View Post

How to Negotiate Like a Pro

In Blog, Contracts 101, Online Business Necessities by Shannon Montgomery

I went to law school because initially I wanted to be a sports agent. I have always had a passion for the art of negotiation. I think it is undervalued by the average person. Most attorney’s understand it and utilize it when needed, which is likely all the time. I know from working with my clients that negotiating contracts is …

View Post

Online Coaching Risks & Liability

In Blog, Contracts 101, Online Business Necessities by Shannon Montgomery

Personal training insurance is widely used by trainers who train on their own, and in gyms. Because, lets face it, when you are proscribing someone an exercise protocol sometimes that person is going to get injured. And being the litigious society that we are, that person may decide to sue you. But do trainers who only train their clients solely …

View Post

Copyright Basics for online Entrepreneurs:

In Copyrights 101, Online Business Necessities by Shannon Montgomery

Intellectual property is often a company or brands largest asset. Although, if you ask most business owners—big or small— to value their intellectual property they’ll throw out something like 15-20% of their valuations. In reality, many of the world’s largest companies valuations are 90% based on their intellectual property. Most online businesses and entrepreneurs fail to realize that a large …

View Post

Licensing Agreements: Make more Money

In Blog, Copyrights 101, Online Business Necessities by Shannon Montgomery

What is a license or licensing? A license just means that you are giving someone else the permission to use your intellectual property, your copyrights,  trademarks, and patents. Most people only think you can license pictures and music but in reality you can license ANY of your material. For example, lets say you wrote a very popular Ebook on tracking …

View Post

Contract Review: Important things to Look for Before you Sign

In Blog, Contracts 101 by Shannon Montgomery

In the business world contracts are drafted, negotiated, and signed likely every few minutes. If you’re a small business owner, or an online entrepreneur there is no doubt you have signed your share of contracts. Before you signed did you read the entire contract? And if you did read it did you understand it all? Maybe, maybe not. That is …

View Post

Social media giveaways: What are the Rules?

In Blog by Shannon Montgomery

In the online space it seems that pairing with a company to do a giveaway, or doing some type of promotional post of your own product, is everyones favorite way stir up engagement on their profile, gain new follows, and overall promote their brand. And I agree these are fun, and do a great job marketing. However there are quite …

View Post

Setting Up Your LLC: Just the Basics

In Blog by Shannon Montgomery

In a previous blog I discussed the importance of registering your business with your state by setting up some type of business entity. I didn’t get into specifics, but I mentioned the increasingly popular Limited Liability Company, or the LLC. LLC’s are popular because they are relatively easy and affordable to set up. If you’ve decide this is the best …

View Post

Why I Don’t Trust LegalZoom for Trademark Registration

In Blog, Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

If you’re ready to register your trademark chances are your business is doing well, and you’re growing. Which is great news! This also means you’ve likely spent considerable time managing your expenses extremely well to allow for this growth. Is that why you’re considering employing LegalZoom or a similar company, to file for your trademark registration? Let me stop you …

View Post

What Your Website is Missing that Can Cost You

In Blog, Contracts 101, Online Business Necessities by Shannon Montgomery

Privacy Policies, are they for real? I am sure you’ve opted into an email list on any number of websites over the years. Before confirming your subscription you’re generally required to check a box agreeing to the terms of service and privacy policy. You usually can find a clickable link to the privacy policy somewhere on the website too. Although a terms of service …