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.

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

Autumn’s manifesto: why legal matters for your business (S5E171)

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.

Behind the scenes: 5 day list building challenge (S5E170)

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.

How to build your email list legally (S5E169)

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 2021 financial success with Stephanie Skryzowski (S5E168)

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 Episode 37 of the Legal Road Map® podcast: https://awbfirm.com/podcast37 This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

Don’t forget this in your 2021 budget! (S5E167)

We’re here… finally. Down to the final weeks of 2020 and there’s no better time to start creating your business’s legal plan for next year.  If you’ve got your sights set on building a successful business, creating a legacy, launching a new product or service, or simply maintaining your current side hustle, this episode is for you. In this episode, we’ll cover: The best way to stop losing sleep over the legal black holes in your business in 2021 How you can avoid learning legal lessons the hard (and expensive!) way The cost advantage of thinking proactively when it comes to legal for your business The right time to register your copyrights or trademarks and when it makes sense to wait How to create legacy with legal planning Why creating a legal plan doesn’t mean doing it all or spending all the money right now JOIN THE PREP TO SCALE™ CHALLENGE! Our very first 5 day challenge kicks off December 7-11. Doors close on December 6, so claim your spot today! https://awbfirm.com/challenge Don’t need 5 days and want to have lifetime, instant access to all the challenge content, plus attend an exclusive Q+A with Autumn? Take the FastTrack today for just $27. https://awbfirm.com/fast-track Resources mentioned in this episode: FastTrack Prep to Scale™:  https://awbfirm.com/fast-track This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

The TOP 4 reasons to start your 2021 legal plan NOW (S5E166)

Preparing to launch or run a year-end (I see you coming Black Friday / Cyber Monday) promotion involves a lot of moving parts. It can be easy for things that may seem less important to fall through the cracks, but tightening up your contracts shouldn’t be one of them.  Learn what you need to know about getting your contracts in shape before your launch or year-end promotion, including a few tips to keep in mind that are specific to 2020 (because, you know… it’s 2020 ?). In this episode, we’ll cover: How frequently you should review your contracts What your customer contracts need to say about testimonials How your contracts can help with circumstances outside of your control (hello, pandemic!) Why you really need to make sure you address termination or cancellation in your contracts Best practices for getting your contracts signed, and your terms agreed to the right way Other agreements you may need as you launch or kick off your promotion 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/podcast165! Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 164 of the Legal Road Map® podcast: https://awbfirm.com/podcast164 Contract template store: https://awbfirm.com/contract-templates Model release contract template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/model-release Affiliate agreement template: https://awbfirm.com/products/affiliate-or-referral-program-agreement-template This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

DON’T launch before you do this one thing (S5E165)

Testimonials, endorsements, and more. Whatever form it takes, you know that being able to share your customers’ success from purchasing your product or online course is one of the most powerful ways to drive sales, especially during year-end promotions. But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) actually has quite a few guidelines about how your customers’ words and experiences can be presented as you market your business, and if you don’t follow them, the penalties could be steep. In this episode, we’ll cover: Who needs to comply with FTC regulations What the penalties could be if you don’t comply What you can and cannot include in testimonials or other social proof Everything you need to know about using experts or celebrities to promote your product The specific language you need to use in your disclaimers (fair warning: you’re not going to like it!) Whether or not you should add an earnings disclaimer on your website and what it should say 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/podcast164! Resources mentioned in this episode:   This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

You can’t say that! Use testimonials the right way (S5E164)

Most everyone I know will not shed one single tear when it’s time to bid 2020 farewell. We’re all ready for a new year and a new start after everything that’s been thrown at us this year. But there’s still plenty of opportunity to run a successful year-end promotion in your business. Going through a launch, running a challenge, or doing a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale is stressful enough when everything goes right - not to mention when something goes wrong (like your FB ads account gets disabled, no one shows up to your webinar, or you can’t get your ads approved for your sale). In this episode, we’ll cover: The Facebook ad basics you need to know (especially if your ads keep getting denied) How to break through noise and offer fatigue to make your year-end promotion a success What people are really tired of in 2020 Ways to structure your year-end promotions for maximum engagement New Facebook ad limits that are rolling out soon BONUS: If this episode has spotlighted areas of your business’s website that have you worried, now is a great time to make sure your it’s in good shape legally. Download our legal for websites  checklist to make sure your website won’t drag your year-end promotion down at www.awbfirm.com/podcast163! Resources mentioned in this episode: Episode 124 of the Legal Road Map® podcast: https://awbfirm.com/podcast124 Privacy Policy contract template: https://awbfirm.com/collections/all/products/website-privacy-policy-for-u-s-businesses-gdpr-compliant Episode 125 of the Legal Road Map® podcast: https://awbfirm.com/podcast125 This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.

BYE 2020: preparing your year-end promotions (S5E163)

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.

Adventures in new business with photographer Layra Marte (S5E162)

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

Picture perfect legal for your photography business (S5E161)

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

Consistent 5-figure months with course creator Jacques Hopkins (S5E160)

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

How to safeguard your online course (S5E159)

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

Diversifying revenue in your web design business with Shannon Mattern (S5E158)

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

How to avoid 99% of legal issues in your web design business (S5E157)

The Legal Road Map™ podcast teaches creative entrepreneurs how to protect your rights and stay out of legal hot water, so you can confidently build your dream business. Host Autumn Witt Boyd, a lawyer for creative and online businesses, gives you the answers to your copyright, trademark, and business legal questions. Like having an attorney in your back pocket. 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? 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 Roadmap™ podcast is a great tool to make sure you haven’t missed any key legal protections for your business. Subscribe today and get your business legally legit. Transcripts, show notes, and more info at www.awbfirm.com/podcast.

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Legal Road Map®: copyright, trademark and business law info ...

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