Legal-ease For Entrepreneurs: Empowering Creatives About The Legal Aspects Of Running A Business

Eryn Sheilds began sewing during her pregnancy with the intention of making a few maxi dresses to get through her pregnancy.   But, she fell in love with sewing and took it up as her hobby.   After having her baby, Eryn felt her clothing options were limited, so she kept sewing and essentially created a unique wardrobe perfect for her lifestyle and her figure.   Eryn decided to turn her passion to profit when she stumbled across a video of a woman wearing a fabulous dress that she wanted to make.  She clicked on the link to the video only to get a better view of the dress. But, the woman turned out to be a business coach, and she opened up Eryn's eyes to the world of email marketing.  And the rest is history. Eryn and I talk about the inspiration that led her to turn her hobby into a business, why she had to pivot from what she first started, how investing in her business through business coaches and courses has helped her make more money, and how a legal mishap set her back.  In addition to Style Sew Me, Ery

Dr. Jerisa Berry, an ER doctor, didn't pay much attention to her biological clock until it was time to start a family.  By that time, her chances of conceiving naturally were slim.   Dr. Jerisa's experience with infertility helped her realize the lack of awareness around this growing issue.  Her experience led her to create an app that would help bring more awareness to women understanding their fertility status. Dr. Jerisa and I talk about her medical and business background, how she discovered her infertility issues, how she approached seeking medical treatment and how the idea of developing the app and making the AMH test more widely available.     And of course, we talk about some of the legal hurdles she faced in starting this new aspect of her business.   Enjoy!

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford was so inspired by Black Girls Rock that she decided to create a similar connection between black women in the mental health space.  As a result, she created the wildly popular podcast, Therapy for Black Girls.   But this week, we're talking about the stress of entrepreneurship and Dr. Joy is dropping some tips on setting boundaries, coping mechanisms for anxiety, dealing with FOMO and competition, and dealing with shiny object syndrome. We also talk about Dr. Joy's  own journey of becoming a psychologist and building a practice specifically for black women.  Her podcast has started a movement and helped to remove the stigma of therapy as a taboo subject among black women.  Dr. Joy Harden Bradford graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a B.S. in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Arkansas State University, and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Georgia.  Her work has been featured in Essence, Ebony, The Washingt

Malcolm "MJ" Harris is CEO of one of the Black-owned financial services firm.  MJ’s rise began when he started an insurance agency - at his dining room table as a side business - while working as a Management Consultant for a “Big 4” firm. National Care Financial Group is a premier brokerage platform for over 600 insurance agencies nationwide seeking to reach the African-American and Hispanic markets with “top tier” financial products. MJ has been featured by Oprah Winfrey, USA Today, Black Enterprise, Huffington Post, and Ebony Magazine. Malcolm and I talk about being an entrepreneur and building wealth in the Black community through financial and estate planning.  We also talk about how and why he chose to focus his business in the black community, how he built a business in a crowded field.  We get into the nitty gritty whole and term life insurance and how you can use it to protect your family and your business.  My hope after you listen to this interview is that you will see yourself as an entity and a v

Patrice Perkins turns creative dreams into reality.  While in law school, Patrice saw a need to make intellectual property law accessible and approachable for creative entrepreneurs.  So in 2010, she founded Creative Genius Law to partner with creative professionals with vision who need legal guidance to protect and leverage their intellectual property.   Some of Patrice’s most notable clients are Luvvie Ajayi of Awesomely Luvvie, Tees in the Trap, by Arsha Jones, Kim and Tim Lewis of CurlMix, Lauren Ash of Black Girl In Om, Jetta Bates-Vasilatos of Bravo’s Tour Group and Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes – these are just to name a few! Want to be in the know?  Follow her Instagram page at @creative_esq to witness her tremendous expertise in action.  She has become the go-to lawyer for entrepreneurs who want a breakdown of the latest trademark and copyright disputes and court decisions. Patrice and I talk about how she carved out her niche, the ins and outs of trademark law; like naming your business, app

In 2009, Mae Murphy created NaturalChica.com and her corresponding YouTube Channel Nikkimae2003 to document her natural hair journey.  Little did she know, she was documenting the story of hundreds of thousands of other Black women. Mae quickly became the go-to YouTuber for natural hair product reviews, natural hair styles and natural hair care.   She has amassed over 600K followers on social media, she has over 171,000 subscribers on YouTube and her channel has hit over 15 million views!   She’s been featured in the New York Times, Essence, on NPR’s Here and Now, Hallmark and USA Today.  And her signature twist-out has even been photoshopped onto former First Lady, Michelle Obama.   Mae and I talk about her how she started her journey, what she learned about herself and how her mission steered her in the right direction. Mae mostly stays out of the spotlight these days.  She now lives in Playa del Carmen, Mexico with her husband and her son.    

Hey y'all!   This weekend was jammed packed!  I had two amazing experiences that I share with you.     First, I tell you about my experience as a vendor at the Rise Empowerment Conference that took place in D.C. July 29.  The line up was amazing and I made so many connections.  Most importantly, I was able to meet entrepreneurs in my target audience and hear from them first-hand the legal struggle they face in their business.  Then Sunday, I was an expert in the Budgetnista's Live Rich Academy!  I spoke about Estate Planning and some of the DIY Estate Planning tips you can take to make sure your money doesn't get tied up in the courts.   Lastly, I talk about why I've decided to take a month-long hiatus from releasing podcast episodes.     Enjoy!

This week's episode is VERY special.  Today's guest is Ruby Melton, founder of Ruby Ella Photography, Brown Girl With A Camera, Brown Guys With A Camera and the creator of the Mint Conference.   I also have some very exciting news - I booked my first gig as a speaker!  Two months ago, someone tagged on one of my posts the Instagram page of Ruby Ella Photo.  I looked her up and her she is a photographer who has gorgeous photos.  So of course, I started following her.  One day she posted about the Mint Conference coming up in D.C. so I checked it out and saw that the conference was still in its planning stages and accepting speaker applications.   Even though legal wasn’t mentioned as one of the categories they were seeking, I figured, if it's a conference about how to start a photography business, then I'm sure they would like to know about the legal aspects of starting a business.   I submitted my application and last week I received an invitation!  The conference is in Washington, D.C. and will be held on Se

Hey Guys! I'm finally getting around to sharing my mid-year assessment with you.   So at the beginning of 2016, I came up with a plan to bring in more business to my law firm.  I developed and implemented a plan to make connections with accountants and financial advisors - my top referral sources.  If my plan was successful, I'd bring in 10-15K per month into my business.   The plan worked . . . but it didn't really work because I forgot to think about the actual work that would come in if I was successful.   So when I was setting my goals in 2017, I decided that I wouldn't only plan and implement, but I would also take time to absorb the impact of my goals, try it on so to speak and then adjust to them - either adjust what I was doing or adjust my goals.  And it's made all the difference this year.   Lastly, I talk about the one thing I DREAD in my business and how I've decided to fix it.   Enjoy!

Today’s guest is Rana Campbell of Dreams In Drive podcast and she’s sharing 10 Ways to Market Your Podcast.  Rana is an expert when it comes to marketing a podcast.  All you have to do is take a look at the press page on the Dreams In Drive website to see her press coverage. When I started this podcast, I had no idea what I was doing.  I knew nothing about downloads, Instagram followers, hashtags, or any social media marketing.  And when I set my goals for the year, my goal was to reach 3,000 downloads by the end of the year.  As of today, there have been 3,500 downloads.  So clearly, I didn’t set my goals high enough. And now that I see how my podcast is helping others and that there is a real need for my voice in this space, I want to reach as many people as I can, and properly market is the way to do that.  That is why I’m so excited about this episode. Rayna is a marketing strategist, host of the Dreams In Drive Podcast – a podcast she launched in January 2016 that teaches individuals how to take their en

Hey Guys!   First podcast episode as the "Legal-EASE for Entrepreneurs podcast!  I have a new name and new website!   It all started at the Black Girl Vision Pitch Competition in April.  I decided to pitch my company for some seed money and did an awesome job! - you'll have to listen to find where I placed.   Having to come up with a 3-minute pitch really forced to think about my vision for my company and my brand.  I started this podcast just to vent about my own entrepreneur journey and to create a safe space for others who felt alone.  But it has turned into something much bigger and I had to rethink it all. I also talk about my recent trip to New York for the Great Girlfriends What Women Want Conference - which was amazing.  I got a chance to meet my [in-my-head]BFFs Christina Brown of LoveBrownSugar, Patrice Washington (the Money Maven) of PatriceWashington.com and Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche and got a chance to catch up with Tieko Nejon!   I also talk about how hard it is to be consistent - especia

Welcome to Part 5 of the Getting Started series.  Today's episode is the last one in the getting started series and I'm discussing the business of running your business. The advantage of being an estate planning attorney is that I can advise my business clients on the importance of having a back-up plan in case of death or incapacity.  Many small businesses are owned by a single individual and that prevents others from gaining access to important financial information.   In today's episode, I discuss the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT document every small business owner should have in place in case of an emergency.  I also go into more detail about tax obligations, recording keeping, and some tax planning tips that could save you a significant amount of money each year.   This week's freebie is a little different.  I've decided to share with you a template for a simple Company Handbook you can use to create some company policies that can help your business run more smoothly. Enjoy!  DISCLAIMER:  All information on thi

Welcome to Part 4 of the Getting Started Series! I can't believe we're now on week four. We've covered so much. By the end of this series, you guys will be experts - and that's exactly that way I like it. No more of this "legal stuff is intimidating." Here's a recap of the previous part in case you want to take a look. In Part 1 we started at the very beginning, I discussed a wealth of information about how to choose the right entity for you. In Part 2, we talked about legally protecting your website. If you collect any information whatsoever, even if it’s just blog insights and traffic – you are supposed to have a Privacy Policy and could get fined for not having one. In Part 3, I interviewed Allison Puryear of Abundance Practice Building who was sued by a photographer for using his photo – a photo she downloaded from a free stock photo website. Something we all do every day. THIS WEEK we're talking all about contracts! Contracts SHOULD be that best friend that always has your back. The one that is alwa

This week's guest - Allison Puryear - a clinical therapist in Asheville North Carolina was going about her business - which happens to be helping other therapist build their business - when she got sued for copyright infringement.  At first she thought it was a joke, then later discovered that a photo she downloaded and had been using for two years had been federally copyrighted and the photographer was coming after her. So I know what you're thinking - she probably just cut and pasted it from google and didn't give the photographer credit (and I would never do that!).  Nope!  Wrong.  She downloaded the photo from a stock photo website - a free one as best as she could recall.  So she basically got sued for something we all do every single day.   In Episode 13 - I talk about the benefits of registering your copyright.  But today, I flip the script and Allison and I discuss steps you can take to protect yourself so that something like this never happens to you.   Allison contacted a couple of lawyers to help h

In Part 2 of the Getting Started series, I discuss why you need to legally protect your website. If you operate a blog or a website, you want to make sure to listen to this episode because to will get the scoop on how to minimize your liability by adding or updating these three documents: Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions and Disclaimers. You'll have to excuse my voice because I recorded this at 2:00 a.m. in the morning. All information on this podcast and on the .artsteele.co website – including downloads are for informational and educational purposes only. Your listening to this podcast, or downloading the worksheets does not create an attorney-client relationship with me, artsteele.co or my law firm. If you have any specific questions, please consult with an attorney authorized to practice law in your jurisdiction.

There is so much conflicting information about when and how to legally start your business and the answer is . . . .(drumroll . . . ) there is no right answer . . . IT DEPENDS! Yes, that's right, it depends on the state in which you start your business, depends on what assets you may want to protect, and what your short term and long term business goals are. In this episode, I thoroughly explain Sole Proprietorships, Limited Liability Companies, and Corporations. I break down the advantages and disadvantages of each and how to evaluate your own situation and conclude on which entity best suits your needs personally and will help you start and grow your business. Enjoy! All information on this podcast and on the artsteele.co website – including downloads are for informational and educational purposes only. Your listening to this podcast, or downloading the worksheets does not create an attorney-client relationship with me, artsteele.co or my law firm. If you have any specific questions, please consult with an

Online courses are becoming very popular because they offer a win-win situation to both the provider and their audience. If done correctly, an online course becomes a valuable business asset. These tips will help you protect you and your content when you offer your course. The five legal must-haves include: (1) Avoiding false and misleading advertising; (2) Stating a clear refund or no refund policy (3) a comprehensive and specifically tailored "Terms of Use" document; (4) copyrighting your digital content; and (5) trademarking the name of your course. All information on this podcast and on the .artsteele.co website – including downloads are for informational and educational purposes only. Your listening to this podcast, or downloading the worksheets does not create an attorney-client relationship with me, artsteele.co or my law firm. If you have any specific questions, please consult with an attorney authorized to practice law in your jurisdiction.

I'm really excited about this episode. As you see in the preview above, I had a bit of an epiphany. After participating in a legal clinic a couple of weeks ago, I realized that the "legal stuff" is very much still a mystery for a lot of new business owners. Starting a business is hard enough, the last thing you want is be bogged down with figuring out the correct way to form your entity, which entity to pick, what your next steps are, and if certain rules applies to you, etc. So, I'm here to take away some of that stress and to educate and empower women business owners about their legal rights and obligations when it comes to their business. When I started my law firm almost three years ago, my goal was to use my corporate background and expertise to remove the legal barriers minority business owners, especially women of color, face when starting a business. I started this podcast in order to create a platform that would expand my reach to to minority women business owners all over the country. In that vain,

I'm so excited about this post! This is a workbook I've been working on for the last month! It's a 12-page workbook that goes through a few exercises to help you come up with a sound and systematic pricing system that incorporates your value and the costs of running your business. I was inspired to create this workbook because when I first opened my law firm, I had no idea what I was doing when it came to pricing of my services. I found myself constantly reducing my price with every client because I had no way of explaining to my value to them. After gong to a practice management seminar for solo practitioners, the presenter briefly touched on budgeting and price. It was a light bulb moment and I came home, did the calculations and things have been smooth ever since. That is not to say I haven't been turned down when I give my price - that happens more times than I get a client. However, I'm not longer afraid to stick to my price. I'm no longer negotiate my price down. It just means I understand my value a

Lacoya Heggie started Hello Love Events in 2012 as she worked by day as a Systems Engineer.  Within four short years, Lacoya was able to leave her day job and run her planning and design business full-time.   Instrumental to her plan to go full-time, was her determination to get her finances in order.  She went from no system of recording and keeping track of her expenses to using Quickbooks, which has allowed her to get a better picture of unnecessary expenses and areas in which she can grow her business.   Lacoya also shares invaluable information about how she built her business from the ground up.