If you’re reading this, chances are you are either thinking about – or have already started – an online business, and have some sort of website in the works. WOOHOO! Whether you’ve made the leap from your corporate job, or are working on your “side hustle” while still in your 9 to 5, jumping in to entrepreneurship as a new business owner is incredibly exciting!! Whether you invest in a web designer or take on the project of setting your website up yourself, BEFORE it goes live, there are a few legal documents you’ll need to have in place, to make sure your website is legally compliant!

One of the most important documents that NEEDS to be in place BEFORE your website goes live is a Privacy Policy. In the United States, we are dealing with the California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA) which protects those living in California who visit a commercial website or online service.

This regulation requires that the operator of the website (aka YOU) post a Privacy Policy outlining a number of things, including what information is being collected, how the information may be changed, how you will respond to “do not track” requests, whether third parties may have access to the information collected, and similar requirements. (Even if you don’t live in California…if your website can be SEEN by those who do = you’re on the hook for this.)

So…what happens if your website is viewable in California and you DON’T have a complete Privacy Policy?

You could be found in violation of the “unfair competition” provision (I’ll spare you the entire legal explanation), and could be liable for a penalty of up to $2,500 for EACH violation. EACH violation = each time someone visited your website without a sufficient privacy policy, which would add up VERY quickly. For example, if just 40 people visit your website before it had a Privacy Policy, you could be looking at up to $100,000 in fines. And what if thousands visited your Privacy Policy-less website???

Let’s not even go there, girl.

Not only do you need to be sure a Privacy Policy is in place, but it must be complete, and cover each element required by the law, depending upon what personal information you collect from your website, how it’s stored, etc. In the past, Google was fined six figures for having an incomplete or vague Privacy Policy. So not only do you need something in place, but it must be complete!

So why am I yelling at your over a bunch of boring legal laws?

Because I care about the success of your business, and don’t want to see you on the hook for a huge fine that was totally avoidable with a $100 Privacy Policy link onto your website!

Getting these legal documents squared away in the beginning of your business venture is SO crucial to your success later on!

The last thing you want is to realize down the road that a corner you cut in the beginning could affect your current success, or left your business exposed!

To sum all the legal jargon into one sentence: If your website can be seen by those in California and you do NOT have a privacy policy in place that meets the requirements of CalOPPA, you are leaving your bright, shiny new business exposed to possible catastrophic fines.

Get yourself a Privacy Policy ASAP, get it on your site, and never worry about it again, knowing you are protected and legally compliant.

If you need JUST a Privacy Policy, I am at your service HERE!

If you don’t currently have any legal documentation on your website (including Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Terms & Conditions) I would recommend saving a few bucks and going for the Website Template Bundle HERE!

Don’t forget, these packages come with step-by-step instructions for how to complete, and why each paragraph is important within each document, so you are covered, AND you understand why. Additionally, each purchase comes with unlimited email access to yours truly, so you can ask any questions or clarify anything you need!

xoxo

Christy

ps: Although I am an attorney, this is not legal advice – just information!

Grab my FREE Legal Checklist to see if Your Business is Legally Compliant!

The post My Website Doesn’t Have a Privacy Policy Yet…What’s the Big Deal? appeared first on Christy Westerfeld.

If you are a coach or consultant, the moment you sign your first client is AMAZINGLY exciting!!! So many emotions…validation that your business is legit, excitement to get to dive in and help another person, maybe a little bit of fear, but an overwhelmingly awesome moment!

So you’re on the discovery call, and you hear those words…that this woman wants to work with you, and can’t wait to get started!! You get off the phone with her and prepare to send her everything she needs to get started!

…except you’re not quite sure what that is! S*&#! Do you need to send her a contract? An Invoice? What if she asks for a payment plan? Where is she located? Is there anything else you’re forgetting???

This is where I come in! (Or, hopefully a little before this moment, so you have everything squared away and ready to go by the time you are ready to take on your first client)

As soon as you get the “YES” from your client, some of the most important things to consider:

Decide the terms/parameters of the coaching program, and discuss with her before signing the agreement.

The last thing you want is for your new client to sign on and pay you, only to find she was confused about the program, and is now not satisfied or less excited about working with you. Once this is decided, make sure to completely fill out the “Program Outline” paragraph of your Client Agreement, as well as the Program Outline addendum before sending anything to your client.  (Need one of these?? Got you covered HERE!

Determine how she would like to issue payment, and complete the PAYMENT PLAN addendum to the Client Agreement, if she needs (and if you allow) a payment plan.

This addendum is extremely detailed, and will confirm how much is being paid by your client each month, which date payment is due, and what happens if payment cannot be completed, to ensure you are protected before this happens.

Complete the rest of the Client Agreement based upon the details of the program, and what you are offering to this client. (Follow my Step-by-Step instructions that come with the Client Agreement when purchased!)

This will ensure your content is protected, your business is protected, and you have covered yourself in case of a dispute, by including how and where disputes will be resolved, if they occur. [Hint: this should be in YOUR county/state!]

Send the Agreement to your new client, and get the signed copy from her BEFORE you take payment from her, or at the same time. It is important she agree to your terms prior to the time she pays for the program or package, if possible, so you can be sure she read, understood, and signed the agreement before providing payment for your services.

Testimonial

After you’ve completed your program with her, if you would like to use her success story as a testimonial on your website, make sure to have her complete a Testimonial Release, like the one HERE, to make sure you have proper rights to use her words and photo on your website or sales page!

Getting your Client Agreement together BEFORE You take on your first client is SO important – it will save you a lot of time, effort, and possibly costly mistakes by having it all buttoned up and completed ahead of time, without worrying if you are leaving your business exposed by signing a client to an incomplete agreement, or one that is not meant for coaches! Need more info about what is needed to run an online business legally? Don’t forget my three-step legal overview HERE! xoxo

This is just legal information, not advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. xoxo

Save

Save

Grab my FREE Legal Checklist to see if Your Business is Legally Compliant!

The post I Just Got My First Client!!!!!!! …Now What?? appeared first on Christy Westerfeld.

Anyway, I’m sure it’s happened to all of us – you see her, and immediately feel a need to help her. Most likely, it’s a reaction to run up behind her and step on the failing TP strand to free it from her shoe, or to pull her aside and give her a heads up about the show she is about to give anyone walking behind her! THIS is how I feel about keeping you all and your websites protected! Many online entrepreneurs set up websites without the proper notices and policies in place, and open your website up to start collecting information and building your list! This, my wonderful friends, is like leaving your house without pants on!!! Please let me catch you and clothe your website before you get too far into the world!

If getting fully protected with my Beginners’ Bundle does not feel financially possible for you right now, I would encourage you to think about a few things: are you financially ready to deal with clients not paying you because you don’t have the proper provisions in place, or deal with compliance issues because you don’t have a privacy policy in place? I don’t say these things to scare you or get sassy at you (lol) but to stress the importance of getting your business protected ASAP!

I have recently gotten a few questions asking about the order of importance of the documents you need to legally protect your business. My opinion on that is:

1. Privacy Policy – this is needed AS SOON as you publish your website and start taking email addresses/names to add to your newsletter.
2. Disclaimer – this is important as soon as you start posting content, and have information or advice on your website for consumers to read
3. Terms & Conditions – this is also important to add to your website as soon as you start posting original content and have traffic coming to your website
4. Client Agreement – This is a need as soon as you take on your first client!! Too many women take on their first few clients without an agreement in place, and end up not being able to collect payment, or having some sort of misunderstanding with respect to the program because their client was not fully informed prior to starting the program.
5. Testimonial – This is necessary as soon as you have current or former clients who are willing to offer you a testimonial that you plan to feature on your website! Many times new coaches will conduct mini sessions to others for free, in exchange for a testimonial – if this is you, you may need this document before you start taking on clients, so you can properly use testimony from these clients on your website!!

Grab my FREE Legal Checklist to see if Your Business is Legally Compliant!

The post My WHY and WHY you need these legal docs in place ASAP! appeared first on Christy Westerfeld.