Seven months ago, I began the incredibly empowering and utterly terrifying journey of self-employment.
I’m my own boss, I get to set my own business hours, I have the luxury of puppy snuggles at any time of day, and I’m solely responsible for my greatest achievements. Empowering.
I’m my own boss, and I don’t have set business hours since I’m working with clients during their typical business hours and then taking care of my own business needs + administrative work at night. I’m the CEO, the administrative assistant, the HR rep, the accountant, the marketing team, the sales team, the design team, and when I have time I’m navigating the healthcare marketplace. I’m the only thing that stands in the way of my own success and my own failure. Terrifying.
Being self-employed is a choice I choose every day. It’s not one I made lightly. It’s not one that was easy. But it’s incredibly rewarding and if I had to do it all over again – I would.
Since June, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about why I left my job and how I started my own business which is why I initially started the Career Corner Q & A. (Check out the first post here, the second post here, and the podcast I did with all the little details) But the more I share about my business and day-to-day, the more questions I get. So, I’m starting this Small Business Series to cover all of the questions I’ve received and the issues I think you need to know about before starting your own business. These are the things I’ve learned along the way that will hopefully make your journey that much more empowering.
Today, we’re kicking off the series with my friend Ashlee over at Contracts for Creatives. I started my business without being fully prepared for every part of it and if I’m being honest, that’s how I started my blog, as well. I had a vision and a business plan but that’s about it. The one thing I wish I had in my arsenal? Contracts.
A brand reached out to me (a blogger) to participate in a campaign. We settled on terms and a rate. The brand sent over a contract detailing deliverables, deadlines, and payment. Do I also need to send the brand my own contract?
You sign a partnership contract with a brand for a standard blog post and social media. Two weeks later, the brand requests the rights to your photos. Do you say yes in good faith? Do you charge them?

I just started a blog! I bought the domain and set up my email. What legal stuff do I need to do to set up my business?
Technically, you don’t have to do anything. You can operate your business as a sole proprietorship, however, I highly recommend registering your business as an LLC as soon as possible. Check out this blog post for in depth details on why it’s important to register your business as an LLC, The Difference Between a Sole Proprietorship and a Limited Liability Company. Also be sure to read this post too, 5 Steps to Make Your Business Official!