Every business owner must do THIS before your first $5k (S5E138)

Every business owner must do THIS before your first $5k (S5E138)

Author: Autumn Witt Boyd | Go-To Lawyer for Online Entrepreneurs May 11, 2020 Duration: 32:31

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.


Navigating the legal landscape of an online business often feels like deciphering a foreign language. Legal Road Map®: copyright, trademark and business law info for online entrepreneurs translates that complex language into actionable advice you can use right away. Hosted by Autumn Witt Boyd, a practicing attorney who focuses specifically on creative and digital businesses, this podcast serves as a reliable guide through the common yet confusing legal questions entrepreneurs face daily. Each episode tackles practical topics, from the essential contracts you need to protect your work and client relationships to understanding the real purpose behind website policies like terms of service and privacy notices. You’ll hear clear explanations on how copyright and trademark law applies to your original content, branding, and products, helping you secure your intellectual property without unnecessary jargon. Think of it as a regular consultation with a trusted expert, designed to demystify the law so you can make informed decisions and focus on growing your venture with greater confidence and security. Tune in for straightforward conversations that replace legal anxiety with a practical plan, making this podcast an invaluable resource for any entrepreneur building a business in the digital space.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Legal Road Map®: copyright, trademark and business law info for online entrepreneurs
Podcast Episodes
Legal for course creators - payment plan problems (S4E89) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
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 to…
Legal for course creators: Student problems  (S4E87) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:56
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…
Legal for course creators: Terms of Use with your students (S4E85) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:41
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 c…
Course creator interview: Jaclyn Mellone on contracts (S4E84) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
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 doin…
Legal for course creators: Privacy Policies & GDPR (S4E83) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:32
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…
Legal for course creators: Website legal musts (S4E81) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:31
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 req…