Creative Counsel with Brittany Ratelle: Recent Episodes
Brittany Ratelle
This podcast helps creative entrepreneurs and influencers confidently grow and scale their modern brands -- navigating the business side of content creation, influencer marketing, social media, e-commerce, online courses, in-person events, and digital products. Host Brittany Ratelle, an attorney for creatives, gives you legal resources and behind-the-scene business tricks for your busy life -- minus the leather-bound books and billable rate. Get the information and inspiration you need to move your business forward by tuning in to weekly interviews, action items, and legal tips to help you confidently OWN your business. If you are a maker, artist, speaker, coach, content creator, e-commerce owner, influencer, educator, or creativepreneur -- don’t miss this amazing resource to help you get legally legit and moving forward one step at a time.
Join me and seasoned entrepreneur Sara Urquhart as we share stories (good and bad) about business partnerships and give you the tips you need to make smart business partnership decisions. Sarah spells out the critical questions that you should ask yourself when you are deciding whether to go solo, bring on a partner, and how to navigate changing roles, expectations, and life events that can threaten successful business partnerships. If you are in a business partnership (or planning on being in one!) ESPECIALLY if you are going into business with friends, or family, don't miss this deep dive episode!
In this episode:
Why a lot of female founders think they "need" a business partner and how to overcome it
What you should look for in a good business partner
How to evaluate business partnership compatibility
How to use dynamic equity to make business partnerships more fair
How to structure more peaceful partnership check-ins
What intellectual property issues need to be addressed between business partners early in the "business marriage"
What's a "business prenup" and why do you need one
+++ more!
Links:
SaraU Productions
Sara's Instagram
Slicing Pie
E-Myth Revisited
Alt Summit
Shift Gathering
HELPFUL RESOURCES Creative Counsel Episode 45 - Business Partnerships 101
Operating Agreement Template - the business "prenup"
Make sure you’re legally legit with my free legal workbook!
Do you have the contracts you need in place? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your business at creativecontracts.co.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
LET’S CONNECT Interested in working together for one-on-one legal services? Book some time on my calendar!
Not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship. For informational purposes only.
Courtney Brown is the CEO and founder of Cents of Style and Be Fulfilled, two multimillion-dollar Utah-based eCommerce companies. Cents of Style aims to bring the latest in clothing and accessories in an accessible and affordable way while Be Fulfilled aims to help influencers develop, source, ship, and service their own product lines.
In this episode of Creative Counsel, Courtney shares her 15-year journey in building her companies from the ground up, including some giant pivots and bringing her husband into the businesses full-time. She also geeks out with me about how we’ve had a front-row seat to the changing shape of eCommerce, especially with brands grown through influencer and affiliate marketing. Courtney also shares how to create business boundaries, especially when working with friends, how to handle the inevitable curveballs that come with physical product, her best tips on hiring and managing team members, and how to approach the constant problem-solving that is part of the entrepreneurial journey.
In this episode:
- what to do when what you're working hard but not making any money
- why affiliate marketing is a win-win
- how to work with your spouse in your business
- hiring on skillset vs. mindset
- what to do if you have problems with your physical product
- should you source overseas if you're worried about copycats
- what the "netflix" hours are and how you can be using them to your advantage
- why not everyone will start or success in business
- Courtney's favorite business books
- what you should be doing to check in your vision every year
Courtney Brown's Quotes:
"If you're passionate about something, don't let that deter you.There will always be something standing in the way. There will always be a challenge. That's where the opportunity lies. If you can figure out how to solve the problem that others say is impossible. That's the largest opportunity if you can figure it out."
"If it were easy, everyone would do it. But your willingness to find solutions to the problems and move beyond them to shift, to change. And to keep going -- that is the number one predictor of success."
"Let's not forget the market is enormous. You don't need the whole pie. I don't want the whole pie. I just want a little piece of it. I want to create enough value that people see the value and want to participate in it. You can take up a little bit of the pie and live a very beautiful life and help and bless a lot of people."
Links:
Krazy Coupon Lady
Hip2Save
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Good to Great by Jim Collins
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Other podcast interviews with Courtney:
Fight Like a Mother: Raising Kids with Mental Illness
Dr. Julie Hanks: Healing Aspirational Shame
Nitty Gritty: Courtney and John Brown
Connect with Courtney
Courtney's Instagram
Cents of Style
Be Fulfilled
Contract Templates for eCommerce Companies: 1. Website BUNDLE
- Client Service Agreement 3. Operating Agreement
- Independent Contractor Agreement
- Affiliate Agreement
- Pop-up Shop Retail Agreement
- Wholesale Retail Agreement
- Giveaway/promotions bundle
- Model Release
Brand Protection: Interested in securing and protecting your own brand name? Chat with Brittany about whether you are ready for a federal trademark registration to protect your brand assets.
Ready to get your business legally legit? Download my free legally legit workbook HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Like to listen and learn? Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Let's Connect Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or, browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Worried about recession rumors? Want to get your online or creative business as resilient as it can be? Business attorney Brittany Ratelle guides you through the most important things you can change in your business to help set up business boundaries and protect your profits and peace.
In this episode:
what do you actually need in your website footer
what are the new privacy laws in 2023 and do they matter if you're a smaller website
what is negative option marketing and how can you avoid it
why did Vonage and ABC Mouse get into trouble with the FTC
what is the best practice for cancellation for a subscription business
what are the most important contracts for a service business
what should be in a good client service agreement
how old blog post photos could cost you money and how to fix them
are those copyright infringement scary letters real for real
what's a business prenup and do you need one
how you can create a real business boundary
Quotes:
"I don't believe in fearmongering. I do believe in preparation and I also believe in opportunity."
"The ability to self-confront and to be able to challenge yourself and to be able to work through these issues is a really important critical skill for a business partner."
Other Episodes
Episode 45: BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS: 5 TIPS FOR A GOOD FOUNDER’S AGREEMENT
Contract Templates mentioned in this episode: Website BUNDLE
Client Service Agreement Operating Agreement
Independent Contractor Agreement
Giveaway/promotions bundle
Model Release
Brand Protection: Interested in securing and protecting your own brand name? Chat with Brittany about whether you are ready for a federal trademark registration to protect your brand assets.
Ready to get your business legally legit? Download my free legally legit workbook HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Like to listen and learn? Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Let's Connect Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or, browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Hala Taha joins attorney Brittany Ratelle on the Creative Counsel podcast to share macro podcasting trends and reveal how Hala used battle-tested skills (and perseverance) to grow a 7-figure business podcast and podcasting agency from the ground up.
Hala Taha, dubbed the “The Podcast Princess,” is the host of Young and Profiting (YAP) Podcast, frequently ranked as a #1 Education podcast across all apps. Hala is also the founder and CEO of YAP Media, a social media and podcast marketing agency for top podcasters, celebrities and CEOs. She is well-known for her engaged following and influence on Linkedin, and she landed the January 2021 cover of Podcast Magazine. Hala has interviewed star-studded guests from Matthew McConaughey to Seth Godin and her show was recently awarded as a 2022 Webby Honoree and is currently on track to bring in over $1M in revenue in advertising sponsorship deals in 2022.
In this episode, you'll hear:
What to do when your friends and family don't "get" what you're trying to do
Hala's exact LinkedIn re-targeting recipe
What is happening with podcasting, YouTube and long-form video
What a personal brand should be doing to elevate their offerings
How to overcome a scarcity mindset, especially in crowded fields
What you should (and shouldn't) be doing in your podcast journey
How to monetize your podcast (with ads and beyond!)
++++ MORE!
Connect with Hala:
Hala's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/htaha/
Hala's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yapwithhala
Clubhouse: @halataha
Ready to get your business legally legit? Download my free legally legit workbook HERE that will guide you step-by-step on how to legalize your modern small business and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for growing your creative business.
Are you a podcaster?
If you interview guests, make sure you are using a GUEST RELEASE so you can repurpose all that awesome content (including on short-form video)
If you are ready to get monetized through sponsorships, make sure you have a legit agreement when the brand says "Yes!" to your pitch with a PODCAST SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT, especially for 360-deals where you are leveraging other channels.
Brand Protection Interested in securing and protecting your own brand name? Chat with me, Attorney Brittany Ratelle about whether you are ready for a federal trademark registration to protect your brand assets.
Let's Connect Browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting with me on Instagram @brittanyratelle!
Kristen Ley, founder of Thimblepress® shares her wholesale secrets from being in the stationery businesses for more than a decade. Thimblepress is an international lifestyle company that encourages kindness and inspires fun, through her artisan cards, Push-Pop Confetti, and viral hits like the "Your butt looks great in those jeans!" card. In their interview with attorney for creators Brittany Ratelle, Kristen dives into her creative process, how she launched Thimblepress and grew it to an internationally successful company as a passionate creative, businesswoman, coach, and woman of faith. Kristen has grown Thimblepress as a reflection of her life, love of her family, and reflecting back on one of her favorite places in the world; one of them being her home in Jackson, Mississippi.
In this episode:
- How Kristen got started with an antique letterpress
- The journey from side hustle to “burning the ships behind her” when she left a safe corporate job
- Pros and cons of trade shows (and how Kristen did her first few all on her own!)
- How she decides what she wants to offer for wholesale - and how she coaches other people through these decisions
- Pricing for wholesale profitability
- What sparks her creativity for new art products
- Why Kristen shares about her faith alongside her business
- How Kristen teaches her coaching clients who want to get into licensing or wholesale
- Kristen’s advice for overcoming “noise” on social media
- How to hire the right way
- The three things your customers want – guaranteed!
Online wholesale outlets Kristen mentions (where you can find Thimblepress):
ABOUND
Bulletin
Kristen’s questions for creatives who want to expand:
- Where are you actually making your money?
- Where are you spending your time? (What you're doing over there – is that actually making you money?)
- Are you excited about it? Don’t invest in something that doesn’t excite you, just because others are. What about YOU?
- Have you done the “time, heart, money” analysis like Katie Hunt from Proof to Product recommends?
- Have you developed a brand book?
- Can you make a pitch about your work?
Quotes:
“I have been running this business since 2012 and it looks very different than it did, but the integrity and the core values of our brand have always remained the same.”
“When you hire, if people don't align with your core values, it's going to make communicating with them and them going out and communicating for your brand super difficult.”
“You need saved three months of being able to pay your employees in a savings account because those times will get hard – things can happen out of your control.”
“One of the worst things I’ve done in my business is having to let people go – and that usually comes from hiring too fast.”
“I feel like I'm making a difference in people's day-to-day – even if they're little small differences. I visualize all those little small products, like every greeting card that goes out, those hundreds of thousands of push-pops of confetti, out into the world. And I think of every time we send something out, it's like a little red heart. So I picture all these little red hearts everywhere.”
“A legal lesson I learned the hard way - if you file for a provisional patent application, make sure you follow up within a year later and file the actual patent, or you lose that right forever.”
“Don't look around at what everyone else is doing and make the right decisions for you, your family, your company, your faith, all those things like are so important.”
“Don't make work your idol – make it part of your life, but not the hero. Because you're the hero - not what you do.”
“I always say people don't ask for what they want enough. Pitch yourself as much as you can. The more you ask - just mathematically - the more yes’s you're going to get.”
“You have to big be your biggest cheerleader. If you're not going to be excited about the things that you're doing, how do you expect anyone else to be excited for you?
“For promoting yourself, sometimes you have to yell when even when you think it's a whisper, especially on social media. Sometimes, I feel like I'm saying things over and over again, and that I feel like I'm yelling at them but truthfully, it’s not that because we’re all inundated with noise.”
“I always say it boils down to three things. People just want to feel seen, loved, and heard. If you can make your customers feel seen and loved and heard, I would say job well done.”
Resources:
Wholesale Agreement Template
Pop-up shop Agreement Template
Website BUNDLE
Kristen:
Thimblepress
Business Coaching by Kristen Ley (1:1 creative call, monthly mentoring and weekend workshops)
Kristen’s Stronger Together Facebook Group
Her Vision Board and Dream Workshop download
OTHER EPISODES
Episode 74: 7 Biggest Legal Mistakes Physical Product Companies Make
Contract Templates mentioned in this episode:
- Website BUNDLE
- Wholesale
- Pop-up shop
- Independent Contractor Agreement
Brand Protection:
Interested in securing and protecting your own brand name? Chat with Brittany about whether you are ready for a federal trademark registration to protect your brand assets.
Ready to get your business legally legit?
Download my free legally legit workbook HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Like to listen and learn?
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Let's Connect
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or, browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Want to avoid the 7 biggest legal mistakes that physical product and eCommerce companies make? Attorney Brittany Ratelle walks through the most common mistakes that land modern product companies in legal hot water and how you can avoid these headaches as a small business owner.
Here are the top 7 mistakes:
1. No operating agreement or business “prenup”
Operating agreements, also known as founder or partnership agreements, define the roles and responsibilities of a business and are a private binding contract that outlines equity, exit planning, intellectual property ownership, non-compete obligations, manager roles and how decision-making will be handled in a business partnership. These agreements are sometimes dubbed as business “prenups” or prenuptial agreements because, without them, many businesses can end with ugly business divorces with multiple parties claiming they had a different understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the business, whether they are fighting over assets or liabilities. Highly recommend when you start a business with friends or family!
2. Failure to protect intellectual property
There are 4 main types of intellectual property with different tools to protect them: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Intellectual property protection and boundaries can increase the value of a company and its brand, its products, and the way in which it solves problems for consumers. If you don’t protect your own intellectual property, you can get ripped off by other companies and if you don’t pay attention to your own practices, you can be at risk of infringing on someone else’s property by using intellectual property that doesn’t belong to you. If you have protected your own IP (intellectual property), you may be able to license it out and make additional revenue streams and grow your company into an empire. For physical product companies, the IP protection you want is:
Trademark: overall brand name, logo, slogan, and product name
Copyright: any surface pattern design, important product photos/audio/video
Patent: design or utility patents or both on the actual new and novel product
Trade secret: formulas, recipes, processes, methods, market research, vendor information, pricing/markup, customer data/email list
Sign up a for a consult with Brittany if you are ready to get your intellectual property protected
3. The website isn’t legally compliant
All websites need these documents to be legally compliant: privacy policy, website terms, copyright statement, and necessary disclosures/disclaimers. Get all of these in the website legal bundle. Also, make sure that your website is ADA-friendly with the current WCAG standards.
4. The product has safety/labeling/testing issues and liability
Physical products come into contact with real human beings and their environments, so by their very nature, they have bigger legal exposure. Make you are complying with any relevant CPSC, testing, and labeling standards, especially if you sell baby & children’s goods, toys, health and wellness products/supplements, and dangerous products.
5. No written contracts with vendors and/or manufacturers
Get your agreements in writing! A fairly drafted contract is nothing for either side to fear and can help outline expectations, resolve ambiguities, and set up a clear working relationship for both parties in a deal. Make sure to use written (and solid) contracts for your affiliate program, for wholesale, and for pop-up shops (whether you are the or the guest). You also might want a model release or event waiver if you do your own product photography with models or host events.
6. False advertising issues
Don’t lie. The Federal Trade Commission is in charge of protecting consumers and a big part of that is in policing the actions and the marketing of companies, especially around claims they make about their products. Be careful about statements regarding “Made in the USA”, any claims that your product cures any illness or disease. Remember that if you can’t back up or “substantiate” the claims you are making – don’t say them (and don’t let your affiliates, direct sales people or other individuals say them either as a “workaround.”)
7. Employee misclassification - your “contractors” should really be “employees”
If it looks like an employee and smells like an employee - that person is an employee (whether you call them that or the individual even wants to be classified as such). Make sure you are properly classifying your team members as either contractors (1099ers) or employees (W2) as there are significant state and federal penalties for misclassification and for failing to provide HR compliance such as payroll taxes, employee handbooks, unemployment insurance, workers compensation, HR posters, and other compliance when you have accidental employees.
Resources:
Employee classification test (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/misclassification) (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1779.pdf)
Other episodes:
Episode 10 copyright vs. trademark
Episode 24: 6 ways a trademark can protect a brand
Contract Templates mentioned in this episode:
- Operating Agreement
- NDA
- Website BUNDLE
- Wholesale
- Pop-up shop
- Affiliates Agreement
- Independent Contractor Agreement
Brand Protection:
Interested in securing and protecting your own brand name? Chat with Brittany about whether you are ready for a federal trademark registration to protect your brand assets.
FREE RESOURCES
Want a free LEGAL workbook to get your creative business legally legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
LET’S CONNECT
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or, browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Not legal advice. For informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship.
Serial entrepreneur Sierra McCleve, founder of two successful Utah-based food businesses, Thirst and Dottie's Kolaches shares on the Creative Counsel Podcast how created a positive team culture in the challenging food industry. She shares her wisdom as a baker, manager, owner, mom, wife, garage gym fitness enthusiast and now an investor in other projects. Sierra talks about how radical ownership can transform your role as a founder and CEO and help create a positive customer experience – even in a business with lots of moving parts and people.
In this episode we discuss:
- How to decide if a business model is viable
- When to pay attention to competition and when to ignore it
- The secret to good customer experiences
- The real role of an owner/manager
- What to do when stuff goes wrong in your business
- How to create a positive company culture
- Why owning everything in your business is actually liberating
- How to forecast in the food business
- How to make your team feel valued
- How to make your check-ins and meetings more effective
- Creating and nurturing superfans
- Sierra’s top 2 business book recommendations
Quotes
“Create value and just find that thing that people need, that people want – and then try to figure out how to solve that need.”
“One of our mottos is employee satisfaction is number one. And we believe that it will translate to the customer experience, customer satisfaction, and even quality of products.”
One thing that I've learned that’s very painful, but also very liberating – everything is your fault.
“When you have ownership, you have control over it, whereas if it's someone else's fault, I have no control over that person.”
“I tell my team – as an owner, I work for every single one of you. And my job is to get you the tools and the education you need to do your job super well. So, let's not get it confused with the traditional business management pyramid. I think that gives managers and employees the ability to more quickly come to you with problems and issues that are going to be solved much quicker as opposed to keeping them quiet because they're worried they’ll get in trouble.”
“Over-communicate on appreciation.”
“If you can't step away from your business for a day or for an afternoon, you need to work on your systems so you can trust that your people are going to get it done.”
“On Conflict and risk management: Be a good human, be honest, take ownership of your mistakes and treat your people well.”
“You have to get buy-in from every single person at every level of your company. So, I would say be deliberate about it. Consider nicknames and retreats and just stuff like that – make people feel valued. Be really liberal with your praise and, limit your criticism, but deliver it in a way that's going to be uplifting
“Do not be audacious enough to think that everyone is there to serve you.”
Sierra’s Favorite Tools for connecting with team members:
Snapchat
Slack
Books:
E-Myth
Jocko, Willink, Extreme Ownership.
Other episodes:
Creative Counsel episode 54: HOW TO BUILD A BUSINESS FOR THE LIFE YOU WANT WITH EMYTH VP TRICIA HUEBNER - how to find your “primary aim”
Brand Protection:
Interested in securing and protecting your own brand name? Chat with Brittany about whether you are ready for a federal trademark registration to protect your brand assets.
Team Protection:
If you are trying to build a positive team culture, make sure you have clear expectations for your contractors and employees! Independent contractors or 1099ers need to have a solid independent contractor agreement and employees should have an employee agreement, an employee handbook, and other HR-compliant systems like payroll, Unemployment insurance, and worker’s compensations.
Connect with Sierra
Her Instagram
Her Podcast: Make a Dent
FREE RESOURCES
Want a free LEGAL workbook to get your creative business legally legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
LET’S CONNECT
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or, browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Not legal advice. For informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship.
From corporate to freelance with an abundance mindset with content marketer Carina Wytiaz
Carina Wytiaz joins the Creative Counsel podcast to share how having an abundance mindset allowed her to pivot as a content marketer working in tech, to her time as a solo freelancer, and then how she rolled that experience back to corporate leadership. Carina shares how she discovered what she is REALLY good at and how to market that value to others and has some killer macro-industry insights on modern content marketing and how to Her work experience includes time at Franklin Covey, Marchex, Orange Soda, Workfront, her own agency and now is the senior director of Vasion. Carina has a passion for killer writing and making sure women are included and empowered at important tables, everywhere and this is conversation you don’t want to miss out on!
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why the skills you’re learning in higher education matter more than the degree name
- How to know if it’s time for you to start your own freelancer business
- How to approach value pricing as a freelancer
- What to do when you have freelance work you can’t or won’t do
- What an abundance mindset actually looks like as a solo freelancer
- How to find a good content marketer (or become a better one yourself)
- The essential questions to ask when crafting a content strategy
- How to get back on a work ramp if you have been staying home with kids
- The secret to getting whatever work experience you want (and no, it doesn’t necessarily mean working for free!)
Quotes:
“My friend Alma Loveland told me some great advice: “as a freelancer, it's nobody's business how long it takes you to do something.”
“If you’re a freelancer, you need to ask a lot of up-front questions about your clients to get a sense of how much work it's going to take to fulfill what they're asking you to do and what that is worth for you to do just that.”
“Always keep a copy of your work. Keep a copy of everything that you are writing organized by type of work in drive or dropbox so you don't have to go back and find it later when a new client wants a sample.”
“Be your own best advocate. No one else is going to advocate as well for you.”
“Build up a network of people who do what you don’t do (or don’t want to do). There's more work out there than you usually can handle.”
“It's a universal law that what you put out comes back. And if you put out generosity and abundance and that kind of sharing across the board – if you help people, they turn around and they help you, they share, they boost you. It's one of the most important lessons that I've learned.”
“If you’re not happy with the life that you're living, if you're not happy with either where your career is or what your opportunities are, you don't have to take that. Reach out to your network and let them know you are looking for a change.”
How to be a successful Freelancer - Carina’s Tips
- Save your own work
- Be your best advocate
- Ask lots of questions before pricing
- Build a network and refer work out – what goes around comes around
How to get back in the workforce after staying home with kids - Carina’s tips
- Internships
- Consider contract and freelance work as on-ramps
- Try to reframe skills – even with a resume “gap”
Freelancer Resources
If you’re a freelancer and want to make sure you can keep (and share) a copy of the awesome work you did for a client, make sure you are using a client service agreement that says just that
What are the 8 types of bad clients that all freelancers need to avoid?
FREE RESOURCES Want a free LEGAL workbook to get your creative business legally legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
LET’S CONNECT Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or, browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Not legal advice. For informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship.
Today, we are joined by my sweet friend Heather Fujikawa! We are so excited about the arrival of her little girl and reminiscing on our journeys as wives and mothers who are also busy in their careers!
Heather, my friend since college, started her company and entrepreneur journey as an interior designer in Los Angeles. She was drawn to the fashion and design industry and started a hair accessory business with her twin sister who was also in California at the time. It took off quickly, being in magazines and having a line at Nordstrom. You can see their work on Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson. They saw the trend starting in the early 2000s, noticing hair accessories were very popular and knew they could supply a growing demand.
They then jumped from that company to writing a book called Fairy Birds, teaching children to “shine bright and help others” she says. They sold through Scholastic and Costco, and credits her communications education in allowing her to have solid media attention and skills to sell her products to retailers.
“I was going through years of infertility and I gotta connect to kids somehow as I was waiting on these babies, it's kind of where the heart of the book came from.”
Heather's designs now are focused on finding the heart of people in her designs, and takes inspiration from organic environments. Watching her mother be a designer, she knew interior design is her passion and has spent time designing homes in Dalla, Texas since.
Quotes:
“There’s going to be a lot of no’s out there, but someone's bound to say yes, and you gotta keep going”
“There is a no from this person, but it does not mean it is a no on the whole project. It doesn’t have to be a deal killer.”
“Remember those punching bags as a kid, the inflatable ones with the sand at the bottom? It’s like that, you get knocked down but you get right back up over and over again”
“Instead of pushing and pulling in directions, lean in to what feels natural.”
“Make it big and bold”
“Throw fear out the window”
“You can give value; you can do anything”
“Have the desire to keep building; just move forward”
Takeaways-
- Learn from the no’s- there are tips you can get from no’s. Ask how you can improve and change your problem points with your clients.
- Be self-aware, and be willing to change and be taught. Humble yourself to ask “is this process working for me and my clients”
- Move forward with faith and build- you should always be building up.
- Heather and Heidi had to learn what was the right fit for her and their company, it is okay to say no, be told no, or learn when something is not a good fit.
- The right fit will feel like you are being pulled to it, when she was being pitched shows by TV producers, she felt a strong desire to not be on TV until the right situation came forward.
- Opportunities do not happen overnight, trust the process and have faith in it.
- When the reality tv show started filming, they lived in chaos and had to work hard to find balance. Set ground rules with not only the people you work with but yourself. Boundaries are incredibly important to maintain a work-life balance and allow you to avoid burnout.
- You will have to stand up for yourself- over and over again.
- Lean into it- instead of pushing and pulling into directions, lean into what is naturally happening.
- Communication is key- make sure your staff is matching your vision, attitude, and personality. They can then be trusted to do the heavy lifting so you can take on more projects.
- See your own weaknesses- Your brand will be stronger when you see these things because it means you can keep improving. Self confront.
- People first- Heather and Heidi were not only business partners but sisters. Finding that balance in working with someone you have a personal relationship with is key to succeeding in business ventures. While Heather admits she and Heidi get along incredibly well and don’t struggle in this area, she says the biggest way to keep things smooth is to put their personal relationship first over their business relationship. Love on the people, and people come first.
- Don't apologize- don’t make yourself small. Take credit for your work, and don’t shrink your vision by talking your business down. When someone asks about your company, don't brush it off as “just a small website, etc”
- Use actual legal counsel- the value of real experts makes your journey easier than online DIY legal services.
- Three tips to starting a business-
- Start with the end in mind. Ask yourself “what could this be? What do I want it to be?”
- Throw fear out the window. Lean on others and their testimonies until you have your own and are confident in yourself.
- Write it down. Write down the small specific tasks, it makes the bigger goals less daunting. Micro steps give you the energy to accomplish building those big goals.
- Balancing being a mother and entrepreneur- Make sure to be present when you’re with your kids. Heather takes her apple watch off, to ensure she is not distracted by work. She says “When I’m working, I’m working, but when I’m off, I try to be off.”
Connect with Heather-
https://housesprucing.com/
Instagram- @house_sprucing
Watch “Design Twins” on Amazon Prime
What is a vampire client (bad clients who "suck you dry") and how can you avoid them? Or are there no bad clients but only bad "systems" for managing those clients? (and let's be clear...we're not talking about brooding vampires with extra "sparkle" or annoyingly hot vampire brothers...) We're all with Team Jacob on this one.
Listen to this Creative Counsel podcast episode from Attorney for Creators Brittany Ratelle and learn all about vampire clients, red flags, and what you can avoid before, during, and after working with these nightmare clients to manage boundaries over your time, money, and energy.
This episode will help any done-for-your or service-based business (SBB) protect their most precious resource, their energy (yes, it's even more important than time), and make sure you are setting up your modern freelance business for success.
We'll also dish on my favorite legal and business process tips to set up clear collaborative contracts that establish healthy working relationships so that you can keep doing client work without hitting freelancer burnout.
Kylie Chenn, Founder of Acanela Expeditions, shares her story of growing her email list and strategically using promotions to build a booming $5 million dollar travel business, and then how that came to a crashing halt as the global COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. Tune in to hear Kylie's secrets on how she worked hard and smart to turn an industry-wide shutdown into SEVERAL other successful businesses: a true setback to success story! Some of Kylie's Top Tips * Use email marketing * Don’t be afraid to start a new product – test it and if it takes off, spin it off to a new brand/channel, business, etc! * Fail fast * Don’t avoid HR issues – talk with team members early and often. Don’t avoid conflict!
Listen in to this killer conversation with food and media personality, chef, author, and Food Network Start Kelsey Nixon. Kelsey came in fourth place on the fourth season of the Food Network series Food Network Star and hosted the Cooking Channel series Kelsey's Essentials, which ran for five seasons from 2010 to 2013 as one of the first pieces of original programming on Cooking Channel and earned her a daytime Emmy nomination. She has also hosted Kelsey's Homemade, on the Cooking Channel, author of several cookbooks, including Kitchen Confidence, and appeared on Iron Chef, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Cutthroat Kitchen along with Today Show and Rachael Ray. She has designed a suite of kitchen tools and small appliances for HSN and has played the host and executive producer of the food game show, Dinner Takes All.
In this episode you will learn:
- The highs and lows of being on TV
- Having an agent/representation – pros and cons and Kelsey's tips for making the best of it
- Kelsey's top tips for pitching yourself and nurturing relationships that can lead to opportunities
- what to do when the market is "too saturated”
- how to recognize and tap into your strengths as a brand or personal brand
- how to handle peaks and valleys in your business
- what the entertainment industry and high school boyfriends have in common!
- how to show up authentically with your audience and make sure you are creating content that will get seen
Links:
Kelsey's Recipe club
The Recipe club YEAR OF GROCERIES giveaway
The Legal Promotions Bundle - Creative Contracts Shop
Kelsey's Main site (recipes, kitchen consulting and more)
Ever wondered if we really "need" contracts and how you can use them without putting up a wall between you and your client, customer, vendor or business partner? This video will cover 10 tips for how to build collaborative contracts -- contracts that actually help protect and clarify roles and expectations for BOTH sides and preserve business relationships and boundaries.
You will learn:
- when and why contracts are necessary
- how to convince someone to sign a contract (even if you didn't have one before)
- how to edit contracts -- even if they are PDFs
- how contracts can integrate into other business systems
.
Need some solid contracts for your modern small business? Check out CreativeContacts.co - a curated shop of DIY legal templates for creators, creatives, and online business owners.
Want to avoid some of the most common legal mistakes that new business owners make? Wondering how you can skip over some unnecessary frustration, worry, overwhelm or costly fixes that come from starting a new business and wanting your legal foundations to be solid?
In this episode you will learn:
- the most common mistakes new entrepreneurs make
- what you need to do to actually pick a solid business name
- how to use other people's content
- the trouble with taxes and ignoring them
- what "business prenup" you need if you have a partner
- what needs to be on in your website footer
- what contracts you need and how you can negotiate anything
- when you need an NDA or non-disclosure agreement
- how to properly manage legal risk but also don't be crippled by as an entrepreneur (there's a healthy balance!)
Want a free LEGAL workbook to get your creative business legally legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services?
Sign up for a 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Not legal advice. For informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship.
Do you have a business built to last? Guest Michelle Gifford, business coach and content strategist shares what is working to move the needle on content marketing and how you shouldn't be putting all of your eggs in the Instagram basket. Learn about Reeles, email marketing, Pinterest, pretty and functional websites, and how everything should fit together in this juicy episode.
You will learn:
- what do you need to stop doing with your marketing
- what do you need to START doing
- why you can't just rely on one social media platform (like Instagram)
- what is working for small businesses
- is blogging dead, and if not -- how are you supposed to use it?
Make sure to check out Michelle's new amazing package -- the "Built to Last Business Bundle" and get $100 off (and a FREE website legal bundle) with code Brittany100 HERE
Check out Michelle's other offerings, including her lastest courses, online coaching group, and marketing agency services here
Listen below in the plug-in, or the find the podcast on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and on iHeartRadio.
FREE RESOURCES
Want a free LEGAL workbook to get your creative business legally legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Not legal advice. For informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship.
Ep. 64: Creating a Sustainable Career as an Indie Artist with Heidi Luerra, author of The Work of Art, Founder of RAW: Natural
Tune into this podcast interview with Heidi Luerra, master creative consultant and event planner. For more than 20 years, Heidi has worked with artists of all creative genres. Starting her own clothing line at a young age, she earned her business stripes the hard way. Over the past decade, Heidi has grown RAW to a worldwide operation in over 80 cities with over 200k artists in the RAW community. She has combined her decade of experience in helping support, critique and launch successful creatives of all types into her best-selling book, “The Work of Art: A No-Nonsense Field guide for Creative Entrepreneurs.
In this episode you will learn:
- How she went from a fashion school student to an accidental event producer
- How to prepare for business opportunities as an independent artist
- What creatives need to self-educate on, and what they’re already good at
- How to get over pitching yourself
- Heidi’s best tips for running a successful event (granted this was all pre-Covid!)
- What creative pitfalls to avoid and what to embrace as you journey along as a creative entrepreneur
“I don’t think we have a problem being creative...I think we need to self-educate on how to build sustainable businesses.”
“Creatives need to figure out exactly what they want.”
“No one can pitch you like you can pitch you.”
“You can start a business -- and that’s fantastic for a lot of things -- but we need more business education to come with it.”
“There isn’t an app for hard work.”
Links:
Heidi Luerra Site
The Work of Art Book
RAW: Natural Born Artists - Showcases returning in 2021
Hatch Planning & Strategy: Boutique Consultancy for creative entrepreneurs
FREE RESOURCES
Want my free LEGALLY LEGIT workbook to help get your creative business legit? Download HERE and also get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a 15-min consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Not legal advice. For informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship.
Learn from serial entrepreneur Sharon McMahon, who started out her adult life as a government teacher, before leaving to pursue her side hustle full time. After she built a seven-figure business and sold it, she became one of her region's most successful photographers and has gone on to coach entrepreneurs via her coaching program, Masters Level Collective. When she's not answering all of Instagram's questions about government, she's likely trapped under a snoring labrador reading a book.
In this episode you will learn:
- why you don't need another business course (probably)
- the ONE thing entrepreneurs actually need to grow their businesses
- how to talk/think about politics without wanting to hide under your desk
- resources for finding and consuming news and media with a more critical eye
- how to handle online criticism
- how to overcome fear of failure as a business owner
- lessons from running a successful service and product-based business
- how to cute a "good" community online
- ++ what made an Irish-Minnesota mother of four into a natural bathing costume model...
Links:
All Sides Now
The Coddling of the American Mind
Instagram: Sharon Says So , Masters Level Collective
Sharon’s Photography business
The Life Coach School Podcast with Brooke Castillo
Listen below in the plug-in, or find the podcast on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and on iHeartRadio.
Interested in more free resources to help with the legal side of running a creative business?
Connect with me on IG (where I share quick and dirty tips and host free LEGAL LIVE q&As) and subscribe to my newsletter here (& get the free "Legally Legit Workbook" for your creative business!)
Learn some super practical accounting tips for creatives with CPA Amy Northard. Amy shares hands-on tips to help you avoid tax stress and to help you set up successful money systems. We dig into hiring independent contractors, using Paypal, how to reconcile accounts and the top tips for avoiding tax issues as a creative entrepreneur.
In this episode you will learn:
- 4 bookkeeping tips to reduce stress at tax time
- how to work better with your husband
- improving entrepreneurship + motherhood boundaries
- Tips for bringing the right team members into your service business
- what's the difference between an accountant and a CFO
- what software tools can help you with accounting
Links:
Amy Northard
Be Your Bown CFO
S-Corp Reasonable Compensation Report
PPP Loan Forgiveness Update
FREE RESOURCES
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
*Not legal advice. For informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship
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So how exactly do you run your business in the time of Covid and quarantines, masks and mandates, policy and personal protection equipment? This podcast episode will dive into the best tips about navigating the dynamic landscape of trying to run a small business during a pandemic.
You will learn:
-
What websites should I be checking
-
What to say and what NOT to say
-
What are the reasonable measures for protecting my team? My customers?
-
How can I open in-person
-
What plans do I need to have in place
-
How can I make remote work safer
-
What kind of liability do I have if someone gets sick
-
Where can I get help with cashflow
-
How can I pivot
-
++ Top resources for small business owners
Links:
OSHA
CDC - employers
CDC - small business
US Chamber of Commerce
Covid HR templates/legal forms
Resources:
Event release (with updated COVID language)
FREE RESOURCES
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Not legal advice. For informational purposes only. No attorney-client relationship.
Have you ever felt that panicky feeling when someone asks you what you "do"? Or spewed such a giant word vomit on them that you yourself got lost on what you ACTUALLY do to make money, let alone help people? Enter Macy Robison, StoryBrand Guide certified expert and marketing professional who helps creatives, influencers, and all-around multi-passionate people and helps them tell EXACTLY what they do so they can clearly articulate in ONE sentence who they are and who they serve.
In this episode of Creative Counsel, you will learn:
- who is the guide and why it's important
- what you need in the upper right-hand corner of your website
- what kind of customer call to action you need (regardless of what you sell or how you make your money)
- how to be a magnetic brand and why it's important
- how to craft an impressive elevator pitch
- why creatives struggle with describing what they "do" and how to fix it
- +++MORE!!!
Links mentioned:
Free worksheet mentioned in the episode!
5-minute marketing makeover by Donald Miller
Building a StoryBrand Book by Donald Miller
Alt Summit
Do you sell a digital product and want to make sure you are using best practices in setting up your e-commerce site? This episode will give you my top 5 tips for setting up and protecting your online products so that you can continue to serve your audience.
You will learn:
What you need to do before, during and after the product creation stage
How to work with freelancers in creating your digital products
What to put in your checkout terms
How to use a copyright notice and copyright registration
What you might need to trademark
What legal statements you need on your website and what they should cover
Links:
Online Course Terms of Use (TOU)
Digital Product Terms of Use (TOU)
Copyright Transfer Form
Independent Contractor/Freelancer Agreement
Full Website Legal Bundle (Privacy + website terms)
Privacy policy stand alone
Other episode links mentioned:
Copyright and Copywrongs: What you can and can't protect
Everything is a remix and that's OK -
Business Partnerships 101
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship.
Listen to Creative Producer and Director Rebecca M Creative as she shared the tricks of the trade for pulling off a successful styled shoot! Rebecca shares the top things that people do wrong, whether they are DIY their productions or hiring out and what you can do to make things go smoothly and get the deliverables you need fo a successful campaign!
In the episode, you will learn:
How to know who to work with
the difference between a styled shoot, collaborative shoot, editorial, or workshop
how to handle when friends don't want to sign a contract
whether trading or doing things for "exposure" is worth it and when it's not
PLUS -- the ten items you MUST-HAVE in a stylist/event kit!
EPISODE LINKS
ribbon ((https://www.honeysilks.com/, https://tonoandco.com/)
Acrylic blocks (https://www.sourcedco.com/)
Rebecca's Pinterest Boards (portfolio)
Rebecca's Pinterest Board (personal)
FREE RESOURCES
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
So...let's address the elephant in the room (or rather the bat...)
It's fair to say if you aren't experiencing some sort of business disruptions today due to the Covid-19 pandemic, that you might experience other force majeure events that will throw a wrench into even the best of plans.
So -- what you are supposed to do or refund? And what is smart? Or legal? Or your obligation under the contract?
Let's dig into this episode and find out!
In the episode you will learn:
- what does force majeure really mean and how does it affect your business contracts
- what are the big MYTHS that need to be busted about what force majeure REALLY means
- how you reschedule/add an addendum to a contract
- how you cancel a contract
- what other considerations or strategies you might want to use when doing right by your clients AND while keeping healthy business boundaries
- some bonus info on the SBA/CARES loans and grants, including the PPP and the EIDL!
Get my Client Services Cancellation/Rescheduling Legal Kit HERE (special 10% discount for listeners with code CREATIVECOUNSEL
Get the Photography Services Cancellation Rescheduling Legal Kit HERE (special 10% discount for listeners with code CREATIVECOUNSEL
Other resources for economic recovery funds:
Emergency loan infographics (for my right-brain folks!!)
Small Business Administration hub for funding options (I recommend getting on their email list and be first to know of any updates, deadlines, changes)
Online PPP application
Other helpful episodes:
Episode 53 - The Ultimate Event Legal Checklist
Episode 38 - Get it in Writing: Contracts 101 for Creatives
Episode 19 - Legalize your E-Commerce Site in 6 Steps
Episode 13 - 10 Must-Know Contract Terms for Creatives
Want a general free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
If you want to join the FREE Creativepreneur Book Club -- click HERE!
*Not intended as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship. For informational purposes only.
Today we’re talking all about the money, honey. It’s a crucial part of business success and yet it’s an area that a lot of creative entrepreneurs feel all the emotions over. Learning to separate your income and expenses from emotions is an important first step and one that Amy Laliberte teaches to her clients.
Amy is a virtual CFO for hire. Numbers are her jam and she provides bookkeeping services and CFO services for six and seven-figure business owners. But she also shares strategies that any business owner can put in place. So, if you’re not a six figurer earner, don’t worry—this message is still for you!
Today we’re discussing the strategy from the Mike Michaelowicz book, Profit First, and the positive impact it will make on your business finances.
In this episode, you will learn: * What the Profit First strategy is and how to implement it in your business * The five bank accounts that your business needs to have set up right off the bat * Why it’s crucial to address your money mindset in order to take control of your finances * How to approach finances if you’re just working your side hustle right now and are thinking of going full-time * The importance of separating your self-worth from your bottom line * What professionals you want on your financial team * How all those courses and software free trials are eating into your profit (I know, I know—I love a good online course as much as the rest of you.) * The importance of choosing your clients instead of simply letting them choose you (hint-hint: not everyone in your niche is right for you)
LINKS Amy’s profit calculator: DOWNLOAD HERE
Check out the book Profit First: https://profitfirstbook.com/
Amy’s Website: https://myvirtualcfo.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewellnessbookkeeper/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myvirtualcfo/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaliberte/
QUOTES “If somebody claims that they don’t have a good relationship with money, I would argue that you need to take a timeout and really unpack what that’s about.”
“In order to grow, we need to turn around and examine what those thought patterns are and really decide, ‘Do we make money from and are we willing to step into an area of discomfort in order to become a better creative and to have a better relationship with your money.’”
“Whatever is in your bank account, or not in your bank account, doesn’t have any correlation to you. It’s just a number.”
“Oftentimes, people think that to get from their nine to five to their side hustle is something that has to take a very long time. If you’re really pragmatic and in relationship with your numbers, even if it’s just from a very simplistic way, to get there, it’s really not going to take that long. It’s just your limiting beliefs that are causing you to have that pause and question whether or not that’s possible.”
“If you know that you’re going to be working a good chunk of the time for six months out of the year, you can use Profit First to create a vault that will just tuck your money away so that you can then not be in a panic come January/February when you’re not getting paid.”
“So often, we’re telling the stories of our past when we really should be addressing them presently so that we can make better future decisions.”
“I pay myself because I work hard and I provide a quality service for my clients. And as a result of that, I reward myself with deliberately providing for, mentally myself, but for my family.”
“It’s not about you having to pay yourself in order to be a contributor to your family, but it could be that I pay myself as a token of appreciation for the work that I do for my clients.”
“You are great, no matter what your bank account says. You’re human. You’re worthy of everything just as much as the next person ad the next person and the next person.”
“It’s not about, ‘Oh, I need to get to $100,000.’ It’s, what is this? What is the one step I can take today? That will get me closer to that destination.”
“I think it’s always smart for you to work with someone like a bookkeeper just to get you started. I’m not saying hold them on as a retainer because I think there are other ways that you can leverage your money from that. But if you have your books set up properly at the getgo, it will help you when you are ready to bring on that person on your team.”
“A bookkeeper is the person that’s working in your day to day business and can see all the different nuanced micro things that are happening. A CPA, an accountant, is really looking at your business from a tax lens.”
“One of my things is to not buy any course for the sake of buying a course. I only buy courses at the present moment that I’m actually going to utilize them.”
“You need to make sure that the people that you have in the bus are sitting on the right seats.”
“If you’re really digging into your numbers and you can’t tell yourself what that thing was for, then chances are, it’s probably not essential to the benefit of your business.”
“If you’re holding space with a client who isn’t the right fit, you are missing out on a chance to fill that space with a client who is.”
“You could very well be serving a niche, but there are people within that niche that are not a good fit for you.”
Jenie Gao, artist and muralist is here to decimate the "starving artist" myth and show how she quit her full-time corporate job and made the leap into the art world. She is now a successful full-time artist, creative director, and entrepreneur and is ready to drop some art biz knowledge bombs on the creative entrepreneurs, artists, illustrators, muralists, and other creatives out there who are working on pursuing their own creative businesses.
Jenie pulled from her experience working in the arts, public education, and lean manufacturing to build a business that allowed her to continue developing her passion while making a positive impact on the world around her. She now specializes in printmaking, murals, public installations, and arts project management and has built a business that allows her to bring budding artists along in their journey as well.
In this episode, you will learn: * The impact the “creativity gap” is having in schools and on society * What Jenie did to prepare for setting out as an entrepreneur * The obstacles she faced in her entrepreneurial journey as a first-generation American * Why artists need to be expanding their network outside of other artists and creatives * What legal considerations artists need to make when running an art business * How creativity is a survival tool * How you can become more involved in public art
LINKS National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is full of helpful information on art funding and more.
Episode 42: Everything is a Remix and That’s OK
Episode 6: Do You Need an LLC?
You can learn more about Jenie Gao on her website and social media:
Website: jenie.org
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/jeniesart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeniegao/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeniegao
Tips for striving artists and creatives 1. Look up the organizations in your area. Most cities, in urban and rural areas, have in arts board. Jenie Gao recommends that every artist should serve on one of these boards or commissions. It allows you to see the backend of how decisions are made within the city or nonprofit. It’s also a great way to get plugged in and start building a more diverse network. 2. File your business as an LLC. The process varies based on where you live, but generally, it’s relatively easy and inexpensive. It’s one of the things that Jenie stresses for all artists to do. 3. Learn to negotiate a contract. Understanding how to lead and negotiate a contract is critical for artists. You need to know how to keep negotiations going and when it’s time to walk away. 4. Get business insurance. You might have clients that think they can save money on the contract by obtaining the scaffolding that you need to paint your mural for you, but as soon as you remind them of the liability that comes with it, they’ll be singing a different tune. Make sure that you have the proper insurance to cover yourself and anyone that you have working with you. 5. Learn about the laws and infrastructures that exist. The more you know the better art advocate you’ll be in this space. Learn about what exists and what doesn’t exists. The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies is a great resource for data on art funding. Jenie also recommends that you educate yourself on where the US ranks compared to other countries in this area. It’s important to know and understand the environment that you’re working in when there are stakeholders that you need to convince as to the importance of your work. Do your homework and be prepared.
FREE RESOURCES
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify & iHeartRadio
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Are you stuck working “in” your business and not “on” it? Have you read the EMyth Revisited -- or had it on your “list”? Considered one of the most influential business books of all time, EMyth is the Creativentrepeneur Book Club Pick for January and is a classic story that helps business owners “beat” the sobering statistics of small business burnout and failure. You do not want to miss this special interview with the OG business coaching gurus with guest Tricia Huebner, VP and Head of Coaching at EMyth. Tricia shares her vast entrepreneurial insights from two decades of coaching and leading more than 3,000 entrepreneurship workshops. If you are interested in getting started in setting up systems in your business (even in a company of ONE) and in building a business that you will ACTUALLY love, instead of giving yourself another crappy job -- then listen in!
In this episode, you will learn:
- What is the great EMyth and why should it matter to you
- How do you find out your primary aim and what it does and doesn’t have in it
- Why systems matter, even in 2020
- How to get started setting up systems
- How systems can work for personalized brands or creative professionals
- What a position agreement is and why you absolutely need them in your business
- What beliefs you need to hold onto and which ones you need to let go
- How to get the “secret” sauce out of you and onto paper
- How to pick a good business coach -- not just a good coaching salesperson
Listen and subscribe to Creative Counsel on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
Links
The EMyth team was super generous in sending over a specially curated resource list:
The E-Myth Revisited: Chapter One download
Free 1-hour Business Coaching Session
How Kolby Moser, owner of Aria Studios, Built the Life She Always Wanted
A Business Owner’s Guide: Transform Your Business With Systems
The Time Management Handbook
Six Steps to Transform Frustrations Into Solutions
Blog: How to stop feeling overwhelmed and get control of your business
Blog: 7 tips every business owner needs to take a real vacation
Blog: Cut the clutter: 3 simple steps to overhaul your inbox
Other FREE resources from Attorney for Creatives Brittany Ratelle
Want a general free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my small business tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
If you want to join the FREE Creativepreneur Book Club -- click HERE!
*Not intended as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship. For informational purposes only.
Well -- the SEO-droolworthy title kind of says it all, right? If you plan events or want to plan events for your business or organization -- then you need this episode in your life (to be honest, you probably needed it a few Diet Cokes ago). This episode comes BURSTING with all the real legal issues that can crop up when you are planning an event and breaks them down one-by-one. You can host events and rock then AND do it legally without losing too much money, momentum or sleep. So buckle in and dig in!
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why your name matters and how to do a name clearance search
- The business fundamental steps you CANNOT skip when doing events
- how to protect your business materials/intellectual property at a event
- what you need to get in writing and with who you need to hash it all out with
- how to properly set up legal expectations and professional relationships with sponsors, speakers, and partners/collaborators
- what liability waivers are really about and what you need in one
- how to handle media releases for attendees
- the low-down on insurance
- tips for moving forward on licenses/permits
- and best practices for health and safety planning and response
PLUS -- I put together a free checklist of ALL the above and it is available to DOWNLOAD HERE
SURVEY + $300 creative contract gift card + $30 Target giftcard giveaway!! CLICK HERE PLEASE -- your feedback is SO appreciated!!
MORE FREE RESOURCES
Do you need a LLC? Episode 6
Copyrights and Copywrongs, what you can and can't protect - Episode 40
Designing a Hit Conference with Alt Summit Founder/Design Mom OG Blogger Gabrielle Blair - Episode 33
How to Get your Site Legit - 36
Want a general free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 15-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
*Not intended as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship. For informational purposes only.
Does the thought of “selling” make you feel sleazy and leave you feeling like you need a shower? You’re not alone! It’s actually quite common for creative entrepreneurs, and even more so for female entrepreneurs to struggle with the thought of sales. If you struggle with the idea of selling, you’re going to love the message that guest Erika Tebbens has to share—selling can be simple, authentic, and leave you feeling good with money in your pocket. And, you can be a selling rockstar!
Erika Tebbens is a Lord of the Rings lovin’, coffee drinking, teenager mama and all-around spunky entrepreneur. She’s not about the labels, but if she was you could call her a business coach, consultant, strategist or selling superstar. She’s paired her passion for helping women succeed at growing their businesses with the knowledge she’s gained from working corporate retail, small business retail and direct sales to create an incredible consulting business of her own - and she drops ALL kinds of knowledge in this episode.
In this episode, you will learn: * How Erika fell in love with selling and teaching others to succeed in sales and creating a great customer experience. * The four-step system that Erika teaches clients so they can sell more without feeling dirty doing it. * How to get noticed by being your crazy, quirky, authentic self (or quiet, laid back self if that’s more your style). * What you can do to build trust with your audience. * Why you need to work towards working smarter instead of harder (hint, hint - outsourcing comes into play here).
LINKS Download the FREE episode handout with tips and quotes taken from this interview with Erika Tebbens.
Books mentioned:
- High Performance Habits by Brenden Burchard
- Playing Big by Tara Mohr
- The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
- Erika Tebbens Consulting website
- Sell it Sister - Erika’s course
- You can find Erika on Instagram and Facebook (@erikatebbensconsulting)
- And Erika now has her own podcast -- Sell it, Sister Podcast!
QUOTES "I've worked corporate retail and small business retail and direct sales and I've woven the common themes throughout each of them that are so essential to really good selling and customer service and now I teach that to other women."
"I knew that my faith was bigger than my fear. And, I knew that if other people had figured it out that I would be able to figure it out too. It was just a matter of staying in the game long enough to see that success."
"Every new thing has a learning curve."
"When you're so close to your own stuff, it's hard to see opportunities that you may be missing or small tweaks you can make that would make your life easier."
"There's room enough for all of us with all of our quirks and everything combined. We don't have to keep them hidden."
"Everyone has something amazing to offer and by being too afraid to share it, you're keeping it from the people that need it most."
"You can be a selling rockstar. I promise."
A few areas to consider outsourcing early on include:
- Legal (hint, hint! You know a pretty fun lawyer!!)
- Accounting
- Social media
- Graphic design
Do you want to start a business? Or have you started and WISHED you could skip over some of those mistakes that other entrepreneurs have tripped over? This is one of those killer episodes that summarizes HUNDREDS of conversations I've had with other business owners to give you the BEST fighting chance of thriving, not just surviving, in your business.
In this episode, you will learn:
What a "jobby" is and why you probably don't want one
The truth about impostor syndrome
the cold-hard truth about access to resources
the #1 business book you should be reading RIGHT NOW
how to not let your ego get in the way of success
AND MORE +++
Don't miss this deep dive into 10 AMAZING business lessons I have learned about working one-on-one with entrepreneurs just like you.
SURVEY + $300 creative contract gift card + $30 Target giftcard giveaway!! CLICK HERE PLEASE -- your feedback is SO appreciated!!
FREE RESOURCES
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take a free quiz and find out exactly what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Or browse through my quick tips and tricks by connecting on Instagram.
Are you interested in turning your influence into real money in your pocket? Enter in stage right, Michelle Gifford, a brand strategist and business teacher who specializes in launching courses and content management systems for influencers. Michelle shares her business tips, strategies and contagious laughter on her own Michelle Gifford podcast. She is also a nationally recognized photographer and main stage speaker who has shared the stage with Rachel Hollis and Nicole Walters.
In this episode, Michelle and Brittany will spill all about how YOU can build a legit business - especially as a creative influencer who might be juggling motherhood, social media, email marketing, and ALL the systems to keep those ball afloat. Whether you sell your own products or services or are in direct marketing -- we know you will find some AWESOME tips to help make you money and take away the stress.
In this episode, you will learn:
- The truth about your time
- how not to be weird about money
- why admitting that you are a "real business" takes some courage
- how to transition from a hobby to a business and how to know if you're ready
- what is working for Michelle in balancing 5 kids and her successful businesses
- the truth about your time
- how not to be weird about money
- why admitting that you are a "real business" takes some courage
- how to transition from a hobby to a business and how to know if you're ready
- what is working for Michelle in balancing FIVE kids and her successful businesses
We all announce our SPECIAL Better Than Black Friday Sale going on NOW until Friday, 11/8 at midnight and the awesome friends we snagged to give you 25% discount on fantastic resources to grow and protect YOUR business. (best deal of the year!!) Learn more and enter our FREE giveaway for up to $200 of prizes at http://www.blackfridayforbusiness.com.
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Take the FREE quiz to find out what you need for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
And get my best quick tips and trick by connecting with me on Instagram.
Links Mentioned:
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
- Brendon Burchard's Influencer series on his podcast "The Brendon Show"
“Licensing” is a term that gets thrown around a lot but many creative entrepreneurs struggle to understand exactly what it is. Licensing is what allows you to make money on your works by selling the rights to others. When you know what you’re doing, this can be a huge benefit for you. But, when you move forward without really understanding what you’re signing and giving away, you’ll probably regret it later down the road. This episode will discuss
- The difference between licensor and licensee
- The key terms that you need to understand in a licensing agreement
- How the Copyright cake works (Did someone say cake?!)
- What you can license
- What you need to know about royalties
- Why you need to protect your work before worrying about licensing
- When you need to register your trademark
- Some sample percentages, terms, and tips to get started in the licensing world
One area that many creatives struggle with is hiring help. Your business is personal to you and you are the one that has turned it into a success. But, there comes a day when you realize you just can’t really do everything on your own. You might start dropping balls or you may find that you just can’t grow any further.
That’s why I’m really excited to have Chellie Peterson on the Law & Wit podcast. She’s a Virtual Assistant expert that uses the skills she developed as a successful blogger/influencer to help other creatives and content creators extend themselves and grow their business. She specializes in helping people work through that notebook of ideas that they have but don’t have the time or skills to do on their own.
Back when she first became a mom, Chellie started The Mumsy Blog and grew it to a successful brand. But after her fourth child was born, her life took an unexpected turn which required her to step back from her blog. And, that’s when she turned her focus to the VA, or virtual assistant world.
She is now an expert at all things VA and shares some valuable tips on how to hire help to grow your business and reach, particularly if you are a content creator or influencer!
In this episode, you will learn: * Beginner tips for approaching and pitching brands * The importance of working with brands that are a natural fit for you and your message * What legal aspects you need to think about when hiring help * What to look for when hiring a virtual assistant * The things you need to do before hiring someone to help you * 6 Tips for systemizing your business
LINKS Make sure you check out Chellie’s website if you’re interested in VA services: chelliepete.com
You can also follow her on Instagram here.
Alison’s Brand School - Chellie mentioned a few things she learned from Alison, who was also a guest on Law & Wit Episode 7.
QUOTES “You can get burned at any level. At any level. So whether you have a smaller following or a big following, I think everybody in this industry should have contracts and legal work in place to protect themselves.”- Chellie Peterson
“Make sure you know exactly what you want. It’ll make the process a lot easier when you’re hiring out a virtual assistant.” - Chellie Peterson
“Business is business. If your virtual assistant that you have at the moment doesn’t get that, then that’s their problem. It’s not yours. Let them go.” - Chellie Peterson
“Make yourself as accessible to people as possible if you want to grow.” - Chellie Peterson
“People grow by how accessible they are to people. And how relatable they are to people.” - Chellie Peterson
“Plans change and the vision changes, but who you are as a person and how you’re able to adapt to that -- that resiliency is what’s really important.” - Brittany Ratelle
“There is no failure in seeking help. Only strength.” - Chellie Peterson
Ready to jump into every creative entrepreneur’s favorite topic—pricing? It’s one of those sticking points that a lot of creatives and designers get hung-up on. You don’t want to charge too much and not be able to build your business. But you don’t want to undercharge and not be able to pay your bills. How are you supposed to determine the value? How do you determine how to charge your customers? And, how do you enforce it once you do know what you want to charge?
Slow down and take a deep breath. We’re going to get into all that and more in this episode of Law & Wit. Pricing is what sets you apart as a business owner. Without it, you’d just be busting your butt to build your skills as a hobbyist. But, that’s not you. You ARE a creative entrepreneur! And that means you need to know how to address pricing strategies and principles in your business. This episode will be PERFECT for creatives and designers who do one-on-one client work — but there will also be some nuggets for product-based businesses, so listen through and see what how these pricing principles can apply to YOU.
In this episode, you will learn:
- The pros and cons of hourly pricing
- The pros and cons of flat-fee pricing
- Why your pricing should change as you’ve been in business longer (and it’s not just about the time you’ve been in business!)
- What things you should consider when determining the value of your product or service to your client
- The guiding principles you should use when setting prices
- Why you need to be super careful about deciding to give discounts or doing work for free (and why you should run for the hills if someone wants you to “work for exposure”)
LINKS
Listen to the full episode on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and on iHeartRadio.
Download the FREE episode handout with tips and quotes taken from this episode.
For more motivation and tips on pricing check out the episode How to Charge What You’re Worth with Chelsea Peterson Photography
Get your copy of the Creative Contract’s Client Service Agreement mentioned in the episode here.
Ramit sethi: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-raise-hourly-rate/
FUTR workshop on pricing for designers at AIGA conf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivKnj9ffcmE
Melanie Burk started college planning on getting a degree in accounting. That didn't last long! She eventually switched to graphic design, something she knew little about. And, even though a college professor told her she wouldn't be successful, she made her own path and has been wildly successful.
Melanie dabbled in several different areas of design before finding her exact niche. But, since she did, she has worked with large brands and big products. She's not only a designer but an entrepreneur as well. She is one of the brains behind the new social platforms, Prixm, which removes the bummer aspects of social media and focuses on sharing people stories.
Mel is also a wife and mother of 5 adorable kiddos! She has amazing advice about everything from failure to finding balance in your daily life. You are going to love her -- we PROMISE.
In this episode, you will learn:
- How failure can be used as a turning point and stepping stone (wait 'til you hear Melanie's stories about what her early design career looked like!)
- How personal passion projects can help you get unstuck in your creativity
- The importance of incorporating your "story" and your "why" in your branding
- What to pay for when branding and what to skip out on!
- The importance of finding beauty in the chaos as a creative entrepreneur and mother
- Why you need to shift your focus to daily balance
- Branding tips to help your business shine
LINKS
Show episode page HERE.
Download the FREE episode handout with tips and quotes taken from this interview with Melanie Burk.
Find Melanie Burk on Instagram or email her here.
Check out her new social media app, Prixm!
Do you have a business partner or want to go into business with someone? This is your MUST-LISTEN episode to walk you through exactly what questions you must ask each other so that you can be on the same page (literally and figuratively) for your business. The episode includes 5 Tips (areas) that you're going to want to talk about -- strategy, management, ownership, intellectual property, and exit and includes ALL the questions and discussion that should go into those main decision areas. As a BONUS, you get tips on how to get your business partner to have this conversation and get all of this down on paper in a solid founder's agreement/partnership agreement/operating agreement (all used interchangeably -- all the same SMART thing to have!!!)
You will learn:
- How a business partnership is kind of like a marriage and why a PRENUP is critical
- What you should be looking for in a good partner
- Tips on how you can split up roles and responsibilities
- How to handle shifting investments into the business (a dynamic equity model)
- How and why you need to think of the end of the business at the beginning
- Tips for working with friends and family (even your spouse) and extra considerations so that you can preserve the relationship over the business!
- GET THE FULL QUESTIONNAIRE HERE for FREE
Links:
Profit First
Slicing Pie
E-Myth Revisited
Build an Awesome Brand Workshop
Do you wand the EPIC handout that comes with this episode -- the ULTIMATE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE??? Download HERE (before I change my mind and start charging for it -- hahah!! but seriously....)
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get my quick tips and trick on Instagram.
When Elle Rowley of Solly Baby created her first product it was out of necessity. She had one little one and another on the way. While she enjoyed wearing her oldest in a baby carrier, she was looking to find a different product to use because of the tension headaches she got using her store-bought carrier. She ended up sewing her own wrap, fell in love with the experience, and never looked back. (**sidenote...I have worn several of my babies in her wraps and they are WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!)
Elle has grown Solly Baby, formerly lulu WRAP, from a small Etsy shop to a multi-million-dollar business. You read that right... multi-million! But, she didn't set out to grow a huge company. Her intention was to make money doing something she loved and cared about, that added value to the world, all while being able to stay at home.
If you are struggling to believe in and bet on yourself and your business, this is the episode for you! Elle shares some really valuable tips on how to get your business up and running and then maintain it as it grows.
In this episode, you will learn:
• Why it's so important to test what market is best for you to sell in. (Just wait until you hear Elle's story about the Christmas show!)
• The importance of betting on yourself
• How Elle was able to bring her husband onboard and why defined roles are so important when working with your spouse
• The #1 best thing that Elle and her Solly Baby team did to help define roles and structure the organization.
• What you should look for when you make your first hire
• The importance of storytelling in growing your brand
• How Solly Baby deals with copycats
LINKS
Download the FREE episode handout with tips and quotes taken from this interview with Elle Rowley.
Building a Story Brand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller
Myers Briggs Consulting
QUOTES
"Number one bad idea is to wait a few years to trademark the name. Such a bad idea."
"I decided to get out there and talk to people, get it online, get it in person, get it in boutiques, and just see what sticks. See what's really going to be the right platform for us. Which I really do suggest to other brands as well when starting out. You just assume this one platform is going to be the way, but you just don't know until you've failed a bunch."
"I'm betting on me this year."
"You just decide. And, when that fear comes, you just decide it again and again and again. I'm feeling some fear, but I'm still betting on me and moving forward."
"For those first hires, don't get someone who is a specialist in a certain area. Don't get the expert. Get the hustler that can do a lot of different things."
"Don't give in to the drama of it."
"If there's legal action to take, and it's worth taking... then take those steps."
Key Takeaways from Episode 44 with Elle Rowley -- get the FREE handout!!
Resources
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Get your business LEGIT with some DIY legal agreements at creativecontracts.co.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get my quick tips and trick by connecting on Instagram.
Chelsea Peterson was always planning on being a stay-at-home-mom. But, she discovered she had a love for photography when she started playing around with a camera to capture photographs of her children. This hobby has turned into a serious business with Chelsea being one of the most sought-after photographers in Utah for senior portraits.
Like many creative entrepreneurs, Chelsea struggled with undervaluing her services at first. But, now her average session charge is between $2,500 and $3,000. This girl knows business! Along with doing senior portraits, she also provides pricing guidance to other photographers to help them start charging what they're worth. Her tips are invaluable and can be applied by any creative entrepreneur, not just photographers.
In this episode you will learn:
- The stages a business goes through transitioning from a hobby to a legit legal business
- What things to consider when determining your pricing
- Why the "riches really are in the niches"
- The importance of owning your style
- How the experience you want to provide your customer impacts your pricing
- The legal contracts Chelsea uses to protect her photography business
- Actionable steps to move from side hustle to a series business
LINKS
Download the FREE episode handout with tips on turning your side hustle or hobby biz into a REAL business!
Get a FREE Creative Business Checklist to help you wrap your head around the legal side of your business.
Find Chelsea at Chelsea Peterson Photography or on social media @cbpphotography
Summary
In this episode of the Law & Wit podcast, host Brittany Ratelle goes a little off the path of legal topics to share an important message for all creators. While there is a time and place for copyright and trademark, there is also a place for understanding that in a sense, everything is a remix and that's OK.
This message is helpful for both new creative entrepreneurs that are struggling to get started because they think all businesses have been done already, and those that have had something they've created ripped off.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why you need to watch your influences and sometimes step away from them entirely
- The importance of knowing your WHY and building your brand
- 5 Things you can choose to think when something you created is copied
- When you should draw the line in the sand
Get my handout for the "5 THOUGHT UPGRADES WHEN SOMEONE RIPS OFF YOUR STUFF"
LINKS
Episode 11: What to do When People Steal Your Stuff
The Build an Awesome Brand Workshop - The Alison Show (Disclosure: AFFILIATE LINK because I like solving your branding problems AND making money)
Episode Handout Freebie
FREE RESOURCES
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want an attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Snag something for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get my quick tips and trick by connecting on Instagram.
You don't have to be an extrovert to thrive as an entrepreneur. However, introverts face challenges that others don't understand. Morra Aarons-Mele is a wildly successful "accidental entrepreneur" who just so happens to be an introvert.
Morra is the founder of Women Online, a social impact agency, along with being an internet marketer that has worked in both the political and private sector industries. She was even the Director of Internet Marketing for the Democratic National Committee during the 2004 Presidential Election before working as the founding Political Director for BlogHer.com.
She's written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, and Othe Oprah Magazine among others. Morra is also the author of the book Hiding in the Bathroom: How to Get Out There When You'd Rather Stay Home and founder of the podcast Hiding in the Bathroom.
Morra has found how to thrive as an introvert entrepreneur and shares a ton of valuable information on this episode of the Law & Wit podcast.
In this episode you will learn:
- The importance of knowing your worth and tips on pricing
- Why you need to track your time to know your net
- Content trends for 2019
- Why you should focus on Work-Life Fit instead of balance
- Networking tips for introverts
LINKS
Morra's interview with David Krikorian
Women & Work (For more information on Morra's podcast & book Hiding in the Bathroom: How to Get Out There When You'd Rather Stay Home)
QUOTES
"Every time you speak up online, you're sticking your neck out and risking things. I really believe that. And, women who do speak up are brave."
"I think that online culture is reflective of our larger sort of societal challenges."
"No one is born being able to walk into a room and sell the room...It's a skill we all learn, and it takes practice and it takes market research and frankly, it takes rejection and that's the hard-honest truth. "
"Social platforms are not our friends. We are their products. We are learning that the hard way. We use them. Great. They use us. Fine. We love them. We're addicted to them. Let's be honest about that and let's not be overly dependent on them."
"I think that part of what's happened is that we've talked too much about politics and political issues online and not enough with each other. And, I think that's one of the amazing things frankly about being in a community of women who ironically have a lot to say online but are willing to come together offline and talk, is that we're able to connect around our common humanness and listen more. I'm angry, angry, angry and I think a lot of us are angry and we're frustrated and our government doesn't work and we don't know what to do, but I'm trying not to rage on Twitter and frankly to read less Twitter because it's not good for us... So, I'm all for speaking out, but I think that we've got to take it offline."
"Stories changes lives and those of us that are content creators need to remember that. And everyone has a story."
HOW TO THRIVE AS AN INTROVERT ENTREPRENEUR
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Be strategic with your time. Find your networking niche and stick with it. Make sure you have goals for the time that you spend networking. Your networking efforts will be different if you're trying to find people to collaborate with instead of new clients. And, make sure you are saying "no" more than you're saying "yes". Time is money, so you need to protect your time and be purposeful with your activities.
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Prepare before you walk into a room. Practice what you're going to say as your first line before you walk into a room. The second line is a lot easier and usually comes naturally. Getting the first line out is the challenge, so make sure you practice for it.
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Think about your networking annuity. What can you create and put out there that has value and will serve you even when you're taking a break? This includes things like blog posts and LinkedIn articles. These make it easy for people to find you, so you don't have to be out working to meet them.
FREE RESOURCES
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a attorney-drafted, industry-tested legal template for your business? Snag something for your creative business at creativecontracts.co.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get my quick tips and trick by connecting on Instagram.
This is the fourth and final episode of the Business Legal Systems series that discusses the things you need to know in getting your creative business up and running right from the get-go. If you want to make sure that all the hard work you've invested into your business is protected, this is the episode for you.
Part 1- Where Do I Start? discussed how to properly set up your business. Part 2 – How to Get Your Site Legit covered how to make sure your website has everything in it that you need. And, Part 3: Get It In Writing: Contracts 101 discussed the importance of contracts in your business. In Part 4, host Brittany Ratelle, attorney for creative entrepreneurs will discuss what you need to know about protecting your work through Copyright.
In this episode you will learn:
- What the four main tools for protecting your work
- What things you can copyright
- What things you can't copyright
- Why it's actually a good thing that you can't copyright everything you wished you could
- How to know if you have a copyright
- The benefits of registering your copyright even though you already have some protection
- Where to find more information on Trademarks and Patents
- A friendly reminder about what's good for YOUR soul about where your value and worth are as a creative entrepreneur
LINKS
Business Legal System Part 1 – Where Do I Start?
Business Legal System Part 2 – How to Get Your Site Legit
Business Legal System Part 3 - Get it in Writing: Contracts 101
Law & Wit Episode 11: What to do When People Copy Your Stuff
Law & Wit Episode 24: 6 Ways a Trademark can Protect Your Brand
The Top 12 Things Creatives Can Copyright Cheat Sheet!
QUOTES
"You can't protect your recipe because it's just a list of ingredients. It's too functional. There are only so many ways to put stuff together to make a chocolate chip cookie. But, what you can protect is the photos of your photography, if you took them then they're yours. An original illustration that came with it. So if you have some fancy calligraphy or hand-lettering that went with it that's really cool, you can protect that. You could protect the narrative...the text in your Instagram post, your YouTube video about it. that expression of stuff you can definitely protect, so not all is lost, but just not the actual recipe. But that's OK, because it's not just about the recipe, it's about the stuff that goes with it. No one can do it like you."
"You are still a creator or a creative and just because you can't protect the expression of something that you do, doesn't mean that other people can do it like you."
"We're not all Einsteins here creating things from scratch, and that's OK."
"And, when you figure that out and hone in and dig deep on what is your brand about, what is your story about, and what are you sharing with other people, then you're going to find that those things are very difficult for someone else to replicate in exactly the way that you do them."
4 Main Tools for Protection
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Copyright - This is something that is original and creative. It's not protected when it's in your brain, but when you get your idea out of your brain it becomes protected. For example, if you scribble song lyrics down on a napkin and snap a picture of it, it can be protected through copyright. Download the The Top 12 Things Creatives Can Copyright Cheat Sheet!
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Trademark - This answers the questions "who made this?' or "who sells this?". The real benefit of a trademark goes to the consumer. If someone reaches for a Coke they know what they are going to get. The name, logo, and even the way the bottle is shaped can be trademarked. This keeps confusion out of the marketplace.
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Patent - Things that are patented need to be new, not obvious, and useful. If you think you have an idea that is worth patenting it makes sense to have a free consult with an attorney that works with patents. The cost can be expensive and time-consuming but could be worth it based on your situation.
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Trade Secrets - These are things that are protected through contract. For example, if you make cupcakes and have a special recipe you aren't going to want that recipe shared everywhere. When you hire employees you can have them sign a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) stating that they will not share inside information such as the recipe. This can apply to other areas like vendor lists, research you have gathered, and your business model.
Remember that the world misses 100% of the work that you don't create. So, as a creative entrepreneur, don't let fear of having your work ripped off stop you from creating.
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
And get my quick and dirty (to make you're squeaky clean -- right??) tips and tricks by connecting with me on Instagram.
Download the The Top 12 Things Creatives Can Copyright Cheat Sheet!
As a creative entrepreneur and just a person, there are a lot of things fighting for your attention. There’s family, marketing, sales, and [fill in your own list of tasks]. It doesn’t take long to feel overwhelmed by it all. Enter Kim Christensen from Talk Wordy to Me. She’s a freelance writer, journalist, and a book-loving mama. She mixes writing and mindfulness for a really unique perspective that every entrepreneur can benefit from.
Kim started journaling at the age of five, which sparked a love for writing that she has held onto ever since. She’s the co-founder of Loom Journal which helps to inspire the parent-child connection. She also shares great book recommendations online and loves using social media and technology for good.
In this episode you will learn:
• A mindfulness definition for the everyday mom and creative
• The benefit of journaling and putting pen to paper instead of only using technology
• What any person can do to improve their writing skills
• The importance of reading what you are writing out loud
• Three places to look when you want to outsource your writing
• The importance of not taking advantage of your friends’ skills and not letting them do the same to you
• Tips on being a mindful entrepreneur
• Tips to improve your content
LINKS
http://www.talkingwordy.com/about/
Find Kim on Instagram
Loom Journals
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven Pressfield
• Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper
• Hello, My Name Is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names that Stick by Alexandra Watkins
QUOTES
One thing that I’ve learned is that ‘balance’ can become just another form of perfectionism, and we’re not seeking balance necessarily. We’re seeking to understand that things will be imbalanced and just trusting ourselves to put our effort and time into the things that are important to us at that time. Because what’s important will change.
When you talk about feeling balanced, what you’re really feeling is acceptance of your life being out of balance.
We have to become ok with letting some things go. We can do anything we want, but we can’t do everything.
Mindfulness isn’t this new trend even though it’s a buzzword now. Mindfulness is in each of us already. It’s not like it’s some new thing you have to learn… it’s just refamiliarizing yourself with yourself. And with the things that help you slow down and feel like yourself and feel whole. It’s just bringing back awareness into what you do and what you think.
When we are engaging with technology we are disconnecting from ourselves, intuition, and the people around us. So mindfulness teaches us to be fully present.
Mindfulness can go a long way to living the life you want instead of letting life just happen to you.
In order to improve your writing, you write. That’s all. It doesn’t even matter where you start or what you write.
It’s not about being a good writer or not. It’s about expressing yourself. So, if you can be true to what those feelings are and expressing those, that’s all you need to be a writer. The grammar and all that stuff, that’s so secondary to being a good writer. It’s just being unafraid to express your true self and your true thoughts.
Just be you. People can tell when you’re being you or when you’re being a brand in the boring salesy sense of the word.
Don’t take advantage of your friends who have a skill set just because they love it and are succeeding in it.
Be okay with imperfection and start before you are ready and before you think you have it all together. Starting is the hardest part. You just have to start where you are with what you have and give what you can. It doesn’t have to be everything.
This is the third part of the Business Legal Systems series that discusses the bedrock business and legal foundations you need to address when building your modern business. If you've had that inkling that you need to get some contracts in place or make updates to the ones that you use, this is the episode for you.
Part 1- Where Do I Start? discussed how to properly setup your business and Part 2 - How to Get Your Site Legit covered how to make sure your website has everything in it that you need. In Part 3, host Brittany Ratelle, attorney for creative entrepreneurs will explain the importance of contracts including what you need and how you can respond if you get any pushback when using them.
In this episode you will learn:
- What the most common agreements are that you need for your business
- Why you need contracts even if you work with people you trust and why you definitely need them when working with friends and family
- The advantage of making your contract the "bad guy" when doing business with others
- The importance of defining roles, boundaries, and expectations when working with everyone from contractors, affiliates, and clients.
- Why anything is better than nothing and where you can get help creating contracts
- The importance of knowing the top legal terms
- Why you should NEVER sign anything that you don't understand
- The most common agreements that creative entrepreneurs need to protect their business
LINKS
Business Legal System Part 1 - Where Do I Start?
Business Legal System Part 2 - How to Get Your Site Legit
Law & Wit Episode 13: Ten Must-Know Contract Terms for Creatives
Creative Contracts: Legal Templates for Creative Entrepreneurs
QUOTES
"No one ever plans on there being a problem. There's never a problem until there's a problem, guys. And, then it's too late. Not too late like you're going to die, but too late that it's going to cost you stress and heartache and probably money and time and lots of other limited resources that you'd rather not spend."
"To think that you could have a conversation with someone, especially about a complex deal or long-term vision you had for your company or a project or something else and that you would remember the conversation the same way, or multiple conversations, is just a bit naive."
"If someone is so put off by signing a contract, you don't really want them as a client."
"Please don't sign anything if you don't know what's in it. Never be afraid to ask for more time. Never be afraid to ask for a version you can edit... It is always OK and professional, and not weird at all, to say, 'Hey, can I get this in an editable version.'"
"If you're in business with someone and haven't signed an operating agreement, it's not too late. Now is always better than later."
Most Common Agreements
Operating Agreement of Founders Agreement - This is like the prenup for your business. If you have a partner, you 100% need to have this in place. This can be an awkward conversation, but you need to address it anyway and be upfront about it. This will detail how you work together in business, who does what, along with what happens when you are decide not to continue in the partnership any longer. This document can help save relationships between you and your partner.
Client Service Agreement - This is what you need if you provide 1:1 services for your clients. This will cover the services provided, details for payments, how revisions work, and things like confidentiality. You can find a template for this in my store here.
Licensing Agreement - This is important any time you are splitting ownership rights with someone. It's often seen in book deals and merchandising. I don't sell this template because these tend to be very specific for each situation. It's important you understand the terms along with what you're getting and giving up when signing one of these. Checkout episode 13 for more information on the terms you need to know.
Influencer/Brand Sponsored Content Agreement - This is newer and something that a lot of local attorneys might not be familiar with if they don't typically work with online business owners. This is the agreement you want if you're doing creative campaigns and collaborations. I have this agreement and related documents in my shop including the following:
- Influencer/Brand Sponsored Content Agreement
- Podcast Guest Release Template
- Testimonial Release
- Model Release Bundle for Photography/Videography
Talent Agreement - I don't sell these, but I do review them for people. If you want representation, then you want to know what you're getting and what you're giving up. (contact me for contract review pricing!)
Remember that the biggest thing you can do to protect your revenue stream is to put the right contracts in place.
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get my quick tips and trick on Instagram.
Get your Instagram questions answered as social media expert, Anna MacFarlane, shares a wealth of information on how to grow your following and build your community. Anna is the woman behind Anna is the Worst, Kids are the Worst, and Things are the Worst. The irony here is Anna is the absolute best! While she started her career in traditional marketing - direct mail (remember that?) - she continued to adapt with the times and has become an expert in the field of social media marketing.
She now has over 500,000 Instagram followers. And, her past experience in marketing allows her to see how social media fits into the overall marketing funnel. This means if you follow her advice on Instagram strategy you'll learn what to do to actually get results instead of just spend time consuming social media posts and funny memes.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why algorithms aren't the devil and how they can actually help you
- What the real goal of social media marketing is - and the answer isn't "engagement"
- The importance of being a doer and not a consumer
- What the 80/20 rule is for Instagram and how it helps you stick with your brand while being real at the same time
- When and why you would want to archive
- What you need to know about IGTV and why food bloggers need to be using it
- The latest on hashtags - How do you use them? How shouldn't you use them?
- Why you should NEVER buy followers, likes, or comments - DON'T DO IT!!
- How the 20-minute rule helps you maintain healthy boundaries
LINKS
Anna MacFarlane's Instagram Guide - The Instagram Recipe
Anna MacFarlane's website
Kids are the Worst
Things are the Worst
QUOTES
"Everything you're doing online has an algorithm. This isn't a bad word. It's actually awesome. All algorithms are doing is trying to make your experience better and more beneficial to you. And, so you have to work the algorithm to your benefit."
"The goal for social is not what everyone thinks it is. Everyone thinks its engagement. Which is awesome. But, it's not really engagement, it's purchasing, or it's getting people to be part of an event or an organization or a group. But, there's always a goal that's marketing based and that's further and you need to see that social is the top of the funnel of whatever that goal is. Treat it like actual marketing for a brand but also understand where it fits in the funnel."
"It's your responsibility to create your own experience.”
"There is nothing wrong with using hashtags. And, in fact, I highly suggest hashtags because they are one of the easiest ways to get new eyeballs on you."
"Grow slow, grow real, that's how you do it. There's no shortcuts"
This special Part 2 segment in a new series about Business Legal Systems -- the bedrock business and legal foundations you need to address when building your modern business. (listen to part 1 - Where do I start, Episode 34 HERE). If you have been wondering what you need to do for a step-by-step process to get legit -- then you have FOUND it. This concise walkthrough is a DIY legal audit that tells you exactly what you check on your own website so that your site is an asset and not a liability for your creative business. Brittany Ratelle, attorney for creative entrepreneurs, believes in cute office supplies AND solid contracts, will give you some legal tips and tricks so that you can protect your creative business without breaking the bank, or your sanity.
In this episode you will learn:
- Do I really need a privacy policy? And what should it cover?
- Why do I need website Terms (or is it website term of use? or terms and conditions? HELP!! --- I GOT you)
- What needs to be in your footer?
- What exactly does a copyright notice do? And what should it look like?
- What is a website disclaimer and how do I know if I might need one for my content/offerings?
- What happens if I don't use FTC disclaimers?
- How do I disclose affiliate links?
- When do I need to use #ad or #sponsored?
- Is it okay to use someone's photo if I credit them?
- How can I make my site more accessible?
- PLUS MORE!!
Links:
- Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE)
- Accessibility-designed WP themes
-
Law and Wit Episode 4: Five legal docs you need on your website
-
Purchase an attorney-drafted, ready-to-personalize- Website Bundle here and make like the Peaches and just SHUT UP ABOUT IT. :-) Save 10% with special listener code LAWANDWIT
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to Britt's newsletter with FREE tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get some quick tips and trick by connecting with her on Instagram.
Listen in to this truth-bomb-laden episode with content queen and serial entrepreneur Ashley Reeves of Ashley's Fresh Fix. Ashley shares her entrepreneurial origins from being a teacher to blogging about Amazon deals and gadgets to migrating to the health and food space. She has successfully launched and grown multiple businesses, offerings, and products and has tons of wisdom to share about creating relevant content, engaging with your community, and finding your incredibly important WHY.
In this episode you will learn:
- How to get started with a business
- How to get "serious" with it
- Ashley's thoughts on balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and her system for visualizing her monetary contributions to her family's bottom line
- how she overcame doubts about being in the health/wellness field as a tall and curvy girl
- the questions she uses to focus her content
- how she found her why and why YOU need to!
- whether @thealisonshow 's Build an Awesome Brand workshop was worth it for her and her business
- her recipe for creating a welcome and engaged community
- what it's like to build an app
- how she got interested in better body love communication
AND TONS MORE!!
Links and resources:
Full Shownotes HERE or at brittanyratelle.com/35
Build an Awesome Brand Workshop (and episode 7 of Law & Wit with Alison on how to forge an awesome brand)
10 Days to Better Body Love Course (special introductory price only available for a few more hours!)
Ashley's Fresh Fix - Clean and colorful cooking
Bloody Buddy Cup menstrual cup
Favoreats meal planning/recipe app
Are you ready to get your creative business legit but don't know WHERE to start? What needs to come first? And how you are supposed to make sense of this alphabet-soup of advice you are seeing swirling around FB groups, Google and podcasts? This special episode is the first segment in a new series about getting #legitwithbritt, getting a handle on those business legal system you cannot afford to ignore when building your modern business.
In this flagship episode, you will learn:
- How to know if you are a "real business" (and if you want to be what you need to do!!)
- The first money plans you need to make
- How to properly set up your payment processors (Stripe/Paypal, etc)
- What an EIN is -- and how you can get one
- What is an LLC ++ when you need to set one up, how you do that, and what to spend your money on and what to DIY
- How to pick a good business name
Links:
Get the FREE checklist that covers ALL the important steps in this episode HERE.
Full Shownotes
Episode 6: Do you need an LLC?
Episode 10: Copyrights vs. Trademarks
Episode 31: Accounting Tips for Creatives
IRS EIN online application (** it has hours..I know...lamest thing ever...so don't leave this to your nighttime solopreneur to-do list!)
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get my quick tips and trick on Instagram.
Join us for a behind-the-scenes interview with creativepreneur matriarch Gabrielle Blair, longtime blogger at Design Mom, Best-selling author and founder of the Alt Summit Conference for creatives and influencers. Gabrielle shares her 10-year story in building and reiterating Alt Summit, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
In this episode you'll learn:
- how she got the idea for her first conference
- Gabby's formula for a successful (and profitable$$) live event
- how tech can solve common logistical problems at events
- how to get inspiration from other events/industries
- how to get started doing a live event
PLUS -- get her tips for making the most out of attending conferences this year, including the before, during and after ACTION PLAN for rocking your next conference, even if you don't know a single soul beforehand.
Get the FREE DOWNLOAD of this Conference Action Plan!!
Interested in coming to ALT? Want to party with me and ALL the colors & cacti?? I begged and got a special $300 off coupon for YOU with discount Code: BRITTANY -- get your tix HERE.
Links:
Oh Happy Day
Color Factory
Design Sponge
Oh Joy
Apartment Therapy
SXSW
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit? Download the checklist HERE and get tips and tricks to grow your creative business.
And let's be social, connect with me on Instagram !
Want some help in landing good clients? Avoiding bad ones? And keeping the ones you have happy??!
Dive into this week's episode of Law and Wit: Creative Counsel for Entrepreneurs as we explore 6 Tips for Improving Client Relationships.
Whether you love 'em (or want to leave 'em) -- clients are the lifeblood of a creative service business -- so let's figure out how we can spot troublesome clients (BEFORE YOU SIGN THAT CONTRACT) and how to have a good working relationship during your project.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- 4 tips for spotting a tough client! (hint...you should trust your gut!!)
- How a solid contract/client service agreement can clarify the project guidelines (AND COVER YOUR BUTT!!)
- The one thing you CANNOT do -- even when something goes wrong....
- And how to break up with your client -- as in NEVER, EVER, getting back togethhhhhher.....
- How to get testimonials from client (hint -- a clear legal release like THIS will help you get ALL the rights you need to share that social proof FAR AND WIDE)
Links:
Client Service Agreement Template for Creative Service Providers
Testimonial Release
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Download my free legal checklist HERE and get YOUR growing creative business LEGIT.
And connect with me on Instagram to get my quick tips and tricks!!
Make friends with your numbers in this episode with Peter Lang, a CPA who specializes in working with creatives, designers, and online entrepreneurs. Peter, a 17-year veteran accountant digs into the most common myths and problems he sees creative making, and how getting a handle on your numbers can do more than just simplify tax time.
In this episode of Law & Wit, you will learn:
- When should a creative professional/designer entrepreneur find an accountant? How do you find a good one? What questions should you be asking to see if someone will "get" your business?
- What are some of the challenges in DIY-ing the finances of your business -- or DIYing it past a certain point?
- What are the pros and cons of just using accounting software on your own?
- Why is waiting until the 11th hour before the tax deadline a less-than-stellar financial strategy? What are creatives missing out on?
- What are the most common mistakes you see creatives professionals make in handling their finances?
- When is the right time to switch to being taxed as an S-corp -- or what questions do you like to walk clients through at that juncture?
- PLUS -- Peter's TOP 3 accounting tips!
Links:
Designer CPA Site
Likes, follows, and DMs don't actually pay the bills -- so how do people actually "make money" from creating content -- as a blogger, vLogger, Instagrammer, influencer, or other type of content creator? And what tips and tricks can help you diversify your income, monetize your talents AND not alienate the followers you have come to love and appreciate. This episode shares eight ways content creators make their money and tackles some mindshift blocks that may be keeping you from adding them to your business model.
In this episode you'll learn:
- the most common way content creators make money from their stuff
- what the "golden percentage" of paid content really is
- how you should approach OTHER people and their sponsored content
- what the heck #sponsored really means and if you need to put it in a caption
- what legal tips you need to keep in mind for monetization strategies
Links:
- Live Free Miranda's awesome blog post on encouraging sponsored content
- Alison's Brand School audio courses on influencer marketing
- Brittany's DIY Legal Template Shop for Creatives Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get your creative business legit?
Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get my quick tips and trick on Instagram.
Do you know what isn’t always comfortable? Going for your dreams. Like sell-your-house, load your knapsack into a bus and hit the road with your family band kind of discomfort. This episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at an incredibly talented quartet of sisters, the Paper Dolls, (previously known as the Red Head Express) and their creative musical journey across the American landscape. With performances in all 50 states, 11 years of singing together and more than 3,000 shows -- these sisters have some hard-won insight about that special sweet spot where comfort and growth meet (and it probably doesn’t involve the tour bus that now houses their whole 11+ person touring crew, including spouses and babies!!)
In this episode you’ll learn:
- How do get going with something scary
- Tips for working in a business with your family
- What its like to live and work in Branson and Nashville
- How to listen to your gut when someone wants you to change
- What it feels like to sing at THE White House
- Tips for filling your creative well and to keep your art fresh and genuine
- PLUS ++ The hi’s and low’s of being in the modern music business!!
- BONUS -- you get to listen to some of Roots, and ALL of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen -- their fabulous new Christmas hit (watch out Mannheim Streamroller...your Christmas fireworks show may be getting some fresh tunes…)
Links:
Paperdolls Main Site
Also find them on: Facebook // YouTube // Instagram // Patreon
Listen and subscribe to Law & Wit on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio & lawandwit.com
Interested in working with Brittany for one-on-one legal services? Sign up for a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services.
Want a free LEGAL checklist to get you creative business legit? Download HERE and get access to my newsletter with tips and tricks for YOUR growing creative business.
Or get my quick tips and trick on Instagram.
Are you unknowingly doing some of these "common" online practices that may be putting your business at risk? Brittany Ratelle, Attorney for creative entrepreneurs, shares the FOUR things she sees content creators getting wrong online and what you can do to set up smarter and safer workflows for your business. Whether you are an influencer, business owner, freelancer, or creative service-provider, get a handle on these four legal pitfalls and make a plan to serve yourself and your community better!
In this episode, you'll learn:
- what the rules are for reposting
- who own the copyright in pictures
- how to run a legal giveaway or promotion
- the difference between attribution and permission
- copyright infringement and social media use
- the rules for using commercial music on social media
- what to look for in legit stock music/photo libraries
- the most common myths about copyright infringement and
- why those terms of service that you click (and NEVER read) are so important as a business owner
Links mentioned:
Kate Max Stock
Pleasant Pictures Music Club
How do I run a legal giveaway? - Blog Post
Want more tips delivered STRAIGHT to your inbox every week(ish??) - sign up for my FREE newsletter HERE
Listen in to this rocketing designer who has built a design company with more than 30 employees in just three years. Shea McGee of Studio Mcgee interior design firm and Mcgee & Co. store shares her story of getting started in the design world, despite lacking a degree in interior design. She talks about bringing on her spouse to scale her business and how approaching a creative business with fresh eyes can do more than create a killer "before" and "after" shot. Dig into the lessons she has learned while building her incredibly successful business and get her advice that ALL creative entrepreneurs can use to help grow and scale their businesses.
You will learn:
- what people really said when she got started
- her first hire
- the realities of working with your spouse
- the 3 tips for finding the best new hires for your creative business
- the challenges of growing quickly
- what role legal should play in a client-based business
- their content strategy in creating their successful YouTube series
- how you should treat your first profits from your business
- transitioning from e-commerce to a brick-and-mortar store
And MANY more gems.
Get the FREE handout with the best takeaways from the episode HERE.
Some useful links:
Studio Mcgee
MCGEE & CO
a DIY client-service agreement from Creative Contracts
Have you heard or seen DBAs mentioned in contracts or among your business peers and wondered whether you are one of if you need one? Or whether it's the right fit for your business?
Dig into this episode and finally get some clarity about this alphabet soup mumbo-jumbo acronym that gets tossed around like a runny salad dressing...and get the info you need to get your creative business set up for success. Make sure you have the foundations in place to support your business where it is at right now and to carry it where you want it to go.
In this episode you will learn:
- The three things a DBA isn't
- the difference between LLCs and DBAs
- where and how you register a DBA
- and whether a DBA is right for your business
You might also want to check out these links:
Episode 6: Do you need an LLC?
Creativecontracts.co
Dive in with two savvy internet attorneys in sharing the need-to-know tips for online business owners who want to grow their businesses in the ever-changing digital frontier. Special guest Richard Chapo, a California-based Internet attorney who has helped the Who's Who of internet businesses, shares his tips to help understand what is going on with privacy, copyright, and the "splinternet" concept of legal zones online.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why you need to care about the GDPR
- What California is up to in the internet privacy world
- can't you use a "little bit" of commercial music in your stuff?
- how different countries view privacy and what that can mean for doing business in a global economy
- why using a default template that came with your website platform is probably a bad idea!! (do you know what IS a good idea? using an attorney-reviewed website bundle to get your site legit like the one available at creativecontracts.co Use code LAWANDWIT to get 10% off (shhh...special secret code just for my valuable listeners like YOU)
Find the full show notes here at brittanyratelle.com/25
Links Mentioned:
Richard Chapo - SoCal Internet Lawyer
Law and Wit GDPR episode 15
*No attorney-client relationship. For informational purposes only. If you'd like to work with Brittany one-on-one - schedule a free 20-min phone consult at brittanyratelle.com/services and let's talk about your biz and how we can get it legit!
Do you want to know what trademark can protect and why you might need one? Tune in to this episode of Law and Wit: Creative Counsel for Entrepreneurs and learn about federal trademarks and how can they help protect your brand. This episode from attorney-for-creatives Brittany Ratelle dives into the tips and tricks of using these registrations to protect the distinct characteristics of your business that may be at risk of getting ripped off, counterfeited, or diluted by other competitors or brands in your particular niche.
In this episode, you will learn:
- what are the steps in getting a trademark
- what stoplights have to do with good trademark strategy
- why Legaldoom and other online form fillers may be a disaster if you try to DIY a trademark application with a lawyer on your side
- what the heck is an Office Action and how do you respond to it
- how trademarks can stop counterfeit goods
- what can be trademarked
- how trademarks can be the first (and necessary) step before licensing, franchising, or partnering with others to grow your brand beyond your reach
- what the difference is between ™ and ® anyway?
- how much does a trademark cost and about how long does it take to get finalized
- what questions and prep you want to have ready when you talk to a trademark/intellectual property attorney
PLUS -- get a special secret code word at the end of the episode that will get you $100 bucks off ANY trademark package with Brittany Ratelle of Ratelle Law - legal services for creative entrepreneurs.
Transcript here
Listen below in the plug-in, or the find the podcast on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, and on iHeartRadio.
Interested in more free resources to help with the legal side of running a creative business? Tune in to my FREE Legal Q and A's for Creative entrepreneurs on Tuesday evenings, 8:30 pm Pacific, 9: 30 pm MDT on IG LIVE!!!! To see other Q & A’s, I post them on my YT channel here. You can submit questions on my IG profile or hop on during the live to get them in the queue -- first asked, first answered!
For more short and sweet legal tips -- follow me on IG and subscribe to my newsletter here (you get a free legal checklist for your creative business).
Want to have die-hard fans for your brand? Listen in to this interview with Andrea Williams, co-founder of Tubby Todd, an all-natural bath products company that believes in good, clean fun for the whole family. Andrea gives a behind-the-scenes look at her entrepreneurial journey, from product development to getting those few bottles in the hands of the right influencers, to quitting her husband from his job to jump all-in, to bringing on investors in the company so it can sustainably grow. She gives us four tips to build a SUPER DUPER engaged community as she has with her amazing Tubby Todd Mamas group. Andrea is a mama of three, author of two books, and a firecracker entrepreneur who loves to support mothers in all of their different and beautiful paths.
In this episode you will learn:
- some tips on working with your spouse
- how to find your "why" for your business -- and why it is much more important than a snazzy buzzword for your brand development
- how to overcome guilt about how you are spending your time -- with your family or with your business
- her killer 4 TIPS to creating an engaged community that will rally around your brand!
- What you should and SHOULD not apologize for as a female business owner
Links mentioned:
- Solly Baby
- Freshly Picked
- Fawn Design
- Alison's Brand School Build an Awesome Brand workshop
- How I Built This podcast with Airbnb
- Better than Happy Podcast with Jody Moore
Get the inside scoop on promoting like a fashion insider with model, fashion blogger and PR guru Ashley Michaelson. We dive into networking, pitching, and making the most of your resources to promote your brand. Ashley shares some of her inside tips from running AMPR, a PR boutique agency based in the bustling heart of Hollywood. She gives us a peek inside the glitzy world of fashion publicity and shares what she learned about launching her own clothing line, switching careers and not being afraid to try new things. In this episode, you'll learn: * 3 mistakes that many brands make when starting out * how to work with someone when you have ZERO connections to them * how to think outside of the box with job titles and your dream job * some great advice on transitions and learning from your mistakes!
Links:
Ashley Michaelsen PR | AMPR
Full Transcript HERE Full Shownotes + free goodies HERE
Have you ever felt stuck in the business of your business? Do you like pick-me-ups? Pep talks? Words of wisdom that are tied to actionable tips and strategies for moving forward?? Then listen in to this episode (and relisten, rinse and repeat as necessary) so you can get the confidence to move your gig forward. In this episode of Law and Wit: Creative Counsel for Entrepreneurs, Brittany Ratelle, attorney for creative entrepreneurs dives into: * why your human brain wants to poke holes in your plans * impostor syndrome * when you'll be "ready" in your business (or rather how you won't and that's OK!) * why we can feel all OVER the place with our emotions and how to get a handle on that * how to move on from "I don't know how to do that" * PLUS some good affirmations to counter your lovely, complex, human brain when it wants to be comfortable instead of wading out into the unknown!
Resources mentioned: Awesome with Alison Podcast Life Coach School with Brooke Castillo Podcast Amy Porterfield's Online Made Easy Podcast Jenna Kutcher's Goal Digger Podcast Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn Podcast Plus some other things that can help with business mindset development: The 5- Minute Journal Golden Coil Planner Girl, Wash Your Face - Rachel Hollis Transcript Available on show notes page HERE
Buckle in for an amazing chat with birth mom advocate and serial entrepreneur Ashley Mitchell of Lifetime Healing and Big Tough Girl! Ashley set out to increase care, understanding, and resources for birth mothers and has walked the WALK. For almost a decade, she has been one of the most consistent and sought after birth mother voices in the nation. Well known for her vulnerability and transparency in adoption, her story has touched the hearts of countless members of the adoption community and beyond. In this episode, you will hear her incredible story of hitting ROCK-bottom and how she has turned her journey into resources to help other women who place their children for adoption. She shares about moving forward in your business when you're not sure what the future looks like and what launching a national education curriculum and training program looks like.
You will learn:
- How to balance the heart and the head in emotionally-demanding businesses
- How to move past physical, emotional, and legal roadblocks in growing your business
- What to do when you feel overwhelmed by the problem before you
- How to affect real change when you want to make a difference with your business
- The role social media should take in handling tough stuff
- PLUS -- the 5 biggest blocks you should get over to become a "Big Tough Girl!"
Lifetimehealingadoption.com
Bigtoughgirl.com
This episode is perfect for creative entrepreneurs who want to incorporate a social mission in their business model, or who work with emotionally demanding subject areas or industries. Above all -- this episode is about rising ABOVE your setbacks and about the resiliency and indomitable nature of a fierce girl-power spirit!!
Get the 6-step plan to legalize your indie e-commerce site or Etsy shop so you can run your online product business with confidence and avoid the most common legal mistakes of small business e-retailers.
You will learn:
- If you should Incorporate or register your business (refers to L&W episode 6)
- How to do a basic clearance of your business name (L&W episode 10 -- more info coming on trademarks!)
- What legal statements/information you need on your site (L&W episode 4) for FYI & CYA
- Setting up proper content ownership policies/copyright workflow with your assets and communicating that to your user
- Email - what you need to know to use email effectively AND legally as at outbound marketing tool
- Some tips for product liability issues, especially children’s products (this is something you will want to consult a local attorney on -- ESPECIALLY if you live in the great make-new-law-all-the-time state of CA)
And all the nitty-gritty in between!
For full show notes, transcript + handouts visit here!
Thanks for listening and please leave a rating AND share with a friend if you found it useful -- that is the best way to say thank you for our FREE and valuable content.
3 Tips to Find your Authentic Voice with Rosemary Card of Q.Noor
Get inspired by runway model-turned-retail CEO Rosemary Card who has successfully launched her own clothing store that empowers and enlightens women. Rosemary shares her story of moving to NYC to model in high fashion at age 16 and her journey of self-discovery and grit in launching her own retail brand of LDS temple dresses without any capital, fashion degree or e-commerce experience. She shares her secrets for connecting to customers, picking a meaningful AND strategic brand name when you have existing competitors, and gives 3 actionable tips for finding your own authentic voice.
In this episode you'll learn:
- how to NOT get hosed by your fulfillment partners
- the 3 tips for finding your own authentic voice, even in the fashion industry
- how to handle critics, even well-meaning ones, who don't think you have the credentials for your business idea
- why textiles and sourcing can be tricky (e.g. why white fabric is super hard to make dresses from!!)
- how Rosie jumped to a brick-and-mortar store
- the ONE thing that will make you more relatable
Get the full show notes here.
Links mentioned:
Q.Noor
Rosie's book: Model Mormon - Fighting for Self-Worth on the Runway and as an Independent Woman
Whether you are an influencer/content creator or brand, dig into the 6 terms you must have spelled-out in a good sponsored content contract for an influencer marketing campaign.
You will learn:
- What homework you need to do before you get into influencer marketing
- Payment/compensation language you want
- What is a "kill switch" and why you want one
- How a business DTR (define-the-relationship) can help out with exclusivity negotiations
- Copyright Ownership and editorial control and why it is KIND OF a big deal
- Confidentiality and what NOT to say in "private" FB groups
- FTC Disclosures and why it does not pay to be cute (at least now with the FTC--yeah you know me!)
Do you need an influencer marketing/sponsored content contract that has all of this goodness in it?
Well, head over to my template SHOP and pick one up. I'll even give a special 10% discount code for podcast listeners. Code: DTR
Full show notes here, including transcript.
You get TWO awesome attorneys dishing on how legal can help your brand stay on-brand and afloat during the highs and lows of modern business. Learn about how intellectual property, good contracts, and good business "marriages" can keep your creative biz safe.
You will learn:
- Where to start and get yourself organized.
- What is the MOST important thing you should be doing with your contracts (hint -- it is not making paper flowers...I know you are creatives...but you got to stay with me here...
- How to evaluate your business name/trademark situation
- What 2 documents you DEFINITELY need on your website
- How to set up a good business "marriage" from the beginning and what homework you should have done before you meet with an attorney to help things go smoother (AKA cheaper)
- How to handle event cancellations (or any other major business disruption) in a way that it authentic to YOUR business and brand
- How to avoid committing copyright infringement (hint... don't put yourself into tight positions!!)
Full show notes here (including transcript)
Some links mentioned:
Caroline's law firm - CJFox Law
Engaged Legal Collective
Trademark database (but really...please try to talk to an attorney before you invest but-loads into your branding/website/etc....)
How does the GDPR apply to an US-based business operating online? Find out in this no-nonsense 5-step guide to getting your online activities compliant before the May 25th deadline.
Learn why the GDPR matters to you, even if you are a US-based business and how to avoid paying some of the hefty fines involved with breaching new data and privacy regulations.
In this episode, you will learn:
- how to obtain consent from new email subscribers
- when and how the GDPR applies to your business
- how to use your email marketing tools to comply
- how can you grow your list safely going forward
- what you need to add to your privacy policy
- WHY YOU ABSOLUTELY need a privacy policy..as in please STOP reading this now and get thee one ASAP if you don't have one on your website/landing page
- the new definition of "children" online
- and the new rights that you need to be aware of: the right to be forgotten and to have a copy of one's data upon request
Do not skip over this episode -- please!! Go to the full show notes and episode handout here at brittanyratelle.com/15
If you know you still need GDPR compliant legal statements for your website -- get them here in an easy-to-fill out website bundle! Save 10% by being a podcast listener with discount code LAWANDWIT
Other helpful links:
GDPR FAQ
Amy Porterfield podcast episode on GDPR with Bobby Klinck
How GDPR will affect US companies
How GDPR Impacts Marketers - Social Media Examiner
Convertkit GDPR article
Learn how to make your podcast legally legit with this digestible info session on trademarks and branding, copyright, using music, having guests, and working with co-hosts.
Don't feel overwhelmed as a podcaster or worse -- delay starting or growing your podcast because YOU don't have the tips and tricks to confidently move your business forward.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- how copyrights work with podcasts
- if you can use commercial music
- what should a guest release cover
- how to work out the nitty-gritty with your co-hosts... AND MORE!!
For more information and full show notes, including handouts that go along with this episode, visit brittanyratelle.com/14.
Want to know how what a kill fee is? Or how you protect your right to display creative work in your portfolio? This episodes explains the ten most important contract terms that you can't afford NOT to know, no matter what you do as a creative small business owner or indie entrepreneur. Trade those shrugs and nervous signatures for some confidence and listen up to this latest episode of Law and Wit: Creative Counsel for Entrepreneurs.
You will learn:
- What Schwarzenegger would say about contracts
- If emails are enforceable as contracts (and whether that’s good or bad)
- What language might change who owns the copyright to original content
- What work-for-hire means
- What does indemnify and hold harmless mean and does it matter
- What do I need in a payment clause
- Can you have a separate proposal for your services
- How you can do better client management with timelines
Listening on the go? We’ve already taken notes -- download the bonus handout with all of the ten tips at brittanyratelle.com/13
To sign-up for my newsletter and get more tips like this to help you become a more confident creative business owner, sign up at brittanyratelle.com/newsletter
No attorney-client relationship. Any information is for educational purposes only.
In this episode, Miranda, a maker, adventurer, creative mama, and the blogger behind Live Free Creative Company shares her tips on creating space for creativity and ultimately living a more creative and intentional lifestyle. Miranda explains how a nurse educator became a maker -- then a blogger - and then a content creator for herself and other successful brands. She talks about the giant mindset shifts she had had in embracing “functional minimalism” with her husband and three kids and in being authentic as an influencer and as a consumer of creative content.
In this episode, you will learn:
- Miranda’s four tips to get “unstuck” in your work
- How in the world you can be a minimalist with three kids, a dog, and as a crafter/maker
- Her thoughts on downsizing from her dream 25000 square foot rancher home in Texas to a 1,000 square foot Cape Cod rental house
- What questions Miranda asks herself EVERY time she posts content
- What being “authentic” and “intentional” really mean to her as a modern influencer and creative
Miranda also talks about ALT summit (how it changed her career path, but in a way you wouldn't expect!!)
Some links mentioned:
The Live Free Creative Co
ENGAGE VS. OBSERVE AND FOUR OTHER TIPS FOR A POSITIVE SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIENCE
Brittany's free mini-course on FTC disclosures and influencer marketing
FTC guidelines for social media
Full show notes HERE -- including the download FREEBIE with the top quotes and tips from the episode!
Mad about copy-cats, rip-offs, and digital thieves? Get some clarity and a step-by-step action guide for handling creative theft.
Full show notes available here (including a FREE handout) on brittanyratelle.com/11
In this episode, you will learn about:
- what is "copying" and what is just "inspired by"
- how to shift your mindset so that copying affects you LESS
- the 6-step plan to addressing copyright infringement
- why flaming someone on your social media channel is not a great gut-reaction
- PLUS ... some practical tips to help YOU steal like a true "creative" and to be careful about your own use of other's work in the digital minefield that is our modern-day creative playground
Get the FREEBIE for this episode with a step-by-step guide for what to do when someone copies your stuff HERE.
Some helpful links mentioned:
DMCA takedown information
Steal like an Artist book
Full transcript
This Intellectual Property 101 tutorial will walk you through the basics in copyrights vs. trademarks and how they most commonly used to protect your original content. Lock these two different tools down so you can go your own IP audit of where you may be leaving some of your original assets on the table. You will learn:
- what is a copyright?
- does the (c) symbol mean anything?
- how do you register a copyright and does it make a difference?
- what kind of things should you copyright?
- what is a trademark?
- can trademarks only protect words or logos?
- what if I already have a domain name or a business registration? do I need a copyright or trademark?
- what is the risk in not pursuing infringers?
Want to know more about copyright infringement and how you can "steal like a creative"? Read my post about using movie/song quotes in your business here.
Does this all sound fine and dandy but you want to know where to start with ALL of this legal mumbo-jumbo for your creative biz? Then download my FREE legal checklist for creative small business owners.
You will learn:
- who you should have contracts with
- what the heck are FTC disclosures
- what legal docs I need on my website..
- are e-signatures enforceable
- and what is an LLC?! (spoiler alert....it has nothing to with chasing waterfalls...)
TOTALLY FREE. NO STRINGS ATTACHED (well -- the tiny string of signing up for my newsletter but its short AND sweet AND useful...I don't waste my time or yours -- EVER.) What do you have to lose?
I know that seems like a bit of SEO stuffing in that title but WOW -- this is a fabulous episode.
Noelle, who I happened to know before she shot up the creative corporate ladder, does a big reveal on what it is like to manage a global luxury brand -- actually 5 different brands -- and what the strategy room likes, beautiful cityscapes and all.
You will learn about:
- the 2 things that make a GOOD brand
- some examples of who is not getting this right -- and why
- some great examples of authentic and engaging creative brands and why they are able to connect with their audience
- how you do the "marketing of marketing" to communicate brand vision to your team members
- hat brand architecture is and how make your own
- a complete walk-through of a innovation strategy session with one of the leading creative agencies in the country
PLUS -- Noelle shares her biggest peeves from bloggers/influencers who reach out want to collaborate for travel campaigns and how to setup a successful relationship with a big luxury brand...
For the full show notes, including a FREE worksheet that summarizes this episode and the strategy Noelle recommends -- visit here.
Tune in for 6 things you can do to elevate your business this year! Whether you are an influencer, digital business owner, graphic designer, photographer, or run a product business with heavy online presence (and frankly who doesn't in 2018??) -- you'll find some nuggets here to be all that you can be -- in 2018.
I'll be diving into registering your business as an LLC, what kind of contracts you might need, running your own website audit, some tips for managing a Facebook group, navigating influencer marketing and what intellectual property is worth protecting (and at what cost).
Some links mentioned:
Show notes
Episode on all things LLC
Episode on running your own website audit/5 documents you need on your website
Free mini-course on FTC marketing
Copyright Office - Registration Portal
Trademark Office - USPTO
Episode 7:
Join me in this SPECIAL interview episode of Law & Wit, with the branding boss babe herself -- Alison Faulkner of The Alison Show. Get down with Alison -- the girl who gave herself her own "show" and turned it into a highly engaging (and profitable) personal brand. Alison started as a blogger, creative, maker, and hostess extraordinaire -- throwing female-only dance parties for hundreds of women that sold out in minutes. She has brought all of that energetic storytelling and themed goodness to her latest ventures in a hit audio course on using influencer marketing to build your business, corporate branding work, a popular podcast, Awesome with Alison, keynote speaking, and in-person branding workshops.
In this episode, you will learn:
- the CORE question when forging your own brand
- how to unwind a tight business-ego-meld to better delegate and GROW your business
- why existential crises can actually be SUPER valuable
- and...what should be your ONE big question for business planning.
You do not want to miss out on this episode. We are SO lucky to have this amazing creative entrepreneur on to share her wisdom.
Do I need an LLC?
This week's episode dives into all things LLC (yeah you know me!) and explains why you need some more sand buckets in your life and your business. You will learn:
- What is an LLC -- (e.g. too much time has passed and you can't ask someone about for fear you will get all kinds of judg-y eyes)
- Where should I set one up? hint hint...Google University is NOT a law school...e.g. "I heard Nevada you don't have to pay taxes..." and other lies
- What if you already have an LLC (I think...) Do I have to do anything for it to keep protecting me?
- Where you will find your state-specific information for registering an LLC (UT: https://corporations.utah.gov/business/lc.html) CA: http://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/filing-tips/filing-tips-llc/
No attorney-client relationship. Any information is for educational purposes only.
Boom -- there it is. NEGOTIATION. Whether you love it or hate it or have had your fill because of bedtime book lists that can rival a college syllabus...you can't deny it's a critical skill to have in your entrepreneur toolbox. I dive deep with Paul Leonard, a media broker who wheeled and dealed in more than $7 billion dollars worth of media transactions during the 1990s. He then retired at 39 and has spent the last decade and a half golfing, helli-sking, paragliding, and looking very official in his home "office." He is also happens to be my Dad and shares my love of peanut butter, a good book, and sarcasm.
In this episode you will learn:
- how to get over negotiation intimidation
- the steps to take before and during a negotiation for success
- how to read body language during a negotiation
- And the biggest rookie mistake my dad learned as a young buck from a clever man with a slow drawl...
Get the full show notes -- including the handout FREEBIE with all of the tips and book recommendations at: www.brittanyratelle.com/5
Get the dish on 5 legal docs you MUST have on your website. Don't rely on your web developer to CYA --- find out what you need to do to protect your digital home or storefront. This episode dives into privacy policies, terms of use, copyright statements, ADA, and Federal Trade Commission disclosures.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- the 5 legal docs you NEED to have on your website (see a similar post on this here)
- where these legal statements should live
- who is the FTC and why should you play nice with them (for more information on influencer marketing and FTC disclosures, check out my free mini-course here)
- what the difference is between a privacy policy and user terms and conditions
- the first line of copyright defense for protecting your material
For more legal tips and tricks for your creative biz, sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a FREE legal checklist for your creative business.
UPDATED: If you know you still need GDPR compliant legal statements for your website -- get them here in an easy-to-fill-out website bundle! Save 10% by being a podcast listener with discount code LAWANDWIT
Learn the smart way to grow your team with Ashley Cox of SpourtHr, a HR specialist helping creatives get the help they need to grow their businesses. She dishes on why you shouldn’t hire your best friend’s VA, and why advertising for “must love sprinkles” makes her little HR heart ache.
Natasha McLean of Canary Jane, an illustrator, coloring book author, blogger and social media consultant shares her creative origin story and how to cultivate confidence and creativity for your business. She shares her three business laws that have helped her develop her successful personal brand and the tips to master any social media in this changing marketplace.
Welcome to the first episode of Law and Wit: Creative Counsel for Entrepreneurs, with Brittany Ratelle. This podcast helps creative entrepreneurs and influencers confidently grow and scale their modern brands -- navigating the business side of content creation, influencer marketing, social media, e-commerce, and digital products.
Brittany, a legal bestie for female entrepreneurs shares legal strategy in a fun and bite-size way so that you can be empowered in your creative business, whether you are a influencer, content creator, freelancer, infopreneur -- or a product-based business. Her goal is to dish up wisdom and wit-dom fun for your busy life -- minus the leather-bound books and billable rate.
So - claim your boss babe title and get the information and inspiration you need to move your small business forward by listening in weekly to interviews, action items, and legal tips to help you confidently own your business.
This episodes discusses:
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Brittany and her background
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5 Fun facts about your host
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Why this stuff matters and why taking your business seriously (but not too seriously) matters too!