CATCH ME ON THE GRAM

I got a story for you, but first, I want you to comment with your biggest questions when it comes to contractors in your biz.⠀ ⠀ In April of 2018, the California Supreme Court decided a case that significantly changed the rules regarding independent contractors. ⠀ ⠀ Under the old rules, the test for determining whether a worker was an independent contractor or an employee depended on multiple factors that primarily looked at whether the hiring business had a right to control a worker’s services.⠀ ⠀ The nuances are quite tricky, but the case essentially did this:⠀ ⠀ - Created a new rule, the ABC test, that determined whether someone was a contractor for some legal purposes⠀ ⠀ - For other areas of the law, the old test would still apply.⠀ ⠀ Super helpful right!?⠀ ⠀ The ABC Test Provides:⠀ ⠀ A worker must meet the following three prongs to be deemed a contractor rather than an employee.⠀ ⠀ A. The worker must be “free from the control and direction of the hirer”⠀ ⠀ B. The worker must “perform work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business”; and⠀ ⠀ C. The worker must “customarily be engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed for the hiring entity.”⠀ ⠀ Part B is the scary part, and seems to imply that photographers can't hire photographers, designer can't hire designers, etc.⠀ ⠀ Currently, the state legislature is working to pass legislation to codify the ABC test.⠀ ⠀ The bill, AB5, would apply the ABC test to all areas of contractor/employment law.⠀ ⠀ Which is frightening for small biz owners.⠀ ⠀ The takeaway is this:⠀ ⠀ If you use contractors in your biz, you need to stay on top of these laws.⠀ ⠀ Good news is, I'm doing a totally free masterclass on this topic next week, so you can come and learn all about it.⠀ ⠀ When: Next Tuesday, the 20th⠀ at Noon Pacific.⠀ ⠀ Why: Contractor law is a bitch. It's scary and confusing and one of the biggest legal pitfalls for small biz owners.⠀ ⠀ What: A 1-hour session where I spend 30 minutes breaking down the new rules in California. ⠀ ⠀ Then, we can tackle some Q&A.⠀ ⠀ How: Click the link in my bio to sign up.
Updated my website with my core beliefs. What are your thoughts on this one?
Did you know I have an awesome, handsome husband? You won't see him on social media much because it's not his jam, but I thought I'd take a second to brag about him a little bit.⠀ ⠀ Leonard has been a prosecutor for the San Diego District Attorney's Office for about 15 years.⠀ ⠀ He's currently your San Diego hate crimes prosecutor, which means that he handles most of the hate crimes that occur within the county.⠀ ⠀ Luckily, he's a much more empathetic individual than myself and really kicks ass at his job. In addition to rocking it in court, he does a lot of community outreach for the office, connects with victims of hate crimes, and speaks at conferences on new trends in the law.⠀ ⠀ Leonard and I met on a super romantic 12 mile run. He was marathon training and I was two months out from my first Ironman triathlon. That was 6 years ago! Time flies.⠀ ⠀ In two weeks, we're going to NYC (my first time) to, hopefully, watch Serena kickass and take names at the U.S. Open.⠀ ⠀ I might make him come on the podcast sometime just to chat. What would you want to ask him if I had him do a guest spot? Photo by @kfisherphotos
You need to pay your taxes, or file a legal doc, or respond to a tricky client, or edit your contract, or update your books⠀ ⠀ But it's agonizing. ⠀ ⠀ You need accountability and a little bit of assistance.⠀ ⠀ You can bring all that shit to a Get Shit Done Session as a member of the Unf*ck Your Biz + Membership.⠀ ⠀ Everyone on the call works on their shit. I'm there to answer your questions.⠀ ⠀ Save all the stuff you hate for a 2-hour standing appointment. It's basically a party. Pretty bitchin right?⠀ ⠀ I'm currently launching the Unf*ck Your Biz + Membership for $49 a month. You will get to come to all the Get Shit Done Sessions and monthly Office Hours. Comment with the hand raise emoji if you want more info.⠀ ⠀ What is the first thing you'd want to get done in a Get Shit Done Session?
Meet @nicolericcardo !⠀ ⠀ Nicole has her own digital marketing company. She's also a badass pro flutist. ⠀ ⠀ Like you, Nicole is already kicking some serious ass, but she has big goals for her biz and is putting in the time to get her biz legally legit before it takes off with growth.⠀ ⠀ If you're ready to unf*ck it like Nicole, I'd encourage you to check out the Unf*ck Your Biz Membership where you can get all your tax and legal questions answered for $29 a month.⠀ ⠀ Want more info? Comment with "I want to unfuck it," and I'll DM a link to learn more.
Check out this crazy shit friends. Kate shared on today's podcast episode: "When I got started in my business I made a Groupon and sold 760, 1-hour photoshoots that expired in a year. And I sold them for $49 including images."⠀ ⠀ Umm, what!?⠀ ⠀ She then told me that, "I wasn't planning on making money, but I wanted to build a client base . . . I put as much effort into these $24 shoots (the amount she was profiting) as I did my hundreds of dollar shoots, and everyone loved me, and I got a ton of good Yelp reviews, and that is how I built my Yelp, and how I book the majority of my clients today." ⠀ ⠀ Crazy right?⠀ ⠀ We all take an unconventional path or two. Proof that there's not just one way to do things. I loved this episode with Kate because it was proof of that.⠀ ⠀ My goal is to start highlighting unique ways people are gaining traction in their businesses.⠀ ⠀ Can you share one thing you have done that's a little bit out of the ordinary that has worked wonders for you?
Same me. New podcast title and photo (coming this week). Are you subscribed? Do you have a favorite episode? Let me know what you want to hear more of. I’m tagging some of the guests I have had so far, so they can intro themselves and you can go say hey. Let’s all connect and be friends. 🤓
New program. New name. Thoughts? Are you into swears?⠀ ⠀ The past couple of days, I have been sharing all about my rebrand. Creativepreneur Community is now "Your Legal GBF, helping you get your legal and tax shit legit."⠀ ⠀ Last week, I spent some time learning from some true rockstar entrepreneurs. They convinced me that I needed a new business name. We were chatting about who I help in my business, and I shared that most of my students and clients have been in business for about 2-8 years but are now questioning their jumbled contracts, rocky bookkeeping, and just the overall soundness of their legal structure.⠀ ⠀ I told the group that I help these creatives "Unfuck their businesses." At that moment, a new name emerged. I decided that I would start offering one core service and one core course to help you all unfuck your businesses. ⠀ ⠀ The course will be a bundle of my three current programs with even more added content. Through that course, coming in November, and my 1-on-1 services, I will walk students and clients through three phases.⠀ ⠀ Phase 1: (Re)Build - we will look at your current systems and see what needs to go, how to unfuck it, and then the best way to reform it.⠀ ⠀ Phase 2: Systemize - let's get some shit on auto-pilot to keep your contracts, bookkeeping, and taxes easy peasy and save you some cash.⠀ ⠀ Phase 3: Grow - Once the foundation is laid, it's time to maintain. This phase is all about compliance with new law and maintaining the systems already created.⠀ ⠀ Can't wait to share more about "Unf*ck Your Biz" in the future. Meanwhile, if you want to learn more, check out the new website.⠀ ⠀ Is there an area of your business you feel like you need to unfuck? Let me know, and we will start a dialogue in the comments.
New brand, new mantra. New stickers? My mantra all through law school was “If Elle can do it, so can I.” Remember that scene where see goes to get the orange MacBook (despite orange not being the new pink. Strange choice right?) while in her bunny costume? That scene and the ones after were my favorite. I kind of had this chip on my shoulder like “underestimate me. I dare you.” And I have kind of carried that into business. While the character is fictional the lesson is very real. We all feel out of place at some point, like Elle Woods felt at Harvard. It might be the imposter syndrome, or maybe it’s really surrounding ourselves with people who are kicking so much ass, we feel a bit out of place. Either way, if you don’t ever get that feeling of “can I do this,” then you probably aren’t challenging yourself enough. Am I right? We do the most epic shit when we get out of our comfort zones. And when I get outside of my confront zone zone, I ask “what would Elle do?” Do you have a personal mantra? Also, should I get this on a sticker? Tagging some friends who I think either love Elle or might have a good mantra to share.
REBRAND ALERT! What are your thoughts?⠀ ⠀ So I just spent 3 days at the most amazing mastermind retreat. After explaining my business a few times, my group seemed very confused about my business model, particularly the name "Creativepreneur Community."⠀ ⠀ They shared that it doesn't specify what I do or who I help. However, they loved my tagline, and thought I should incorporate that even more.⠀ ⠀ I noodled on it a lot and decided to make the change. Hopefully, the new name and the site refresh will bring clarity.⠀ ⠀ I also shared that most of my clients have been in biz for 2-8 years, and that I help them "unfuck their business" from the botched contracts other DIY or poor services. Now, I have a whole new framework that I'll be sharing more about about, the "Unf*ck Your Biz Framework." Can't wait to help ya'll u*fuck your biz.⠀ ⠀ I also wanted to clarify my messaging and show what my biz is all about, so I updated the site with my core beliefs.⠀ ⠀ 1) The legal and tax stuff doesn't have to suck (much).⠀ ⠀ You are the CEO of your business. Others can help, but no one is going to take ownership of your passion as much as you. The good news is that it does not totally have to suck. I can't promise that I'll make contracts as fun as Pinterest. But I'll sure as shit try.⠀ ⠀ 2) What? Like it's hard!? If Elle can do it, you can do it.⠀ ⠀ In law school, I had a mantra. "If Elle can do it, I can do it." And if I can do it, you totally can too. Here's the deal. You're a smart cookie. Unlike Elle, you don't need to know what subject matter jurisdiction is to kill it. I'm here to breakdown the essentials.⠀ ⠀ 3) You don't need a corner office attorney or Legal Zoom to get legit.⠀ ⠀ Getting good advice isn't necessarily cheap, but you also don't need to hire a boring asshole to mansplain to you in his suit while you swallow your rage staring out of 39th story window. You can also get some more direction than what's offered via online filing services.⠀ ⠀ I also decided to rename my Facebook Group "Besties of LGBF." Do you love it or do you love it? If yaaaas, come join me there. :D⠀ ⠀ Also, big thanks to everyone who had to listen to me ramble about this incessantly.
Number 1 reason I love my job. I have the best clients. All of my clients are go getters, doers, and dreamers. Each one has taken a risk by deciding to launch a business. They have all decided to get help to scale, make more more money, save on taxes, all while doing it in a legit way. This is Brogen. She’s a badass destination wedding photographer. Today we sent in her form 2553 to make her LLC an s Corp so she can save a few thousand dollars in taxes. 🙌🏼 Brogen doesn’t need my help getting clients. She definitely doesn’t need my help taking photos (I’m the one that snapped this off-center mess). Where she does need help is legally protecting herself and getting bookkeeping and taxes in order. I’m sure she could figure it out, but who’s got time for that!? I decided to work with creatives because y’all are the best. Big business is a snooze, but empowering small business creatives to get paid and save some cash is my jam. If you also want to come hang at my office, drink some coffee, and crush some legal docs, let me know. I’m also curious, what’s the next thing you want to outsource in your biz? Let me know in the comments. Im tagging some of my other badass clients, so I can let you all know that you’re awesome.
📸 @aureliadamorephotography . Last month I finally got to meet @crystallilyphoto at @tuesdaystogetherla. If you haven’t already checked out our Podcast, “Is your portfolio too straight and white,” go check out episode 20 of the Creativepreneur Podcast. I was so excited to finally connect IRL. There really is no substitute for meeting other business owners in person. That’s why I try to go to at least two events per month. Is there someone you have been insta friends with for a while but would love to finally meet!? Tag them below and share the love.
Let’s chat about contracts. Post one thing you have had to add or tweak to your contract over the years. I just made a new freebie called the DIY Contract Audit Checklist (link in bio) and I’m running a 50% off promo on my templates this week, so contracts are super top of mind.
Hey team! I just got my Creativepreneur Community stickers! Comment with your fave emoji and tag a friend if you want me to mail you one for free. 🎉🎉🎉 #freestickers #creativepreneur #creativepreneurcommunity #legallylaunched #totallytax #creativepreneurcontracts