Hi Reader! One of the first projects I worked on as an (almost) lawyer was updating a contract. He was a commercial photographer doing dozens of shoots a month. Because he was working with big brands that had their own rules, each shoot had different licenses, timeframes, payments, and distribution of responsibilities. I met with the client, and he told me the story of how, for at least two months, his assistant didn’t update the social media rights section of the contract. And they only…

Hi Reader, In 2011, I passed the California Bar and waited four months for results. I knew I wanted to start my own practice, so I filled that time by having conversations with small business owners I knew. During one of those conversations, a friend who ran a tattoo shop told me something I’ll never forget: “Start a notebook where you record all the stupid shit you do that you don’t want to repeat.” A few months later, after I passed the Bar, he handed me a Moleskine notebook. Inside the…

Hi Reader! I’ve been in a sewing frenzy the past two weeks. I made six shirts and three nightgowns. I also braved re-doing my RV’s dinette cushions. Because I used the existing cushions as a pattern, I unpicked one of each type. This gave me lots of downtime to think. One of the thoughts that popped into my head was that sometimes the fears we have in our heads don’t match reality. And three examples in my business came to mind. The first was related to my mini-sabbaticals. Before I took my…

Hi Reader! Everyone enters a project or collaboration hoping that it’ll be successful. Everyone is excited, and no one goes into it expecting to run into problems. But the beginning of the project, when everyone is friends and in a collaborative mood, is the perfect time to lay some ground rules about how you can gracefully walk away if the project doesn’t work as planned. Because once things start to go wrong, it’s harder to agree on what this process looks like. While it’s a downer to talk…

Hi Reader! Come summer, many creative businesses start thinking about bringing on help. Maybe it’s so you can step away and work less while your children are out of school for the summer. Maybe it’s so you can travel and visit some of your bucket list destinations. Maybe it’s to rest up and restore yourself before you dive into the busy holiday season. But one piece that’s often missing is laying the groundwork to make it easier for your new team member to hit the ground running. Of course,…

Hi Creative! For those of you who offer services, custom artwork, personalized pieces, or bridal jewelry, you should be asking for a portion of the payment upfront. You should be doing this because your time is valuable. And you are setting aside time for this client/customer, and they should compensate you for blocking off your schedule and starting the engine of your brain towards their project. I would also argue that this payment shouldn’t be refundable if the project is cancelled….

Hi Reader! We’ve all had the dreaded experience of a customer asking for a refund. Sometimes, we think their reasons are valid. Sometimes, we think their reasons aren’t valid. And that’s where your refund policies come in. You probably already have them on your website explaining when you will and won’t offer a refund. But your refund policies are just policies and not legally enforceable if you don’t turn them into a contract. For those of you who offer services, you have a services…