245. Your First 5 Steps to a Legal Online Business (Checklist)

So you’ve got the business idea. You might even have the Instagram handle locked down. But now you're stuck staring at your laptop like... “What legal steps am I supposed to take to make this real?”

If that sounds like you, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.

In this episode of On Your Terms®, I walk you through the exact checklist of what to do (in order!) to legally set up your online business. Whether you’re a coach, digital product creator, or service provider, I’m giving you a clear, three-day action plan to get your business legally legit—without the legal jargon, guesswork, or overwhelm.

This is the episode that takes you from “OMG where do I even start?” to “Wow, I actually did that!”

Let’s walk through the 5 essential legal steps (plus a bonus) every online business owner needs to take from day one.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. How to finally stop Googling and start doing with a 3-day legal setup checklist
2. The 4 things to knock out on day 1 (and how quickly you can do them)
3. What you need to open a business bank account—and why it’s not optional
4. How to legally accept payments online (the right way)
5. What kind of contract you need based on what you sell
6. My thoughts on LLCs vs. sole proprietorships (and what could get you in trouble)

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Grab my free legal guide "The Ultimate Legal Guide for Online Entrepreneurs"
2. Sign up for Sam's Sidebar, my weekly email, to receive legal tips & marketing advice that I implement in my 7 figure business

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

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