Get Legal Insurance Assurance
So here we are, running our own business… whether you are a sole proprietor, have a small partnership or have a few employees under you… we are all on our own. So, how are you protecting yourself? I wrote recently about Plan B talking about if you are sick or something happens to your home office. This would be more like where else would you work, who would take over or how would you.. you know, like make money? This time I wanted to talk to you about….legal ramifications.
What kind of legal protection do you have?
What happens when a client backs out of a contract? Oh, you don’t have one of those, do you? What if you do and it’s not legally sound? What about when a client doesn’t pay? Or the other side of that, they send you threatening letters?
What do you do? On any of those situations, how do you protect yourself or your business? Hopefully you set up your business correctly, separating yourself from your business with regard to taxes and liabilities, depending on the type of business, entity or situation you are in. Whoops, you didn’t do that yet? Likely you have questions about that too. Sure, you can go to the internet because heck, if it is on the internet, it MUST be true, right? So, now you get to sort through all these free legal sites, forums and such to try to figure out what to do because hiring an attorney or better yet finding a trustworthy one (let me rephrase, one that is referred to you, via personal experience) can be costly.
Consider the overall hassle & cost versus the peace of mind. Protect yourself. Click To TweetSo what are you going to do?
Sure, you can find an online form or use a chat form from some online legal website, but unless you know who is on the other side of that form or chat and they have some skin in the game, how do you know they really have your back? Well, you don’t. So, maybe using that attorney that your friend had to use or use a legal service that was vetted from someone else you know (coughMEcough) might be another option. The point, maybe you should set money aside to have contracts reviewed, send letters on your behalf or consult you on just about anything for your business. Your business is worth it. By the way, a paid legal service just might be covering those things in your monthly premium., it’s worth checking into. 🙂
Your business & family is worth it
So, what do you think… is your business worth it to have the protection you need in these cases and many others? What if it not only covered your business but your family too? What, you mean like that little speeding ticket, divorce or child support issues, some pestering neighbor sending you hate mail or idle threats, what about that will that you have been meaning to set up just in case? Well, Legal Shield is a great option and I have had it for years and have used it for my daughter’s car wreck/ticket, setting up
my LLC and some other Q&A consults as well as my living will. It covers everyone in my house for the same cost. Yes, I do sell it also, so of course I would get paid if you opted to protect yourself this way, but Legal Shield isn’t paying me to write this.
Bottom line
Whatever you do, know that you and your business are worth having protection and peace of mind. Click To TweetWhether you go online to get some of these things done, hire an attorney, use Legal Shield or a similar service, do SOMETHING to protect your assets. You are welcome!
Should you have any questions about Legal Shield and my experience or to sign up, let me know, I am happy to help.
Let me know in the comments below what you have for you and your business as far as protection for situations mentioned here.
~Kristen
Such an important topic. I recently heard a tale of woe from a good friend who was co authoring a book with a friend. As soon as a publisher showed interest, the partner was trying to get rid of her. Its been horrendous & unsettling & I directed her to a lawyer. They should have had a contract when they started. Now they will have to have one to continue.
In my business, we have customer satisfaction to deal with, we have a return policy posted.
Thanks Roz… contracts are important. Customer satisfaction is also very important
I’m always wondering about legal contracts. We used a lawyer to set up our business as a corporation, so I feel okay in that regard. But contracts are a pain in the rear! A legal service is one of those things that we don’t value until after we need it, right? This is on my list to check out. Thanks for pointing all of the scary things in business – and in life – that could happen, lol! These are situations we don’t want to deal with but better to be prepared.
I used lawyer as consult Meghan but created my LLC myself.. but good though. Contracts are a pain and I think it might have been needed more with web development and such. Glad you will check it out.
Great points, Kristen. I think it’s imperative to separate your business from your personal assets, so if your readers don’t have that type of protection, they need to get it NOW. I’m a firm believer in using licensed professionals — such as accountants and attorneys — because if they screw up, they’ve got a license you can go after. This also falls under the “outsourcing” category. If there was anything in the world that you should spend money on, it’s legal advice.
Thanks Jackie… agreed, we don’t want to screw ourselves if something happens to our biz. lol Agreed on the license and outsourcing!
I’ve been a member of Legal Shield for over 20 years and wouldn’t be without it. They’ve helped me with both business and personal legal issues and I love their Identity theft program. Well worth it.
That is AWESOME Carol and I hope it has been as beneficial for you as it has for me.
Having had a long-time lawyer, I know how invaluable it is to have someone you trust and can count on to run your contracts and other legal matters by. The interesting thing is the Canadian law and U.S. law are very different, and a lawyer here in Canada cannot offer true advise for the U.S. My book contract is a Nevada contract, although the company is in California. They set it up that way to protect themselves apparently. When I bought my condo in Arizona, again, my lawyer could not act on my behalf and we had to get a title company to act on my behalf. I do know a lot of people who are very happy with legal shield and it has been around for a long time if my memory serves me correctly. Glad it has been so helpful for you and your family. Great peace of mind for sure, Kristen.
You are so right Bev and that is the cool think about Legal Shield, it works in every state… not sure about Canada but surely there are some there. Glad you know and have the resources to get the help you need
Very valuable advice Kristen, what a small price to pay for big piece of mind. One of the hardest things I’m dealing with is scaling my business. As it grows the more I need services like this!
Thanks Crystal it is very valuable. Awesome on scaling your biz… I would love to hear about it.
I never hestitate when it comes to hiring a lawyer for setting up a business, and any other legal situation that arises. I have however fallen short when it comes to having my will written! Thanks for the reminder, I’m putting that on my list for this month!!
Girl, get your will done Lisa… we never know when and we want to be sure our family is taken care of, and our affairs if so.
Very good points and so true Kristen, sometimes as a translator hassle with payments do happen. Even though I since years try and check that out before, but then sometimes stuff happens anyway. And in our translator association we have help with how to formulate contracts etc.
Thanks Katarina and I bet you do have that issue.. but so glad you have an association to help.
I was just talking to my husband about have legal advice for our will. I think you can never have enough legal assurance.
Awesome Kelly… so hopefully you have a will and update it when your situations change, etc.
Years ago, I had a lawyer draw up a contract for me to work with web design clients. I never ended up needing it because I got a full-time job. Now that I am working as a blogger (and freelance blog designer), I really should get some sort of protection… I don’t even have an LLC!
Wow Stacey, I would agree that a contract would be vital for web design since there are many moving parts over a long time. What.. no LLC? Get it girl!
Would it be bad if I told you that I don’t have any? I didn’t know it was this important and it definitely makes perfect sense. Thank you so much!
Ummm, nope Elizabeth… but no better time than the present to get yourself set up! 😉
I think the longer bloggers are in this business the more we need this kind of service and assurance. It’s definitely a small price to pay.
Any biz owner needs to have protection – bloggers surely could use it for copyright stuff too, right Liz?
Yep.. try All-in-One or SEO Yoast.