Disclaimer: Start Up Heart Up, LLC is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney. We cannot provide any kind of advice, opinion, or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, selection of forms, or strategies. This publication is designed for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. See your attorney about your specific situation. In the ever-evolving world of influencer marketing, where authenticity and trust are key, it's super important for influencers to act both ethically and legally. The Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides ser ..read more

Despite the wide variety of contract types you may encounter as a business owner, many contract templates include similar key terms and provisions. Several key contract provisions & their meanings are outlined below. ♥︎↑ Definitions / Defined Terms - Nearly all contracts include “defined” terms, and if they don’t, they should! Defining relevant key terms provides the clarity needed for interpreting the contract both before and after it’s signed. Defined terms also allow you to shorten the document by reducing a repetitive lengthy explanation of important aspects of your agreement that will ..read more

Let’s talk food business! Say you are a home-baker and are wanting to turn your passions and hobby into a real business. What is needed from a legal perspective? Well, first you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the Federal Food & Drug Administration, aka the FDA. The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and animal food in the U.S. (as well as cosmetics, drugs, and dietary supplements). Next, you’ll want to explore the requirements for you specific food business (sale or service? what ingredients?) in your specif ..read more

Disclaimer: Start Up Heart Up, LLC is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney. We cannot provide any kind of advice, opinion, or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, selection of forms, or strategies. This publication is designed for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. See your attorney about your specific situation. Why this matters: While website Privacy Policies may not be required in every U.S. jurisdiction, it is certainly “best practices” to include one on your website. Due to increasing concerns around consumers’ personal ..read more

Whether you hate the term “influencer” or love it, we are deep in the era of online influencers as a method of digital advertising for companies. In fact, many small business owners serve in both roles, i.e. as the sponsor (engaging influencers to feature or talk about their product) and as the influencer (accepting engagements from other companies to feature or talk about that company’s products on their own platform). As a lawyer, I’ve negotiated well over 1500+ contracts, ranging from CDA’s and IP licensing to manufacturing and sales contracts… And for some reason, influencer contracts are ..read more

BASIC LEGAL ROADMAP FOR NEW SMALL BUSINESSES START HERE! —> Choose & clear your Business Name (to build a strong brand & trademark potential). —> Obtain a PO Box (for increased security for your personal information and your business mail). —> Get Business Insurance (check out this handy guide!). —> Register your business with your state’s Secretary of State website (we generally recommend LLC, but this is up to you! Read more below). —> Obtain your Federal EIN (via IRS website). —> Using your FEIN, open a Business Bank Account. —> Obtain required business Licenses ..read more

What are the benefits of each business structure? Why form an LLC? Why form a corporation? Click HERE for answers to these questions & more. COMMON OPTIONS TO STRUCTURE YOUR NEW BUSINESS (& WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN): LLC (Limited Liability Company) Often a good choice for new & small businesses. Provides both protection from personal liability and pass-through taxation (i.e. you can file your biz profits & losses on your personal tax return). You can file this yourself! You’ll need a registered agent (this can be you, the business owner); and articles of org ..read more

If you create music, art, film, or other creative works… you need to be aware of certain legal considerations, in particular copyright law and legal contracts! Disclaimer: Start Up Heart Up, LLC is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney. We cannot provide any kind of advice, opinion, or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, selection of forms, or strategies. This publication is designed for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. See your attorney about your specific situation. Copyright Basics In the US, original creative works are ..read more

If you sell ANYTHING, be it physical products, digital products, or services, you’re likely going to need agreements in place with your customers/clients at some point (if not already!). Below is example language for Terms of Sale for physical products (non-consumable) and a link to the key terms for service providers to consider in their Service Agreements! Disclaimer: Start Up Heart Up, LLC is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney. We cannot provide any kind of advice, opinion, or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, selection of forms, or strategies. Thi ..read more

Taxes Disclaimer: Start Up Heart Up, LLC is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney. We cannot provide any kind of advice, opinion, or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, selection of forms, or strategies. This publication is designed for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. See your attorney about your specific situation. The tax roadmap for typical early stage small business owners: Keep track of all expenses of the business. Register your business with the State you live in / operate the business in. (Read more about choo ..read more