{"id":79589,"date":"2022-11-22T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/honeybook.site.strattic.io\/?p=79589"},"modified":"2023-09-05T12:24:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T19:24:01","slug":"legal-audits-independents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents","title":{"rendered":"Your end-of-year guide to legal audits for independents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>The holidays are more than a time for reflecting on what you&#8217;re grateful for<\/em>\u2014<em>it&#8217;s a time to get your legal ducks in a row to prepare for the new year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1548\" src=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg\" alt=\"Two independent business owners audit their businesses.\" class=\"wp-image-79607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-1024x793.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-768x594.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-1536x1189.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It&#8217;s that time of year. Give your business the legal refresh it deserves!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For independents, the end of the year signifies a time for reflection, planning, and getting our businesses to accomplish our goals in the new year. And while we often think of profit margins, team-building, and other exciting objectives, many would do well to revisit the fundamental elements that allow them to reach those levels of success without unnecessary risks. In other words, it\u2019s time to talk about legal audits for small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In many cases, independents are quick to \u201cset and forget\u201d certain business aspects that are less than appealing. For example, who wants to take time out of their busy schedule to call their insurance broker and update their insurance? How do you know when it\u2019s time to change your tax election to an S-Corp? How often do you <em>really<\/em> need to update those service agreements?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jump to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#why-audit\">Why should I audit my legal documents?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#legal-audit\">Audit all legal documents\u2014and update them as needed<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#market-fluctuations\">Follow market fluctuations and adjust accordingly<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#employment-guidelines\">Revisit employment guidelines in your state<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#IP\">Secure your intellectual property<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#legally-sound\">Ensure your website is legally sound<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#legal-audits\">Schedule recurring legal audits for small businesses<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"why-audit\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why should I revamp my legal documents?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For some, it is easier to ignore the legal aspects of a business. Independents tend to focus on more fulfilling work, like selling top-tier packages, developing click-worthy content, creating new products, or pitching to an industry-leading podcast.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, letting your business foundation collect dust from a legal perspective puts everything in jeopardy. One outdated contract or misclassified contractor can undo years of hard work and cause significant financial losses. In addition, legal battles consume time and energy, so it is better to avoid the courtroom altogether than play a game of chance with your business&#8217;s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the year winds down, it\u2019s time to stop cutting corners and do the work to protect your business in 2023. Here are the areas to review in your end-of-year legal tune-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"legal-audit\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Audit all legal documents\u2014and update them as needed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Service agreements are subject to change based on market conditions and your business\u2019s growth, so avoid thinking of your contracts as set in stone. If your products and services evolve, your contracts should follow suit. Aim to audit your agreements at least twice a year to ensure they fully protect your business as an entity <em>and<\/em> you as the business owner. Here are some questions to ask yourself when reviewing contracts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which comments do I most often receive from clients about my contract? Does anything need clarification?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How should I address previous pain points in my updated contracts proactively?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are my current pain points?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has anything changed in the market that necessitates an update (e.g., COVID, inflation, etc.)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adjust your contracts on an as-needed basis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside of biannual audits, do not hesitate to adjust your contracts throughout the year if the need arises. For instance, if a new client crosses a boundary you did not even consider, update your contract right away to avoid similar situations in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is also wise to re-review contracts you have signed with other businesses when it comes time for renewal. If you have a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/guide-to-retainer-agreements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"retainer agreement\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">retainer agreement<\/a> with a marketing agency, freelance writer, or virtual assistant, revisit your contracts annually to see if anything calls for modification. The same goes for ongoing arrangements with industry publications, including memberships, directory listings, and advertising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"market-fluctuations\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Follow market fluctuations and adjust accordingly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before 2020, many business owners could skate by with the same contract for years. But when COVID struck, there was no option but to update all legal agreements. While entrepreneurs tried to figure out how to stay open, the air of uncertainty meant consumers became meticulous about reading\u2014and questioning\u2014the terms of a contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cancellation policies and force majeure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, business owners had to overhaul their cancellation policy. They learned about \u201cforce majeure\u201d (something they will never overlook again!). They tightened their language to define minimums, price increases, and non-refundable retainers (not deposits!) clearly. Thus, many spent the first year of COVID in reactionary mode, trying to cover their bases and preserve their financial interests in the face of the unexpected. And while we can\u2019t predict the next catastrophe to turn the business world upside down, you <em>can<\/em> take a proactive approach to your legal foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consult an attorney to review and strengthen your contract, closing any potential loopholes. Then, discuss contingency planning. What are the worst-case scenarios for your business, and how can you shield yourself against them? Think natural disasters, severe illnesses, property theft, and even supply chain delays if a ship gets stuck in the Suez Canal. <em>(Who saw that coming?!)<\/em> Remember: You do not have to know what is coming down the line to safeguard your business against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"employment-guidelines\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Revisit employment guidelines in your state<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every business owner should clearly understand their state\u2019s employment guidelines and what constitutes an employee versus an independent contractor. Misclassifying a contractor that performs the work of an employee is against the law, making you liable for back taxes, back wages, criminal penalties, and even prison time. It\u2019s not worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employment guidelines are subject to change, so it is wise to review them for updates annually. Then, look at the people on your team and how you classify them in your business. It is natural for roles and responsibilities to evolve, so someone who started as an independent contractor may have morphed into an employee. If that is the case, file the necessary paperwork to convert their employment status (i.e., W-4, I-9, etc.) and update your payroll accordingly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I don&#8217;t have any employees?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re an independent with no employees or contractors thinking you can sit this one out, think again. If you intend to grow your business, you will need to hire support at some point. When the time comes, knowing your state\u2019s employment guidelines will ensure you stay on the right side of the law when building your team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, if you provide services as an independent contractor, it is important to know your rights and address situations in which you are treading into employee territory. For example, if a client expects defined working hours or pushes your work out of scope, you will have the legal know-how to push back and set boundaries that protect your business (and your client&#8217;s interests).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"IP\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Secure your intellectual property<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From digital products to a new brand logo, your intellectual property (IP) should belong to you. Otherwise, any person off the street can take your IP and use it as their own. And when you have invested time and resources into creating your IP, it would be disheartening to see someone else \u201csteal\u201d it without any chance for recourse.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, many small business owners do not take the time to register their IP. At the very least, you should have trademarks registered with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/trademarks\">U.S. Patent and Trademark Office<\/a> (USPTO) for your business name and logo. But it is also prudent to consider whether you need to register the copyright for any of your creations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the idea of patents, trademarks, and copyrights makes your head spin, consult with an IP attorney specializing in this area. Leaving your IP unprotected can leave your business vulnerable to fraud and other scams, so take care of it before it becomes a problem!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"legally-sound\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ensure your website is legally sound<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We often talk about updating our websites with new photos or fresh copy while overlooking the more important aspect: the legal policies! If you sell products online or allow visitors to sign up for an email list, your website must have terms of use and a privacy policy readily accessible on the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As consumers, these are the pages full of fine print we usually click on in error while browsing a website\u2019s footer. Yet, while we may not care to read them for every website, they exist to protect website owners from undue legal challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you already have these policies on your website, include them in your biannual legal document audit to determine if updates are needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"legal-audits\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Schedule recurring legal audits for small businesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Setting aside time to audit your business\u2019s legal protection each year sounds critical, but it\u2019s easy to slip through the cracks when you\u2019re busy. Avoid missing these essential check-ins by scheduling repeat tasks on your calendar or project management software. That way, you can let your systems hold you accountable and never fall behind on the legal housekeeping in your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you may never love working on the legal side of your business, you <em>will<\/em> love the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are fully protected. And with regular check-ins, you can identify and close gaps that open you up to liability so you can stay ahead of the curve.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Legal tune-ups prevent losses from out-of-date contracts, unprotected IP, misclassified employees, and more.\u00a0So take some time this year to get your business in order for 2023, then plan for routine audits to give your business foundation some much-needed maintenance throughout the year. Your future self will thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"88486\" class=\"elementor elementor-88486\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af8975c e-con-full cta_click e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"af8975c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d21be99 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d21be99\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbc2a58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bbc2a58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"557\" height=\"665\" src=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-pipeline-banner-merino.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-88497\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-pipeline-banner-merino.png 557w, https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-pipeline-banner-merino-251x300.png 251w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a747e99 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a747e99\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d55b379 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d55b379\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Keep your business organized<\/span>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-657226d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"657226d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manage each step of your clientflow and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-771d280 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"771d280\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get started<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The holidays are more than a time for reflecting on what you&#8217;re grateful for\u2014it&#8217;s a time to get your legal ducks in a row to prepare for the new year. For independents, the end of the year signifies a time for reflection, planning, and getting our businesses to accomplish our goals in the new year. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":678,"featured_media":79607,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[337,466],"class_list":["post-79589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-best-practices","tag-business-law","tag-legal"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg",2000,1548,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-300x232.jpg",300,232,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-768x594.jpg",768,594,true],"large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-1024x793.jpg",1024,793,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8-1536x1189.jpg",1536,1189,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg",2000,1548,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>The holidays are more than a time for reflecting on what you&#8217;re grateful for\u2014it&#8217;s a time to get your legal ducks in a row to prepare for the new year. It&#8217;s that time of year. Give your business the legal refresh it deserves! For independents, the end of the year signifies a time for reflection, planning, and getting our businesses to accomplish our goals in the new year. And while we often think of profit margins, team-building, and other exciting objectives, many would do well to revisit the fundamental elements that allow them to reach those levels of success without&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/category\/business-best-practices\" rel=\"category tag\">Business best practices<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Leah Weinberg","url":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/author\/leah-weinberg"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Legal Audit At The End of Year | An Independent&#039;s Guide | HoneyBook<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Audits look different for each type of business. Learn how to perform a legal audit of your small business&#039;s processes with our short guide.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Legal Audit At The End of Year | An Independent&#039;s Guide | HoneyBook\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Audits look different for each type of business. Learn how to perform a legal audit of your small business&#039;s processes with our short guide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HoneyBook\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/honeybook.co\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-11-22T16:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-09-05T19:24:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1548\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Leah Weinberg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@honeybook\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@honeybook\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Leah Weinberg\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents\",\"name\":\"Legal Audit At The End of Year | An Independent's Guide | HoneyBook\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-11-22T16:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-05T19:24:01+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/16e37232b1da63a5d069e0d748560b12\"},\"description\":\"Audits look different for each type of business. Learn how to perform a legal audit of your small business's processes with our short guide.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1548,\"caption\":\"It's that time of year. Give your business the legal refresh it deserves!\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/hbb.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Business best practices\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/category\/business-best-practices\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Your end-of-year guide to legal audits for independents\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"HoneyBook\",\"description\":\"Resources to empower independent business owners\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/16e37232b1da63a5d069e0d748560b12\",\"name\":\"Leah Weinberg\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/42b422a6d04dce56cb8404e3e494dda54ae72f65e195c4b9eb69a825a7bf4c27?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/42b422a6d04dce56cb8404e3e494dda54ae72f65e195c4b9eb69a825a7bf4c27?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Leah Weinberg\"},\"description\":\"\u200b\u200bLeah Weinberg is a partner at Oduberg LLP\u2014a New York City-based law firm serving business owners and entrepreneurs.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.oduberg.com\/\",\"www.instagram.com\/colorpopevents\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/author\/leah-weinberg\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Legal Audit At The End of Year | An Independent's Guide | HoneyBook","description":"Audits look different for each type of business. Learn how to perform a legal audit of your small business's processes with our short guide.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Legal Audit At The End of Year | An Independent's Guide | HoneyBook","og_description":"Audits look different for each type of business. Learn how to perform a legal audit of your small business's processes with our short guide.","og_url":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents","og_site_name":"HoneyBook","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/honeybook.co","article_published_time":"2022-11-22T16:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-09-05T19:24:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1548,"url":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Leah Weinberg","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@honeybook","twitter_site":"@honeybook","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Leah Weinberg","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents","url":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents","name":"Legal Audit At The End of Year | An Independent's Guide | HoneyBook","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg","datePublished":"2022-11-22T16:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-05T19:24:01+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/16e37232b1da63a5d069e0d748560b12"},"description":"Audits look different for each type of business. Learn how to perform a legal audit of your small business's processes with our short guide.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Feature-Images-8.jpg","width":2000,"height":1548,"caption":"It's that time of year. Give your business the legal refresh it deserves!"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/legal-audits-independents#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/hbb.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Business best practices","item":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/category\/business-best-practices"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Your end-of-year guide to legal audits for independents"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/","name":"HoneyBook","description":"Resources to empower independent business owners","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/16e37232b1da63a5d069e0d748560b12","name":"Leah Weinberg","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/42b422a6d04dce56cb8404e3e494dda54ae72f65e195c4b9eb69a825a7bf4c27?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/42b422a6d04dce56cb8404e3e494dda54ae72f65e195c4b9eb69a825a7bf4c27?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Leah Weinberg"},"description":"\u200b\u200bLeah Weinberg is a partner at Oduberg LLP\u2014a New York City-based law firm serving business owners and entrepreneurs.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.oduberg.com\/","www.instagram.com\/colorpopevents"],"url":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/author\/leah-weinberg"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/678"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}