Courses, Templates & Legal Guides to Help Your Business Succeed
Browse our collection of free and premium resources designed to help business owners navigate legal, financial, and operational challenges. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, there’s something here for you.
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Free Webinars
W2 vs. 1099: Navigating Employee Classification
1099 Contractor or W2 Employee? Learn about how new rules affect your business. In March of 2024 the Department of Labor changed the way we decide if a worker should be a contractor or an employee. Make sure you’re compliant!
What it’s Like to Sell Your Business
Selling your business is exciting and scary. The dream of a big check captures founders’ minds. Deals often fall through or are far more difficult than necessary. Matthew Nuzum, a business and technology attorney, talks about the process and answers the most frequent questions.
Free Downloads
The Startup Workbook: Build a Business That
Starting a business is exciting, but full of risks. The difference between thriving and barely surviving comes down to how well you plan from the start. This free workbook helps you focus on what really matters: getting your financials right, managing risks, and building a business you’ll enjoy running for years to come. Skip the fluff and guesswork–use this practical guide to lay a solid foundation, stay profitable, and avoid the common pitfalls that sink too many startups.
Free Trademark Guide
Protect Your Brand and Grow with Confidence. Take the guesswork out of protecting your brand! This free trademark guide gives you everything you need to understand how trademarks boost your business, avoid common mistakes, and navigate the registration process with ease. Inside, you’ll get a clear 8-step plan, a handy flowchart, tips on choosing the right name, and insights on when to DIY and when to call in an expert. Whether you’re just starting or growing fast, this guide helps you lock down your business identity before someone else does.
Online Courses
Essential Contracts for Iowa Contractors
Protect Your Business. Get Paid. Stay Compliant.
Running a contracting business in Iowa without solid contracts is a recipe for disputes, delayed payments, and legal headaches. This course gives you the tools and knowledge to protect your business, get paid on time, and avoid costly mistakes.
You’ll master how to use contractor and subcontractor agreements tailored for Iowa law, understand mechanic’s liens, and sidestep common insurance pitfalls. With easy-to-follow videos and ready-to-use templates, you’ll be confidently handling residential and light commercial projects like a pro without paying thousands for custom legal work.
Mastering Business Contracts for Entrepreneurs
Confidently Read, Negotiate, and Manage Contracts Without a Law Degree
Contracts shouldn’t feel like a trap or require a lawyer every time you see one. As a business owner, knowing how to read, negotiate, and manage contracts is key to protecting your business, avoiding costly mistakes, and closing better deals.
This course gives entrepreneurs practical, easy-to-understand guidance to take control of contracts, whether you’re hiring, partnering, buying services, or signing your next big client. You’ll learn how to spot red flags, negotiate terms, and know when to push back (or call in legal help). With hands-on exercises and real-world examples, you’ll move from guessing to confidently handling agreements that support your success.
Avoid Legal Disasters at Company Parties & Offsite Events
Protect Your Business While Keeping the Fun: A Practical Guide for Employers.
Company parties and offsite events are meant to boost morale, not trigger lawsuits, HR nightmares, or damage to your reputation. Yet every year, businesses face sexual harassment claims, alcohol-related incidents, injuries, and discrimination complaints, all from events that were supposed to be “just for fun.”
This course gives you practical steps to protect your business before, during, and after your next holiday party, team-building retreat, or offsite gathering. Learn how to set clear boundaries, manage alcohol responsibly, prevent harassment and discrimination, and avoid social media mishaps while keeping the event enjoyable for everyone.
If you’re an employer, manager, or HR professional, this course is your insurance policy against preventable legal risks.
How to Evict Successfully—On Your First Try
The Step-by-Step Guide for Iowa Landlords to Avoid Delays and Get Results
Evictions are stressful enough, don’t make them worse by getting thrown out of court over a technicality. In Iowa, even though the law favors landlords, one small mistake can force you to start over, costing you weeks, or even months, of lost rent.
This course is designed to help real estate investors, property managers, and first-time landlords successfully handle evictions without unnecessary delays. We break down exactly how to serve notices, file correctly, and present yourself in court so you can get it right the first time.
With clear instructions, downloadable forms, and insider tips, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and stay in control of the process. Many landlords have used this proven method to quickly and legally remove problem tenants.
Business Partnerships That Work
A Founder’s Guide to Choosing the Right Partner and Building a Strong Legal Foundation.
Going into business with a partner can be a powerful way to grow, but a handshake deal and good intentions aren’t enough to prevent disaster. Misaligned expectations, undefined roles, and arguments over money or direction can turn a promising venture into a failed business—and destroy a great friendship in the process. Without a clear agreement, you’re gambling with your investment, your vision, and your financial future.
This course provides a complete roadmap for building a successful and legally sound business partnership from the ground up. You’ll learn how to vet potential partners, ask the tough questions before you commit, and create a comprehensive partnership agreement that defines roles, responsibilities, ownership, and an exit strategy. With practical advice and real-world scenarios, you’ll gain the confidence to structure a partnership that protects your interests and sets your business up for long-term success.
Protecting Your New Business: A Founder’s Guide to a Strong Legal Start
Avoid Costly Mistakes. Protect Your Personal Assets. Build with Confidence.
Launching your business is an exciting time, but what you don’t know can put everything at risk. Many new founders operate as sole proprietors without realizing their personal assets—their home, savings, and car—are completely exposed to business debts and lawsuits. You’re focused on making sales, not on legal structures, but one simple mistake or dispute could threaten your family’s financial security and turn your dream into a liability.
This course is your essential legal roadmap for starting a business on a solid foundation. We provide clear, step-by-step guidance on setting up your business correctly, understanding the basics of contracts, and avoiding the common legal pitfalls that trip up new entrepreneurs. With practical checklists and easy-to-understand lessons, you’ll gain the peace of mind to build and grow your business with confidence, knowing you’re protected from day one.
Marketing for New Businesses: Find Your First Customers & Grow
A Simple, Step-by-Step Plan to Get Your Marketing Off The Ground Without Wasting Time or Money.
Starting a business is exciting, but the question “How do I get customers?” can be overwhelming. You’re bombarded with advice to be on every social media platform, build a complex website, and spend money on ads, but you don’t know what actually works. Without a clear plan, marketing can feel like an expensive guessing game that drains your limited time and cash reserves.
This course cuts through the noise and gives you a practical playbook for your first 90 days of marketing. You’ll learn how to define your niche to attract customers you love, create a free Google Business Profile that gets you found locally, and use a simple script to get powerful 5-star reviews.
With clear, actionable lessons, you’ll build a solid marketing foundation that generates revenue without a huge budget, so you can stop guessing and start growing with confidence.
Profitable Pricing & Sales for Entrepreneurs
Stop Underselling. Start Profiting. Sell with Confidence.
Most new business owners make the same critical mistake: they set their prices too low. You feel uncertain about what you’re worth, uncomfortable with the idea of “selling,” and end up working tirelessly without ever paying yourself a decent wage. This leads to burnout and the constant stress of wondering if your business is even viable, turning your passion into a source of financial anxiety.
This course transforms your approach to pricing and sales, giving you the tools to charge what you’re worth and sell with integrity. You’ll learn how to calculate your true costs, create a value proposition that makes you stand out, and structure “good, better, best” pricing tiers that encourage customers to choose a more profitable option. With a clear, step-by-step process, you’ll move from feeling “seedy” to confidently communicating your value, making sales feel natural and ensuring your business is built for long-term profitability.
Hiring Your First Worker: A Legal Guide to Contracts & Employees
Hire Right. Avoid Disputes. Grow with Confidence.
Your business is growing, and it’s time to get help. But hiring your first worker or contractor is a legal minefield. A simple handshake deal can lead to costly disputes over what was actually agreed upon. Misclassifying a worker as a contractor can trigger expensive IRS penalties and back taxes. And without clear policies, a single employee issue can escalate into a lawsuit that threatens the business you’ve worked so hard to build.
This course is your guide to navigating the legal side of building your team. You’ll learn how to create simple contracts that prevent misunderstandings, confidently classify workers as either W2 employees or 1099 contractors, and implement fair, documented discipline policies that protect your business from legal claims. With practical checklists and clear guidance, you’ll gain the confidence to hire correctly, manage effectively, and continue growing your business on a solid legal foundation.
Protecting Your New Business: A Founder’s Guide to a Strong Legal Start
Avoid Costly Mistakes. Protect Your Personal Assets. Build with Confidence.
Launching your business is an exciting time, but what you don’t know can put everything at risk. Many new founders operate as sole proprietors without realizing their personal assets—their home, savings, and car—are completely exposed to business debts and lawsuits. You’re focused on making sales, not on legal structures, but one simple mistake or dispute could threaten your family’s financial security and turn your dream into a liability.
This course is your essential legal roadmap for starting a business on a solid foundation. We provide clear, step-by-step guidance on setting up your business correctly, understanding the basics of contracts, and avoiding the common legal pitfalls that trip up new entrepreneurs. With practical checklists and easy-to-understand lessons, you’ll gain the peace of mind to build and grow your business with confidence, knowing you’re protected from day one.
