Success Phase: Are you making expensive mistakes in your business? (S5E122)

Success Phase: Are you making expensive mistakes in your business? (S5E122)

Author: Autumn Witt Boyd | Go-To Lawyer for Online Entrepreneurs January 20, 2020 Duration: 28:32

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.


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
100th episode! A behind-the-curtain peek inside the AWB Firm (S4E100) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:07
(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 b…
Legal for course creators: copyrights (S4E99) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:25
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…
Course creator interview: Thinkifics Greg Smith (S4E98) - Updated [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:44
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: Gre…
Legal for course creators: affiliate programs pt.2 - (S4E97) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:50
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 referrin…
Course creator interview: Haley Burkhead (S4E96) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:06
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…
Legal for course creators - affiliate programs pt.1 - (S4E95) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:38
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 abo…
Course creator interview: Dr. Lindsay Padilla (S4E94) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:17
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 episod…
Legal for course creators - guest experts (S4E93) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:13
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 cruci…
Course creator interview - Kara Loewentheil - explicit (S4E92) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:00
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 mind…
Legal for course creators - independent contractors (S4E91) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
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 mor…