Business owners often ask me what types of contracts they need to protect their businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned business owner, I want to share a few suggestions:
- If you are a service provider, (photographer, graphic designer, website developer, wedding planner, coach, virtual assistant, etc.), you absolutely need to have a service agreement. Having your contracts in place legitimize your business, manage client expectations, ensure payment, protect your intellectual property, help you handle disputes, and give you peace of mind.
- If you sell your intellectual property frequently (as a photographer, for instance), you need specific language that explains who owns the rights to your property and what will happen if they infringe on your rights.
- If you have projects or information that you’d like to keep confidential for a certain period of time, then having a non-disclosure agreement is essential.
- If you have employees, interns, or contract out your work, then you will need employment contracts (for your employees), an intern agreement (for your interns), or an independent contractor agreements (for any sub-contractors).
- If you have a website, then you will need to make sure that you have your privacy policy and terms and conditions pages set up to inform visitors of any information that is being collected. Whenever you collect information, you’re legally obligated to inform users of what they’re sharing and how it’s being used. Especially with recent data and privacy breaches in the news, it’s essential (and legally required!) to outline your terms.
- If you’re a brand wanting to take advantage of influencer marketing, then having a solid contract in place to provide to content creators or influencers is key. Brand ambassadors and influencer partnerships are an effective new method of advertising. Take advantage of the social media connections and online advice community without worrying if the collaboration is best-serving your brand. With a bulletproof brand influencer contract template, you can lay out exactly what’s expected and have legal documents to back you up in case something goes wrong.
I want your business baby to THRIVE. And to do so, you HAVE to make sure it’s legally protected.
Visit our contract template shop here to learn more about the different contracts available for your business or schedule a consultation here to go over what specific contracts you need.
*** This is for informational purposes only. No attorney-client privilege has been formed.
