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A business podcast for Canadian entrepreneurs who want to build their business on a solid legal foundation.
This month I had the pleasure of attending and being part of WordPress Accessibility Day 2024 as a moderator, and I was able to attend various learning sessions as well. Accessibility is something that I wanted to learn more about as a small business owner, and through this experience I was able to learn many things about the standards and principles, which is what I share in today’s episode.
In today’s episode, you’ll discover:
A brief overview of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines [WCAG] international standards and where you can learn more about them.
What the four main principles of WCAG are.
Best practices for writing web content that is easy to understand and navigate.
The importance of sensory awareness in website design to accommodate users with certain disabilities.
Anchor text and why it is important to be descriptive in this area.
How to incorporate accessibility into your website's design and branding.
Insights I gained into real-world examples of accessible website practices.
If you are an expert in the accessibility space these might be very basic things to you, but for others that are closer to the beginning of their journey learning more about accessibility, it is my intention that some of what I share today may impact you in a slightly different way and that you gain even more perspective and value from the resources listed below.
Continuing with this season’s theme, today I’m bringing you another guest to share their tips and best practices around accessibility and inclusion, specifically looking at why plain language matters. Erin Casey is a professional communicator, writer, and editor based in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia, whose areas of expertise and interest is in inclusion and belonging, higher education, disability, health, entrepreneurship, and business — with an emphasis on equity. She believes we’re all entitled to accessible and clear communication so we can connect with the people, opportunities, services, and information we need. Erin knows a little bit about a million things, making her the perfect party guest.In today’s episode, you’ll discover:
The way that Erin’s entrepreneurial journey began and what led to their focus on plain language.
A look at how plain language got started in the 1990’s and is defined today.
Why it’s important to realize the true role that the information you provide plays for everyone, and the positive impact that plain language brings.
Examples of bad language to use and how it could be rewritten either on signs or websites.
The reasons for considering plain language sooner rather than later, plus some wins Erin’s clients have experienced in this area.
What to be of aware of in terms of plain language and social media.
Have you seen bad examples of language being used, on signs or websites? You can send them to Erin on LinkedIn and connect for a quick chat. We thank you for listening, and as always, I want to thank our special guest for sharing their expertise and insights. I’ll see you back here next week with a brand-new episode!
Plain Language: Learn More (This is a short list of resources. Explore each website for links to other resources, including more tools for specific needs and specific communities).
Did you know that 98% of websites currently online are not fully accessible? This means that many websites are missing crucial elements that ensure they are usable by everyone. In this episode, I’m joined by website accessibility expert Dominique Dunlop, who will walk us through the essential aspects of making websites accessible. Dominique dives into what you need to know about website accessibility, how to conduct an accessibility audit, and most importantly, the hidden costs—both financial and social—of not having an accessible website.
Dominique is passionate about creating a more inclusive and equitable online experience, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can access online content and resources without barriers.
With a background in inclusive education teaching and personal experiences with ADHD, she believes accessibility is a fundamental right, not just a legal requirement.
She works with organizations to meet compliance standards while prioritizing the needs of individuals with disabilities. Her aim is to foster a culture of inclusivity and belonging in every digital interaction.
Dominique’s ultimate goal is to contribute to a world where web accessibility is not only a standard practice, but also a reflection of our collective commitment to diversity, equity, and social justice.
In today’s episode, you’ll discover:
Dominique’s transition from teaching to entrepreneurship and how her background in inclusive education has informed her work in website accessibility.
The common barriers that make websites inaccessible and key WCAG guidelines to keep in mind.
The true cost for businesses when their websites aren’t accessible, including lost revenue and other potential consequences.
When and how to perform a website accessibility audit, plus the best platforms that offer top accessibility features, particularly for adding alt text.
Dominique’s vision for the future of website accessibility and how the digital landscape is evolving in this area.
Digital accessibility isn’t just about meeting legal requirements—it’s about prioritizing the people who make your business thrive by ensuring that everyone can access your website, products, and services. To learn more about Dominique and how to make your website more accessible (and more profitable), visit her website or book a free mini website accessibility audit today by clicking here.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to join us next week when we welcome another expert to share insights on inclusion and accessibility!
In today's episode, we conclude our insightful conversation with mental health advocate and expert, Sarah Parker. Continuing our deep dive into mental health in the workplace, we explore the critical role employers and outside agencies like Worker’s Compensation play in supporting employees who face mental health challenges.
Sarah is a passionate mental health advocate and public speaker who combines personal experience with professional expertise. She’s dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, focusing on seeing individuals beyond their diagnosis.
In today’s episode, you’ll discover:
Best practices for managing contract and legal disputes related to mental health capacity.
How Worker’s Compensation is beginning to address mental health issues in the workplace, and why there is still much progress to be made.
The advantages of offering mental health support and benefits to employees, and the key differences between mental health and mental wellness.
What employers should keep in mind when collecting health information, particularly related to an employee’s mental health.
Practical steps businesses can take to enhance inclusion and accessibility within their organizations.
If you missed the first part of our conversation, be sure to check out last week’s episode, and to learn more about Sarah’s mission to raise mental health awareness, you can visit her website. We've also included valuable resources from Sarah, and you can easily book a free chat with her by clicking here.
As I shared in last week’s episode, in this new season of the podcast we’re diving deep into topics of accessibility and inclusion—essential yet sometimes overwhelming areas for small business owners. That’s why I’m bringing in expert guests to break down these important subjects and offer actionable strategies. Today, we kick off the season with our first guest, Sarah Parker.
Sarah is a passionate mental health advocate and public speaker who combines personal experience with professional expertise. She’s dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, focusing on seeing individuals beyond their diagnosis.
In today’s episode, you’ll discover:
Sarah’s inspiring journey into entrepreneurship and the pivotal moments that led her to pursue her mission in mental health advocacy.
The empowering aspects of owning her own business and the value she brings to her clients.
Key considerations companies must understand about accommodating employees during the hiring process, including the concept of "undue hardship."
Why mental health-related liability and workplace safety are critical topics for all employers to grasp.
We hope this episode provides valuable insights. To learn more about Sarah’s work and her mission to promote mental health awareness, you can visit her website, and don’t forget to tune in next week for Part 2 of our conversation with Sarah—you won’t want to miss it!
Welcome to Season 5 of The Legalmybiz.ca Podcast! I’m thrilled to bring you new episodes this Fall. Our mission is to offer practical legal tips to Canadian business owners, and this season, we’re focusing on accessibility.
Accessibility has been a major focus for me recently, and I've been working on it for the past few years. As we approach the end of 2024 and look ahead to the new year, I’m excited to delve deeper into this crucial topic.
In today’s episode, you’ll discover:
An overview of accessibility in Canada and why it’s essential for businesses to address this issue.
My personal motivation for enhancing accessibility in my own business and the steps I’ve taken towards this goal.
Information about an upcoming free event dedicated to website accessibility—make sure to sign up!
What sets this season apart from previous ones, along with a preview of the topics we’ll cover this Fall.
A reminder of the business benefits of making your business more accessible.
Although accessibility legislation in Canada may not be as advanced as in the US or other countries, it’s on the horizon. Even before compliance becomes mandatory, I firmly believe that striving for accessibility is a smart business move in 2024.I hope this season provides you with valuable, actionable insights to improve accessibility in your business. Join me on this journey to learn how to make your business more inclusive, and don’t miss our next episode featuring our first expert guest of the season.
As with many previous episodes, much of the content for the topics I talk about on this podcast come from questions that I receive from you. In this episode, I discuss legal expense insurance, which is something I haven’t covered yet, but I have been asked about and will be useful to know about as a small business owner. Today you’ll hear about:
What legal expense insurance is, what it’s specifically designed for and examples of some of the risks that may come up for a small business owner
Legal disputes commonly faced by small business owners and that may require legal expenses
Why it’s so important to understand what coverage you already have under your other insurance policies
How often to have the conversation with your insurance broker and specific questions to ask when you do speak with that person
The significant financial impact that legal issues can have on a business and the pros and cons to weigh as the owner
Why more and more small business owners are opting for legal expense insurance right now
If you haven’t recently reviewed your commercial insurance policies, I hope this serves as a reminder for you to do that. As well, I wanted to provide you with the list of questions that you can ask your insurance broker when you have the conversation around your policies and coverage, so that you can get a sense of what types of legal risks you may be potential exposed to, and then you can make some more informed decisions about how to protect your small business. Mentioned in this Episode Episode 39 - Three Layers of Liability Protection —
Listen to Get It In Writing on Apple, Spotify or wherever you catch your favorite podcasts!
Today I have a special episode for you, where I’m bringing you a customer success story of someone who has purchased my signature online program, The Canadian Online Legal Template Library, or “COLT” for short. I’ll be talking with them about why they purchased the program, how they use it in their businesses and the benefits they’ve seen for them by using it. I’ve launched this program many times since 2019, but instead of me telling you about this product I’ve developed, I thought it would be interesting for you as a listener to hear from actual customers who have purchased it, in their own words. The first person you’ll hear from is Patricia Dent, a business mentor and owner of Grow Vantage who works with entrepreneurs to design, launch and grow their businesses. She is also a sponsor of The Creative Space, a co-working entrepreneurial incubator in Barrie, Ontario, the community which she adopted in 2009. She is also a co-founder of Small Business Connect, a grassroots organization that fills a gap for low-cost small business networking in her local area and currently serves on the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. Patricia and her team of entrepreneurs teach business owners what they need to know to manage their business effectively and avoid the mistakes that can cost a bundle, or delay success, and their decades of combined experience help people reach profitability sooner. Patricia coaches entrepreneurs one-on-one, in groups or masterminds on top of classes in marketing and sales strategies, marketing tools, money and finance, managing or protecting your business, communications and productivity.
Today you’ll hear about:
Patricia shares her experiences with lawyers and legal dealings and the exponential cost that is associated with this for business owners [3:08]
How The Canadian Online Legal Template Library has become a major tool that Patricia uses when helping the entrepreneurs she and her team work with [3:34]
The value of the Q&A sessions that are available when using Legal My Biz templates [5:05]
Some of the main benefits early-stage entrepreneurs will see by using the resources that come with the program [8:50]
What happens when early-stage entrepreneurs are willing to learn and open themselves up to advice and expert help [10:21]
I hope you not only find nuggets of wisdom in Patricia’s experience with the program, but that you’ll also visit her website at https://www.growvantage.com/ to learn more about her team and how they help you to do the work you love, while teaching you to do the rest. If you too are ready to create a solid legal foundation for your Canadian online business with guided legal templates designed by an experienced business lawyer, you can join the Canadian Online Legal Template Library waitlist now at https://www.legalmybiz.ca/canadianlegaltemplatelibrary!
A small business owner, brand is everything. Today’s special guest is here to share his expert insights on all things branding, specifically the key things that you must be focusing on as you’re building your brand in order to gain clarity and maximize your impact. Rich Kozak is The Voice of Impact Driven Branding. After 40 years of languaging and launching brands, he founded RichBrands specifically to serve heart-centered entrepreneurs & professionals evolving their individual brands with a foundation of clarity, energetic longevity and divine purpose. The deep-listening, caring branding expert, Rich's purpose is elevating your unique gifts that impact people’s lives. Today you’ll hear about:
What Rick’s definition of a “brand” is and why all brands must have a foundation of clarity
His step-by-step process for developing your brand
The way that you can use the elements of your marketing to define the brand you wish to become
Some of the mistakes from a trademark perspective people are making with their branding
Best practices to follow when creating your logo, deciding on your brand’s colours and more…
If you are a heart-centered and experienced entrepreneur who knows there’s more for you and the people you serve, what Rick shares in this episode will not only help you gain more clarity for your brand, but it will allow you to increase the impact that you are making. To learn more about Rick and the ways that RichBrands can assist you in getting your brand right, you can visit his website at https://richbrands.info/. Mentioned in the episode: Rich’s Website, Facebook & Instagram Connect with Rich on LinkedIn
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Have you ever considered running an online contest in Canada, and wanted to know the legal rules around this? Whether it’s to get new subscribers to your email list or followers on social media, there can be many good reasons to run an online contest, however most times the focus can be on the marketing end of things, and not the legal rules.
In this episode, I share the Competition Act of Canada framework, what to know about social media platform rules, short and long contest rules, winner release forms, the skill testing question, and more.
Today you’ll hear about:
The importance of complying with the Competition Act (Canada) rules and how to get started in doing an online contest
How to design a contest with the key aspects of the Competition Act in mind from the start
The second layer of rules that will apply when running a contest on social media from the social media platforms
Tips and advice for using the winner release form with your contest
A few other relevant laws related to contests
People can gain many email subscribers and followers from running online contests, so it’s not my intent to discourage anyone from doing them, but I hope this helps provide clarity with contests and more understanding on how to do them properly. I encourage you to check out the resources I mentioned below, and I’ll see you back here soon with a brand-new episode.
Today’s special expert guest is Robyn McTague, someone who helps small business owners and entrepreneurs understand why they do what they do and how to have better relationships and engagement. In this episode, she reveals the way to identify the difference between a personality conflict and a motivational conflict, and how to resolve or avoid the situation all together. Robyn is the Creator of A Life of Choice Coaching & Consulting, which takes a deep dive into understanding why we do what we do to create a life of freedom and choice. Robyn combines expertise in science and metaphysics, and she has created a unique holistic approach bringing alignment, authenticity, and connection within ourselves and others. Her work includes building communication, engagement and harmony within teams, resulting in more profits and success. Today you’ll hear about:
How Robyn’s upbringing led her to the important work she does today
The key benefits business owners can see by working with he
Her insights on approaching conflicts between business owners and their clients
How contracts are for both parties’ protection, and setting up parameters sets expectation
Robyn’s advice for preparing for hiring as a solopreneur
Ways you can use the motivation map in HR and the hiring process
Motivation maps for teens when entering post-secondary education or entering the workforce
Whether it’s for business or personal, understanding the relationships you have is key, and I’m grateful for Robyn coming onto the podcast to share her wisdom on this topic. I encourage you to visit her website and check out all the resources she has on discovering the path to relationship freedom, and increasing your energy, engagement and quality of life. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you back here next week with a brand-new episode. Mentioned in the episode: Robyn’s Website & Email Connect with Robyn on LinkedIn & Facebook —
Listen to Get It In Writing on Apple, Spotify or wherever you catch your favorite podcasts!
I’ve been getting a lot of questions the last number of months about buying and selling a business, sometimes from current owners with successful businesses who are looking ahead to sell, and also from people wanting a business who are wondering if they should start from scratch or buy an existing one. That’s why in this episode, I want to explore these topics and share what you should know about buying an existing business. Specifically, I want to discuss the difference between buying and selling shares and assets, as this is an important distinction that you will need to be aware of if you’re considering buying or selling an established business. Today you’ll hear about:
The key points of difference between buying shares and buying assets of a company
The ways in which business brokers can help in this process and what you should leave to your accountant or lawyer instead
Why sellers prefer to sell shares and buyers prefer to buy assets and how you can work this out
How to negotiate the necessary legal agreement for selling shares versus buying assets
The reasons that a buyer takes on more risk when purchasing shares and what to understand about due diligence and representations
As you’ll hear, when selling or buying a company, preparation is key. This is especially true if you are selling, and you need to be thinking about this several years in advance. It’s very important for you to be working with your accountant, and to consider what role a business broker should play or not play, in this process. I hope this conversation helps shed some light on what’s really involved in this type of transaction, and it gives you some things to consider about buying assets versus shares in a company.
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Listen to Get It In Writing on Apple, Spotify or wherever you catch your favorite podcasts!
Balancing your business and your life can feel impossible if you’re not focused on the right things, so I’m excited to share with you a recent conversation I had with an expert on this subject, Michelle Ricketts of Cohesion Services, whose proven process integrates people with systems and operations to build a self-sustaining business that can handle everyday challenges.
Overall health and fitness always played a part in Michelle’s life, her 35 year corporate career, and continue to be important in her consulting approach today, differentiating her from others in the industry. Michelle guides business owners, influencers, and SMBs to develop a self-sustaining business, increase revenues, and take back time to do things that excite them!
Today you’ll hear about:
What Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey has looked like and what she considers her “secret sauce” to be
The systems she helps people put in place that allows them to create self-sustaining businesses
A look at how wellness systems and legal systems can work together
The key pieces to have in your contracts and the way that templates can help in this process
What to always keep in mind about the importance of taking time off
I want to thank Michelle for taking the time to share her valuable insights on getting the key business foundations and systems in place so that you can truly enjoy life and business, and I encourage you to visit her website and connect with Michelle on social media to see all things that Cohesion Services has to offer.
For this week’s episode, I decided to try something a little bit different and take you with me, in real time, an actual filing process for a Canadian copyright registration for my online program, The Canadian Online Legal Template Library. Today you’ll hear about:
The reasons why you would want to register a copyright
What the actual process looks like to file a copyright online and how to find the right form and login for your needs
How to properly file ownership plus some other important things to consider for the future
What the declaration is and the way to choose the best option for your situation
A closer look at the payment and filing process on the website
The difference between a copyright and a trademark
In this episode, we're talking about litigation and how to break the whole process down into small, manageable steps, as this is a process that can often be overwhelming and all-consuming.
Today’s expert guest is Matt Canzer, and throughout his journey he has been able to simplify the litigation process by creating resources that help people deal with the process one step at a time. As founder of Butterfly Legal, Matt empowers self-represented clients with on-demand legal coaching. He is a licensed, practicing lawyer with experience in criminal prosecution, personal injury litigation, and mental health law advocacy. He also supervises law graduates serving underserved communities at the Everyone Legal Clinic. He is dedicated to using legal technology to meaningfully address the Access to Justice crisis with innovative, efficient delivery models for legal services. Today you’ll hear about:
Matt’s journey from legal firm life to offering services for litigation coaching
The factors that come into play when people decide to self-represent during litigation
The way in which Matt carefully identified all the places where people get stuck in the litigation process in order to determine how he could help others
What to consider if you are a small business owner entering into litigation while running your company simultaneously
The common types of claims that arise for small businesses
How to decide whether litigation is worthwhile in your situation or something you should avoid pursuing
What to know about demand letters and the ways they can be helpful
If you’re in need of legal coaching for litigation matters, I encourage you to visit Matt’s website to see how Butterfly Legal can help you in this process. I’m grateful Matt joined me on the podcast to share his insights with you today, and stay tuned for more informative interviews with expert guests that I’ll have for you in the coming weeks. Mentioned in the episode: Butterfly Legal’s Website Follow Butterfly Legal on LinkedIn & Instagram
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Listen to Get It In Writing on Apple, Spotify or wherever you catch your favorite podcasts!
Privacy is something myself and past guests have spoken about on the podcast before, and today I want to focus on the most important thing to have nailed down when it comes to privacy in your business.
I’m talking about having a privacy officer for your business, because to follow federal and provincial legislation, identifying and appointing this person is mandatory to comply with those legislations. Today you’ll hear about:
Why privacy is such an important thing to consider for your business
What the responsibilities of your privacy officer will entail
Ways in which privacy impact assessments can assist you
Best practices for handling privacy in contracts
How to approach choosing a privacy officer within your business
Tips for putting privacy management plan and privacy breach plans in place
I hope this episode helps answer any questions that you may have about the role of a privacy officer, who this person is and what they are responsible for, and I encourage you to check out the previous episodes listed below to learn even more about privacy in your business.
Are you working a 9 to 5 job and maybe looking for a change in careers, or a way to make extra money? Today you’ll meet Vivian Garcell, aka “Virtual Vivian”, who is a freelance entrepreneur, virtual assistant, consultant and course developer. As someone who quit her job in 2016 and became a 6-figure virtual assistant, Vivian now teaches others how she did it.
Today you’ll hear about:
How the virtual assistant industry has grown since Vivian started in it
Why it’s important to remember that this is not a “job”, it's a business
The legal side of starting an independent contractor business
The specific point in Vivian’s career where she decided to start helping other virtual assistants grow their small business
How creating courses and offering consulting services to others has changed Vivian’s life and business
What businesses should consider when hiring VAs and where to look for one when you’re ready to hire
Some of tech tools that have helped Vivian along the way
How doing this sort of work is great way of dipping your toes into being an entrepreneur [27:06]
I’m happy that Vivian joined me to share her insights and expertise, and I hope it gives you a unique look at this exciting and growing profession.
I’ve been drafting and reviewing shareholder agreements for more than 20 years now, and I recently revisited this topic when teaching a class of female tech founders. This group had a lot of specific questions about shareholder agreements, and I thought listeners of the podcast might as well, which is why I’m bringing you an episode dedicated to this subject. Today, I share what a shareholder agreement is, when you need one, some of the different sections you’ll find in this document, as well as other considerations and what you need to be aware of.
Today you’ll hear about:
Why I sometimes describe a shareholder agreement as a “prenup for shareholders”
When a shareholder agreement is needed and when one isn’t required
What it covers and the main topics that should be addressed in it
Additional considerations around investor requirements
Customizing your shareholders agreement for the province or federal legislation where your corporation was formed
Having all of this in writing and negotiating the terms of the shareholder agreement upfront will go a long way in protecting the interests of all parties involved. I hope this episode gets you thinking about reviewing your current shareholder agreement and making sure the provisions are still relevant, or will get you thinking about getting one in place if needed now, or at any time in the future. —
Listen to Get It In Writing on Apple, Spotify or wherever you catch your favorite podcasts!
Today we are looking at the things that business owners should know about tax and when to work with a tax lawyer and a tax accountant, and to help go deeper on this topic I’ve invited Primrose Watson to share her expertise.
Primrose founded Primrose Tax Law and designed the law firm to be a place where she can be the tax enthusiast she is and build an inclusive workspace so that every firm member can be their authentic selves and thrive. As she says, tax enthusiasm is not mandatory, but it will be contagious!
Today you’ll hear about:
The difference between a tax lawyer and a tax accountant and when is the time to hire the
A closer look the important role that a tax lawyer will play in your business
What a Section 85 rollover is and what it allows a small business owner to do
Some of the things that will change for you operationally when you incorporate
Annual maintenance of an incorporation
When to think about a holding company or investment company
What sets Primrose and her firm apart from others in her industry
For a small business owner, this episode is packed with valuable information and resources to be thinking about in terms of tax planning, and I encourage anyone listening to visit Primrose’s website, review her publications and reach out to her with any questions. As always, please let us know what resonated most with you from my conversation with Primrose, and we’d love for you to share the ways in which this conversation has helped you.
Privacy legislation and privacy practices are moving more and more all the time towards more transparency, and I get a lot of questions about cookies and what we need to do about them as business owners with websites.
In this episode, I highlight what cookies are for, why we need them, plus the policies and processes you need to ensure are in place as a business owner.
Today you’ll hear about:
What cookies are and why are they needed on websites
The reasons why we need to have a policy around cookies stated on our website
The four most important things to have on your website right now
A look at cookie preferences and “Cookiebot”
When and where cookies are required, plus the times when they are not
The different types of cookies on a website and what responsibilities the privacy officer in a business will have in this process
This episode is a must-listen for business owners navigating the intricacies of privacy legislation and online transparency, and my hope is it provides you with a guide and framework for understanding cookies and implementing the appropriate policies around them. Mentioned in the episode: Cookiebot —
Listen to Get It In Writing on Apple, Spotify or wherever you catch your favorite podcasts!
