Hi Reader!

We all want happy working relationships. None of us enter relationships wanting to disappoint the other side or to not deliver what they want.

But that's the risk we run when we don't use a contract.

When we don't use a contract, we run the risk of unintentionally disappointing the other side. And that's because you run the risk of the vision you have in your head not matching up with the vision they had in their head.

Rather than thinking of a contract as a bad thing that lords over the other side, I want you to think of it as a gift. As a gift that you're giving the other side that says “Hey, here's everything I think that we're doing together. This is what I'm responsible for. This is what you're responsible for. Does that align with the vision you have in your head for this project?”

So that at the very beginning, we can clarify how the relationship will progress. You'll nail this down before we have any hurt feelings. You'll explain your process before you unintentionally disappoint them.

A contract builds happy, strong working relationships by getting everybody on the same page–by literally getting everybody on the same page.

So while contracts get a bad rap, they make you the kindest biz owner around.

This is why the real reason for contracts is to make sure everyone is on the same page.

A valid contract can be:

• a series of email exchanges
• something that is printed and signed
• a PDF that is electronically signed
• done via Honeybook or a similar service that allows you to create a template and use it for every client

However, a contract needs three things to be valid:

• an offer
• acceptance of that offer
• promise to exchange things of value

👉Your assignment this week is to do one of two things:

• If you don’t have a contract, brainstorm three things you think are critical to a smooth working relationship.
• If you have a contract, pick the three things in your contract that are non-negotiable because they are necessary for a smooth working relationship.

What might these things be? Things could be something related to:

• your working process (for example, that you need 7 days for paint to cure before shipping)
• when certain things need to happen (for example, that a 50% deposit is due to hold the event date)
• what you need from them (for example, you’ll need the brand style guide before you begin work)
• normal or common problems (for example, if the client delivers feedback late, you are automatically given an extension to make edits for the same amount of time they were late)

Want bonus points? Then write down why these contribute to a smooth working relationship so you have an explanation if you ever get client pushback.

I'll be sitting at my computer until about 9:30 AM Pacific and I'd love to know if you run into any roadblocks in completing this week's task. (And if you are reading this after then, please reply! I'll get back to you ASAP.)

Chat soon,

P.S. Creating a simple contract you can email is one of the “enough” legal tasks I help you do in my book, Legal Roadmap for your Creative Business. Grab your copy on Amazon.

Speaking of my book, I know many of us are avoiding shopping on Amazon and I’m evaluating other options for selling my book. Could you help me out by picking one of the options below?

Other things on my radar...

• If you have a Google Workspace business account, e-signatures might now be automatically included in your plan! You can learn more about this service here.
• If you've joined us for the Copyright Challenge, our first Q&A session is this coming Wednesday, March 4th at 10 AM Pacific | 1 PM Eastern. See all the details here.​
• Our March Q&A inside the artist's Courtyard will be March 19th and you can see all the details here.

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❤️ Easy to understand legal resources should be available to every creative, regardless of their financial situation. If one of my resources has helped you and you would like to say “thank you”, you can make a contribution here. ❤️