Posts by Annette Stepanian
How to Draft Contracts When Providing Multiple Services or Packages to Your Clients – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hello. Hello, my friend. Thanks for joining me for another legal quickie episode. I’m recording this right now it is Friday afternoon and I am itching to get the weekend started. I can’t wait to get out in play. My husband and I, I turned to…
Read MoreCan I Use Photographs of My Client’s Wedding to Promote my Wedding Planning Business? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey there, welcome back to another episode. Thank you so much as always for being here. Now before we dive into this week’s legal quickie, just wanted to check in with you, if you’re listening to this when the episode first aired, we are in the…
Read MoreHow to Amend a Contract – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey there. Thanks for coming back for another episode of Office Talk. In today’s legal quickie episode, I’m going to be answering a pretty straightforward question. It’s more of like a logistical question versus like a legal question per se. But I was just having a…
Read More4 Essential Things the FTC Wants You to Know Before Endorsing a Company’s Products – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Are you a blogger who receives free products or payment in exchange to share a review about that product on let’s say your Instagram account or your blog? Or are you an online business owner who participates in affiliate programs where you promote another company’s…
Read More3 Things That Are Holding You Back in Business – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey there! Thank you so much for joining me for this episode of Office Talk. Now, I wanted to do something a little different this time around. This is not your traditional legal quickie episode. I’m not answering a question about law. I’m not interviewing anybody. I…
Read MoreWho Really Owns a Copyright When I’m Hired to Do Work for a Client? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hi everyone! Annette here and I’m back with another legal quickie episode. But before I dive in, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for listening and for being here. And for all the great feedback that you guys have been giving me…
Read MoreWhat Contracts Do I Need for My Business? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette When you first start your business, one of the first things you need to invest in from a legal perspective are a solid set of contracts. But then the question becomes, what contracts do I need for my business? I’m going to answer that question…
Read MoreHow Licensing Works -Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette Let’s talk licensing. What is licensing all about? Well, licensing is a really…
Read MoreHow Do I Get a Client to Pay Me? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey, hey, hey, Annette here and I’m back with another legal quickie episode. In this episode, I want to answer the question, what do you do when a client won’t pay you. So let’s assume you’ve done all of the hard work, you’ve delivered the…
Read MoreGetting Past Your Goals for a Fresh Start – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey guys! Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. First up, I want to thank you so much as always for listening. I know some of you guys have shared with me that you listen to me during your commute to and from work. And…
Read MoreUsing Customer Testimonials in Your Marketing – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette Hey there and welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. I’m your…
Read MoreUnderstanding Copyrights – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette When I often talk with business owners, they often get these two terms…
Read MoreTrademarks & Picking a Name for Your Business – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette Hey everyone! Today, I want to talk about picking names for your company, for…
Read MoreSomeone Has Copied My Work. What Should I Do? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Thanks for being here. I can’t believe it’s November. I don’t know where the year when I really feel like we were just celebrating New Year’s. But lo and behold, we are in November, which can be a scary time because the Year is coming…
Read MoreShould I File My Business as an LLC? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hi, friend. It’s Annette. And I’m back with another legal quickie episode. Now before we dive into this week’s question, I just want to give a huge thank you to all of you who have taken the time to leave a review on iTunes. It really…
Read MoreHow Do I Get Out of a Contract? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey guys, Annette here and I’m back with another Office Talk episode. Before I dive into this week’s legal quickie question, I wanted to share a few housekeeping items. The first is next month, I’m going to be doing a ton of webinars for you…
Read MoreDo I Really Need All That Legal Mumbo Jumbo at the End of My Contract? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey everyone, it’s Annette Stepanian. And we’re here with another episode of Office Talk. I hope you guys are doing well and you’re enjoying the podcast so far. If you are, please subscribe or leave a review, let me know what you guys are liking…
Read MoreDo I Need to File for a Trademark? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey, welcome back. This is Annette and I’m back with another legal quickie episode where I answer commonly asked questions about the law in about 10 minutes or less. This week’s question is all about trademarks. And particularly – Do I need to file for…
Read MoreWhat is an Intent to Use Trademark Application? – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette So you have this amazing name for your next product, your next service,…
Read MoreHow to Get Out of a Contract – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette You’ve entered into a contract with a client and things aren’t going so…
Read MoreThis Easy-To-Fix Mistake Cost Her Nearly $25,000 – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette In this episode, I wanted to share a situation that happened to someone…
Read MoreHow I’m Getting My Business Ready for Maternity Leave – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk, my friend. In this episode,…
Read MoreDoing an Annual Legal Review for Your Small Business – Transcript
[Intro Music]I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. AnnetteWelcome back to another episode of Office Talk. I often talk about the importance…
Read More3 Easy Fixes to Double Check Before You Send or Sign a Contract – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Hey guys! Annette here. And we’re back with another episode. Thank you so much as always for being here. Now before we dive into this week’s topic, I want to bring you guys up to speed on a bunch of things that are happening, and…
Read MoreWhat Do I Need to Know Before I Sell My Online Course? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey there! Thank you for joining me for another legal quickie episode where I answer questions about law and business under 10 minutes or less. I want to know, do you have an online course? Or are you considering starting one? Well, it’s something that has…
Read MoreHow to Protect Yourself and Your Online Program – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. In this week’s episode, I want to talk to you all about online courses and the things you need to be thinking about when you launch an online course, at least from a legal perspective. Now, we…
Read MoreSpring Cleaning Your Life and Business: 3 Questions to Help Get Rid of the Clutter and Make Room for Magic – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. I’m your host Annette Stepanian and in this week’s episode, I want to talk about two of my favorite things: spring cleaning and your business. Now, if you’re listening to this episode when it originally…
Read MoreThe Most Common Questions from Graphic, Web, and Print Designers – Answered – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. I’m your host Annette Stepanian. And in this week’s episode, we’re gonna dive into the most common questions I get from designers. If you’re a graphic designer, a web designer, a print designer, maybe you design beautiful…
Read MorePro Tips for Maximizing Profits in Your Event Rental Business with Allison Howell – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette: Hey there, welcome to Office Talk In this week’s episode, I’m talking…
Read MoreHow to Scale Your Creative Business with Kristy Rice – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. I’m your host, Annette Stepanian. And in this week’s episode, I’m having a really, really great conversation and an important one, with Kristy Rice of Momental Designs. Now, if you find yourself that you’re in a creative line…
Read MoreLegal Roundup: Your FAQs Answered – Transcript
[Intro Music] I love you, but I’m not your lawyer. This is for your educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of this content without first consulting a lawyer. Annette Well, hello there and welcome to another episode of Office Talk podcast. In…
Read More10 Ways to Uplevel Your Business – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Welcome back to a brand new episode of Office Talk. Now, this week’s episode is – I’m really excited about this. I’ve been wanting to do an episode like this for quite a while, but just the right opportunity had not come along. So a…
Read MoreThings to Know When You Work with a Lawyer: From Fees, Questions to Ask, Finding One Who Gets You, and Figuring Out How to Prioritize Your Legal Needs – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Hey, it’s me. I’m back for the first solo episode in quite a while. I missed you. So it’s just me and you again today. It’s all we’re doing – we’re talking about the law just mean you. In today’s episode, I want to talk…
Read MoreWhat Your Contract Says About You – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette Hey there. And welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. In today’s legal quickie episode, I want to talk about what your contract says about you. So here’s a true story about what happened to one of my clients. And I’m not going to go…
Read MoreWhat’s Coming Your Way in 2018 + How to Handle Contract Revision Requests From Potential Clients – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Happy New Year you guys. Welcome back to the Office Talk Podcast. I am beyond excited to start the new year. In fact, I wasn’t really planning on getting back to work as early as I did. But hey, January 2 rolled around, I was…
Read MoreWhat’s the difference between copyrights and trademarks? – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Hey, Hey, Hey! Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. It’s always good to be back and talking to you one on one. Now before we dive into this week’s legal quickie episode, I wanted to let you know about a special opportunity to get your…
Read MoreMy IVF Story – Transcript
[Intro Music] Annette: Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. Now, you may or may not have noticed that I haven’t published any new episodes of the podcast for a hot minute. I think my last episode came out in November, and we’re here in July. So what the heck happened? After more than…
Read More5 Things You Should Know Before Launching an Affiliate Program – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. Thank you so much as always for being here. And this week, we’re gonna dive into a Legal Quickie all about what you need to know when you launch your affiliate program. But before I dive in,…
Read More3 Things to Ask Yourself if You’re Feeling Burned Out – Transcript
[Intro Music] This is Office Talk with Annette Stepanian. Annette: Welcome back to another episode of Office Talk. Now, today I want to talk to you about three questions you need to ask yourself if you’re feeling burned out. So we are at the almost at the end of summer, which means we only have…
Read MorePost-COVID Contract Terms for Event Professionals to Consider
To date, no one word has better defined 2020 than perhaps COVID-19. When the spread of the coronavirus resulted in the public having to shelter in place and limited our ability to gather, the events and wedding industry came to a sudden halt. The current impact of COVID-19 on the industry as well as the uncertainty…
Read MoreProtecting Your Future: A Post-Covid Conversation
[Sorry! This video is no longer available.] When the spread of coronavirus resulted in the public having to shelter in place and limited our ability to gather, the events and wedding industry came to a halt. The current impact of the coronavirus on the industry as well as the uncertainty of planning future events has compelled…
Read MoreUsing Customer Testimonials in Your Marketing
Do you want to use your customer’s testimonials when marketing your products or services, but not sure about the legal implications? In this Legal Quickie episode, I cover the legal basics of using testimonials in your business – like on your website, in email copy, or paid social media ads. Before you start flaunting your…
Read MoreDoes Email Marketing Still Work? With Lesley Clavijo
Is email marketing dead? Absolutely not! But some of the old strategies certainly are. In this episode, I’m chatting with email marketing strategist, Lesley Clavijo. We get super honest about email list size, why email marketing is still more important than social media, the truth behind lead magnets, and so much more! You’ll want to…
Read MoreHow to Become a Better Public Speaker with Helena Bowen
From speaking on-stage to recording videos for social media and team meetings, public speaking is a vital skill for any entrepreneur – and you too can learn how to become a better speaker! In this episode, I’m talking with speaking coach and speechwriter, Helena Bowen. We talk about some (very big) misconceptions about learning to…
Read MoreHow to Close More Sales with Lindsey Nickel
If hearing the word “sell” makes you shudder, you’re not alone! Sales calls and closing sales can be the most difficult part of being a business owner for most of us, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I’m chatting with long-time wedding planner and wedding business strategist, Lindsey Nickel. Lindsey shares how…
Read MorePro Tips for Maximizing Profits in Your Event Rental Business with Allison Howell
Running an event rental business comes with its own unique challenges, especially with managing your inventory! In this episode, I’m chatting with long-time event rental pro and co-founder of RW Elephant, Allison Howell. Allison’s insights about inventory management, pricing, and how to stay profitable long-term are fantastic for event rental businesses and other businesses alike.…
Read MoreMy Favorite Pregnancy Tips
Mamas-to-be, this one if for you! Whether this is your first baby, or you’re adding another member to your family, pregnancy can be different every time. In this episode, I’m sharing my favorite tips, tricks, and advice from friends, family, and my own experience to help you with your first or next pregnancy (guys, share…
Read MoreDoing an Annual Legal Review for Your Small Business
When was the last time you sat down and did a legal audit of your business? If you’re like most business owners, probably never. Likely, it’s low on your priority list. However, scheduling an annual review of all the legal aspects of your business is a great practice that can help protect you down the…
Read MoreCalifornia Law Update: Should I Classify Workers as Employees or Independent Contractors?
If you’re a contractor or business owner that does business in California, you may have heard about the new law on how to classify an Independent Contractor that goes into effect on January 1st, 2020. Confused? Overwhelmed? Not sure if the new law applies to you? Check out this episode, where we chat with employment…
Read MoreThis Easy-To-Fix Mistake Cost Her Nearly $25,000
Business horror story alert! Starting a new project with a new client is always exciting, especially when they’ve already paid you! But what if the project needs to be canceled? And worse off, what if the client asks for a refund? In this episode, I’m sharing a true story of a service provider who came…
Read MoreHow I’m Getting My Business Ready for Maternity Leave
Have you ever wanted to take an extended break from your business? Maybe go on vacation, or a sabbatical, or even on maternity leave? Then this episode is for you! I’m sharing how I’m preparing for my upcoming maternity leave, including key ways I’m ensuring that my business can run without me. CHECK OUT THE…
Read MoreLegal Roundup: Your FAQs Answered
Is there a legal question that you’ve had knocking around in your mind for a while? Then this is the episode for you! We’re doing a round-up of recent legal questions entrepreneurs and business owners have been asking – the answer to YOUR question may be in here too. CHECK OUT THE EPISODE Subscribe to…
Read MoreHow to Get Out of a Contract
You never want to start out a relationship thinking about how it will end, right? Well, if you’re talking about your relationship with clients – whether you know it will be a short-term project or not – thinking about the end can save you a lot of stress and frustration! In this episode, we’re talking…
Read MoreWhat is an Intent to Use Trademark Application?
Working on a new product, service, or business, but not quite ready to launch yet? If you’ve picked out a name that you’re super excited to use, but haven’t started using it yet, someone could start using that name before you. Is there anything you can do to prevent that? Absolutely! You can buy yourself…
Read MoreTrademarks & Picking a Name for Your Business
You’ve been wracking your brain to come up with a catchy name for your new business, product, or service … then you finally land on the winner! Before you rush off to get a logo created, there’s one extra step you need to take, and it’s really important. In this episode, I’m talking about trademarks…
Read More5 Legal Tips for Small Business Owners
If you know me, you know I love a good ol’ burrito. The flour tortilla, the guac, the cheese…. mmmmmm! Well, believe it or not, building a legally sound business is just like building an epic burrito. Yup, you read that right… Hear me out…. For many business owners, focusing on contracts, copyrights, and other…
Read MoreUnderstanding Copyrights
When the topic of copyrights comes up, there are a lot of questions! Are a copyright and a trademark the same thing? Can I copyright an idea? How can I monetize my copyrighted content? In this episode, I’ll simplify copyrights using another food analogy and a Harry Potter reference. If you create content (think: written…
Read MoreHow Licensing Works
A great way to grow your business and your audience is to monetize your existing content through licensing deals with other companies (totally a win-win!). Is a verbal agreement, maybe an email, enough in these situations? Absolutely not! A solid, detailed licensing agreement is what you need to ensure you retain ownership of your designs,…
Read MoreMy IVF Story
I’ve been keeping a secret from you for awhile now… and I can finally share this happy news with you! My husband and I are thrilled to share that our little girl is on her way. We are absolutely overjoyed (and slightly anxious) as we get ready for THE most important roles of our lives.…
Read MoreHow to Leave a Podcast Review on iTunes
If you’re enjoying the Office Talk Podcast, please take a minute to leave a review. Here are step-by-step guides on how to do it using your iPhone or desktop. THANK YOU! Leaving a review using an iPhone 01 | LAUNCH APPLE’S PODCAST APP 02 | TAP THE SEARCH BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER…
Read MoreMy Favorite Business Resources
books I’m an avid reader and often prescribe books like doctors prescribe medicine. Here are some that have made the greatest impact in my business and thinking: The E-Myth Revisited, by Michael Gerber The War of Art, by Stephen Pressfield The 12 Week Year, by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington Essentialism, by Greg McKeown The…
Read MoreHow To Prepare for a Brand Photoshoot
Photography – it’s something that we all need for our social media profiles, blog posts or our websites. Yet many of us are not used to being in front of the camera, let alone planning for a photoshoot. Over the years, I’ve worked with a variety of photographers on photoshoots – whether for my jewelry company, Your…
Read MoreGetting Past Your Goals for a Fresh Start
Don’t get down on yourself if you don’t meet your goals for this year. Instead, use what you learned to make a fresh start.
]]> Read MoreWhy you need to question your questions with John G. Miller
If you’re feeling stuck in business or in life, you’re not asking yourself the right questions. Instead, ask yourself the question behind the question.
]]> Read MoreHow to Scale Your Creative Business with Kristy Rice
Being a creative means you need to get creative about how you scale your business. Today Kristy Rice of Momental Designs tells us how she did it.
]]> Read MoreHow to Protect Yourself and Your Online Program
If you have online courses or group programs, you need to protect yourself and your clients. Listen to this week’s Office Talk to find out how.
]]> Read More10 Ways to Uplevel Your Business
Figuring out how to uplevel your business can be a challenge. So I asked 10 business owners for their take in this week’s Office Talk!
]]> Read MoreHow To Use Systems To Gain Back Time and Make Room For Creativity with Chelsea B. Foster
Systems can open space for your creativity and to meet this year’s goals. Find out how on Office Talk.
]]> Read More3 Strategies for Hitting Your Year-End Goals
Finish out the year strong by getting serious about your goals, rather than making excuses. Three tips on how to do that!
]]> Read MoreA Look at the State of the Wedding Industry
Keep your finger on what’s trending in the wedding industry. Hear my takeaways from a recent Weddingwire Report and how it impacts how you do business.
]]> Read More3 Business Investments for a More Profitable Year (That Don’t Break the Bank)
Not all business investments are created equal. In this episode, learn three business investments you can make for a more profitable year.
]]> Read MoreHow to Fix the 5 Biggest Mistakes in Your Wedding Planning Biz
If you’re a wedding planner (or any business owner, for that matter!), you’re likely overlooking these common business mistakes. It’s time to course-correct.
]]> Read More3 Things to Ask Yourself if You’re Feeling Burned Out
What do you do when you’re burned out in business? Take two steps back, regroup and then move forward with more intention and you’ll get to your goals faster.
]]> Read More