Artful Contracts Blog

Make sure your chosen mark meets these 2 basic requirements before filing your trademark application! Have you been thinking about sending in a trademark application? Good for you! The process can seem intimidating, but there are only 2 main things you really need to think about when applying: use in commerce and distinctiveness. These are fancy words for simple concepts—don’t worry, it’ll all be explained below! Hey you! Yeah, you! If this whole trademark thing seems really confusing and overwhelming, why not start by reading How to Protect Your Business with Trademark and Copyright? It’ll clear a lot of things...

Learn the steps and risks involved in collaborating Working with other business owners can be exciting and fulfilling and can lead to big rewards. It can also be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time.  I’m here for the first timers. I’ve got you. Keep reading (and keep this blog post handy! I mean it, bookmark it now!) to learn what a joint venture is and how to do one safely, properly, and profitably. Pre-Checklist Primer What Is a Joint Venture? A joint venture, in the informal sense of the term, is any project that two (or more, but usually...

Learn how to tell the difference between the two and make the best decision for your business. Whether you’re at the point in your business journey where you’re ready to hire help, or you’re just hoping to be prepared for when you do get to that point (ooh, prepared, my favourite adjective), you’ve got to give a thought to whether you’re hiring an independent contractor or an employee.  The distinction is sooooo important, because whichever you choose, it means different things for you taxwise. If you make a mistake, you might be paying for it later—but don’t worry, I’m here...

Don’t let a lawsuit consume you—follow these simple steps to get through it. One day you’re working away, living life, and you receive a letter. You open it, only to discover… you’re being sued! Your heart starts to pound. Your life flashes before your eyes. You think: you should have just done it, you should have dyed your hair a wild color, gotten that tattoo, and eaten the pasta.  Don’t worry! Your life (and your business) don’t end just because you’ve been sued. It can be totally scary to realize someone is starting a legal proceeding against you, but there...

Use these 2 principles to pay yourself responsibly Can you feel that? The sun’s shining a little bit brighter, the air is fresher than usual. Is it spring? Nope, it’s payday!  If you’re here, you might fall into one of two camps:  You’ve just started your business journey and you want to make sure you are paying yourself the right way before your business actually starts making revenue ($$$) Your business is already bringing in revenue and you’ve been paying yourself without any real system (or you’re using your business as a bank account), and maybe you’re afraid you’ve made...