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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 WCYuGm4qCq2srXxdmdwF

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.** 

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.

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

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