July 2, 2018
5 Things You Absolutely Must Do Before You Work with Clients 1-on-1
5 Things You Absolutely Must Do Before You Work with Clients 1-on-1
You finally got that email youâve been waiting so long to see in your inbox:
âGood morning, ____! Thanks for a great discovery call the other day. Iâm so excited and ready to work with you! Whatâs my next step?â
âUH OH.â you realize. âWhat do I do next?! How do I work with clients one-on-one? Do I send them an invoice, a contract — wait a second⌠I donât have one!â
Here are 5 things you should get in place before you ever receive that email (or to have in place for the next time you get it!):
1 // Business Entity Registration
Before you work with clients 1-on-1, you want to make sure you have a fully formed business entity that actually protects you. For the most part, a sole proprietorship doesnât do anything to protect you personally.
That doesnât mean an LLC is the right option for you either — but thatâs something you need to figure out.
2 // Get a Contract
Donât wait for that (awesome) email above. Have a legit contract made up *before* you ever receive that email so youâre ready to go.
You should have the basics of your contract all filled out and ready to go so that all you have to do is enter your clientâs personal info, pricing, and any other details particular to that client.
3 // Setup Invoicing
Setup an invoicing process with a company like PayPal, Square, Stripe, Dubsado, etc. (I use Dubsado – feel free to use the coupon code samvw for 20% off Dubsado!)
Your invoice template should be setup with your business info (using your business name, address, contact info, etc.) and use a logo (if you have one) or any other markings that will help make your invoice look legit.
4 // Check Your Website Policies
To be extra safe, make sure your website policies are in place (website disclaimer, terms & conditions, and privacy policy) because now youâll have a double layer of proof — your client could learn more about you and your business policies on your site before signing up to work with you, and they confirmed their understanding in your written contract.
5 // Business Insurance
Even if you have an LLC or use awesome contracts, people can still sue you/your business. Business insurance ensures you donât pay the lawyer bill and, goodness forbid, any judgment is ever found against you or your business for something covered by your policy, the insurance company pays it out — not you.
The key is making sure you have the *right kind* of business insurance that actually covers you and what you do ; )
I know all of this can seem so overwhelming.
You might even be thinking, âOK Sam, this is all greatâŚ. But this seems like itâs going to cost a FORTUNE and take forever to get in place.â
No worries girl, I got you : )
Thatâs why I created the Ultimate Bundle⢠— an online course with 23+ video modules that teach you all the legal info you need to know about business registration and ALL the post-reg steps, contracts, insurance, trademarks + copyrights, and working with clients.
Learn more about the Ultimate Bundle⢠HERE.
Letâs get legally legit <3
xo,
So What Do you think?