Don't Go Into Business without Talking About This...

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Don't Go Into Business without Talking About This...

A judge once said to my client: “The biggest mistake you made was going into business with a friend, with no written agreement. Friendship clouds the business relationship. You can't have the conversations you need to have when you're friends."

While I disagree that you can't run a business with a friend, I do agree with one thing: entering into any business relationship without a contract is a no good, very bad idea!  (Don't take my word for it--Being Boss did a great episode on this very topic, which you can listen to here.)

What type of contract am I even talking about? …..

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Freebie: Drafting Strong Contract Terms

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Freebie: Drafting Strong Contract Terms

Alternative title: Drafting Statements of Work that don't Suck! (I figured that might be a little aggressive)

Every time you draft a contract, you need to specify exactly what you're doing for that client.  Whether it's a package, specific terms drafted into a contract, or a Statement of Work pulled out at the end (my favorite way to do it, FYI), you have to have things NAILED DOWN….

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4 Reasons Being a Sole Proprietor is a Bad Idea for Wedding Pros

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4 Reasons Being a Sole Proprietor is a Bad Idea for Wedding Pros

A lot of times, wedding pros plan to "start out small" in their business.  This means running lean and on a shoestring budget.  And lots of times, these are the folks who skip the corporate formation step and just opt to be a sole proprietor (an "SP").

Let me tell you-- this could be one of the most expensive mistakes you make…

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Ask These 6 Critical Legal Questions Before A Styled Shoot

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Ask These 6 Critical Legal Questions Before A Styled Shoot

Styled shoots, while sometimes getting a lot of flack, can be awesome.  They are a great way to showcase your work as a professional, go all-out on a small-scale, make meaningful industry connections, and get exposure for your work.

But it can be a legal headache with all of the liability, rights, and model releases being strewn about.

What MUST you consider before you execute a Styled Shoot?…

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Does Your Email List Break the Law?

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Does Your Email List Break the Law?

"Each separate email in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act is subject to penalties of up to $40,654"-- FTC.gov ⬅️

Do I have your attention now?

Yeah, thought so.  If you're sending out emails to customer lists, sharing potential customer lists of new couples with like-minded vendors, growing your email list through freebies, or just starting to explore the idea of email marketing, you need to perk your ears up…..

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Your Trademark Isn't About You!

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Your Trademark Isn't About You!

When small business owners come to me asking about trademarks, they often open with, "I want to reserve my name so no one else can use it." And I totally get that. You're building your brand, which takes a lot of time, energy, and money. You want to protect that!

But what a lot of business owners don't understand is that trademarks really aren't about you. I repeat: it's not about a business owner getting rights.

Say WHAAAT?

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Five Contracts Every Wedding Pro MUST Have

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Five Contracts Every Wedding Pro MUST Have

You're a creative business owner.  Stop for a second and realize how AWESOME that is.  You're DOING IT!
Now take a second to realize that your business, while amazing and special and unique, has to play by certain rules.  And that you must ensure your business-- and all the hard work that goes along with it-- is protected. The best way to do this? Through tight, niche-focused contracts.  These contracts, drafted by lawyers who know the ins- and outs- of the industry, will do three very important things….

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