections can let you be more creative.

Episode highlights:

• Contracts: everything is spelled out in case disagreements come up later
• Trademark name search: avoid getting sued and build value in your brand
• Copyright registration: better remedies against copycats
• Forming an LLC: protect your assets if sued for something related to business
• Licenses and taxes: do it right from the start, don’t want to have to pay penalties later

KEY TAKEAWAY: Spend a little time and/or money on legal in the beginning doing it right, so you can avoid spending a lot later on.

Sign up below to get a free 10 Step Checklist to get your business legally legit (plus be the first to know when new episodes are live).

This podcast is information not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you listen to just one episode of the Legal Road Map® podcast, let this be it.

In the final episode - at least for the foreseeable future - Autumn shares takeaways from the past 5 years of running her own law firm, what all online business owners need to know about legal protection to build a sustainable, profitable business, and more.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• How entrepreneurship can help you live your values
• Why putting legal protections in place early can help you build the business of your dreams faster and with less stress
• (One last time for the cheap seats in the back!...) Why contracts are THE most important legal protection for your online business
• Why you DON’T need to spend money on ALL the legal things when you’re just getting started
• Why -- and when -- you should add an attorney to your bench of professionals to build a sustainable, profitable 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 https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast171!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Season 1 of the Legal Road Map® podcast: https://awbfirm.com/blogs/news/tagged/start-here

Season 5 of the Legal Road Map® podcast - legal for each business phase episodes:

https://awbfirm.com/podcast120

https://awbfirm.com/podcast121

https://awbfirm.com/podcast122

https://awbfirm.com/podcast123

Prep to Scale™ FastTrack:  https://awbfirm.com/fast-track

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

We love helping our clients get their legal house in order, but sometimes when we introduce a new service, contract template, or marketing initiative at the AWB Firm, we have to be our own lawyers, too!

We recently hosted our very first 5 day list building challenge that brought up some questions around our terms and conditions, protecting a potential new trademark, rules for giveaways and contests, and more.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• What you need to make sure you have on your website, so your Facebook ads won’t get rejected
• Why you should use website terms and conditions for your course or challenge, even if it’s not required by law
• The easy (and free!) ways you can begin to protect your intellectual property without having to spend lots of dollars on an official trademark or copyright registration
• How to make sure your giveaways or contests don’t break any laws

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 https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast170!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Prep to Scale™ FastTrack:  https://awbfirm.com/fast-track

Legal Road Map® podcast episodes about Facebook ads:

• Episode 102:  https://awbfirm.com/podcast102
• Episode 124:  https://awbfirm.com/podcast124
• Episode 125   https://awbfirm.com/podcast125

USPTO website:  https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-application-process/search-trademark-database

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

If you’ve been in business for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard about (or seen firsthand) the value in building your email list.

No matter how large a following you may build on a social media platform, that following isn’t owned by you - it’s owned by the platform, and they can change who sees your content on a dime. 

But an email list? That’s all yours! And it can be a great way to get to know your audience and them, you.

But with all the talk about Privacy Policies, GDPR, cookies, and more, how are you supposed to build your list and stay out of legal trouble?

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why email lists have become increasingly valuable in online business
• Who has to comply with the EU’s GDPR privacy regulations
• What you need to know about cookies on your website
• Why you shouldn’t make promises, especially about earnings or weight loss, in your list building freebies or opt-ins
• Whether or not you need to include an affiliate disclaimer if you’re promoting someone else’s list building challenge

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 https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast169!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

AWB Firm 5 day Prep to Scale™ challenge:  https://awbfirm.com/challenge

Prep to Scale™ FastTrack:  https://awbfirm.com/fast-track

Jasmine Star’s free Instagram challenge:  https://jasminestar.com/join-my-free-instagram-challenge/

Ask by Ryan Levesque:  https://askmethod.com

AWB Coaching quiz:  https://awbfirm.com/coaching-quiz

Amy Porterfield’s list building challenge:  https://www.amyporterfield.com/growmylist

Corinne Crabtree’s free weightloss course: https://pnp411.com

Privacy Policy contract template:  https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-privacy-policy-for-u-s-businesses-gdpr-compliant

GDPR guide: https://awbfirm.com/gdpr

Legal Road Map®  podcast episodes about GDPR:

• Episode 38:  https://awbfirm.com/podcast38
• Episode 39:  https://awbfirm.com/podcast39
• Episode 40:  https://awbfirm.com/podcast40
• Episode 38:  https://awbfirm.com/podcast83

Legal Road Map® podcast episode 164:  https://awbfirm.com/podcast164

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Finances and legal are like four-letter words for most entrepreneurs. You know you need to have a grasp on them to run a successful business, but the amount of things you don’t know about finances and legal makes you want to bury your head in the sand.

In this episode, I brought on CFO consultant and founder of 100 Degrees Consulting, Stephanie Skryzowski, to share some of her best practices and advice for entrepreneurs when it comes to getting a handle on the financial side of business. 

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why you shouldn’t run your business based solely on the money you have in your bank account (i.e., what cashflow is and why you need to pay attention to it!)
• How widely profit margin can vary among different industries and service providers and how often you should review yours
• Some helpful advice for hiring new team members
• How a cobbled together contract ended up costing Stephanie five months of pay
• Stephanie’s best practices for coming up with your business’s financial plan for 2021
• The difference between a forecast and a budget (and why a budget can actually be freeing!)

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 https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast168!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

100 Degrees Consulting:  https://www.100degreesconsulting.com

Free financial worksheet: https://www.100degreesconsulting.com/profit

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Planning for next year is in full swing. You may be planning new products or services, epic launches, new training series, and more. And you’re probably also working on your budget with line items all geared toward helping you facilitate those rollouts.

While most people forget to add legal into the budgeting equation at all, the good news is that you may need way less than you think, depending on your unique stage of business.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• What you might want to skip legally when you’re just getting started
• Why you should definitely update your contract every time you uplevel or change the way you work with clients 
• How you can start protecting your trademarks and copyrights even before you register them
• What you should plan to protect with your first custom contract
• Which lower risk activities you can likely still use a contract template for, even if you’re in a more advanced stage of business
• The revenue threshold that marks when you should absolutely when you should absolutely sit down for a legal audit of your business with a lawyer 

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 https://www.awbfirm.com/podcast166!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Contract template store: https://awbfirm.com/contract-templates

Episode 120 of the Legal Road Map® podcast (Launch Phase): https://awbfirm.com/podcast120

Episode 121 of the Legal Road Map® podcast (Solopreneur Phase): https://awbfirm.com/podcast121

Episode 122 of the Legal Road Map® podcast (Success Phase): https://awbfirm.com/podcast122

Episode 123 of the Legal Road Map® podcast (Scale to CEO Phase): https://awbfirm.com/podcast123

Legal Road Map® Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/legalroadmap

Episode 91 of the Legal Road Map® podcast: https://awbfirm.com/podcast91

Episode 49 of the Legal Road Map® podcast: https://awbfirm.com/podcast49