The Top 4 Things You Need to Legally Protect Your Coaching Business
Get the Basics, Get Protected, & Check Legal Off Your List!
✔️1:1 Coaching Contract
✔️Privacy Policy
✔️Website Terms & Disclaimers
✔️Terms of Purchase for Programs or Courses
At the center of any coaching business is a strong legal foundation that will protect you, your business, and your income. Don't be one of those business owners that waits too long - waits to get sued, waits to lose the big sale, or waits until the client that didn't sign a contract decides to stop paying...
As a coach, there are a few key pieces that you need in place to #protectyourpassion (and your income!)
THING 1: Get a solid 1:1 client agreement in place.
This is THE most important document you need in your business to lay your legal foundation and ideally you should have this in place before you collect your first dollar. A custom contract outlines the details of your package, what you are providing (and NOT providing) and the policies you have in place.
For example, what happens if your client comes to you after 3 sessions and wants a refund after she has paid in full? Will you give it to her? Will you hold back a percentage as a service fee? What are you legally obligated to do?
The other important part of a contract is having the proper disclaimers in place. A disclaimer, which is really a Limitation of Liability clause, protects you from claims or liability and is basically saying that you will not be held legally responsible for anything that may happen to your client.
Finally, your contract should include things like: the terms of the package you are offering, protection for your intellectual property, confidentiality, and more!
Getting this piece in place is uber important to protect your biz and income.
THING 2: Make sure your website is legit with a Privacy Policy
A privacy policy is a legally required and NECESSARY part of your website protection. It is basically a disclosure document, the main purpose of which is to inform (and therefore protect) consumers. Anyone with a website collecting any email or contact information has to have one. Because of California law, if you don’t have one, you can get fined $2500. No thanks. And no, it doesn’t matter where you are, because your website shows up in Cali!
THING 3: In fact, Make sure your ENTIRE website is protected with Terms + Disclaimers
So how can Terms of Service (TOS) and Disclaimers help? Well, these documents are about protecting your business and content. The TOS (may also be called Terms of Use or Terms and Conditions) outline how your website should be used and what people can (and can’t do) with your content, as well as protect your intellectual property (blog posts, opt-ins, videos, etc).
The disclaimers, similar to those in your contract, protect you from liability (that means losing dollars!) should anyone go off the rails and misuse the information you put out there and end up physically or mentally injured.
THING 4: Use Terms for EVERYTHING you sell
You probably have heard this term - ah, see what I did there? So in your business, there are various LEGAL TERMS that you need in place. So what are Terms of Purchase? Basically a legally binding document that is an agreement between you and your customers that exists to protect you and your income! Terms of Purchase are located on your checkout page or next to your purchase button with language like: By buying this product you agree to our Terms of Purchase. What else?
- Terms of Purchase are directly tied to a group program, membership site, or online course/digital product.
- They protect the content you’re creating for your program - meaning modules, videos, etc.
- Includes your refund policy (what happens if someone buys it and changes their mind?) and disclaimers to protect you and your business
Ready to get ALL of the above in place TODAY?
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