Why You and Your PA (and ANY Independent Contractor) Need a Contract
As an indie author, YOU have FULL rights AND control over your bookish business. That’s the beauty of being an indie author, after all!
And while most people come from a place of honesty and integrity, this is your hard-won business, and it deserves protection (just like in a mafia romance, right? 😂).
Here, we’ll take a look at how having a contract between you and any independent contractors is critical to you and your business.
Why You Need a Contract to Protect Your Indie Author Business
Sadly, many indie authors have had negative experiences with service-based businesses/independent contractors not doing what they said they were going to do, dragging out the process to the point that it’s detrimental to the author, or flat out ghosting them.
Sometimes, the so-called professionals make off with the author’s files, not only leaving the author in a bind, but also making the author vulnerable to future pirating and litigation.
And the list goes on 😭
This is where having a signed contract saves you and your bookish business!
This is where having a signed contract saves you and your bookish business!
Who Needs a Contract?
Not only do contracts protect you in case of conflict, but they also do double-duty in that they set clear boundaries and expectations between you and the person who is performing the service.
This could be a:
Personal Assistant (PA)
Website designer
Cover designer
Artwork designer
Merch/swag designer
Editor
Proofreader
Formatter
PR company
When you’re in the discussion phase with possible independent contractors, and they balk at needing to sign a contract, help them understand that the contract benefits and protects them, too.
What Should the Contract Include?
Your contract should clearly spell out what happens when certain situations arise. Contracts are kind of like insurance policies: you hope you never need them, but they’re invaluable when you do!
While contracts generally contain boilerplate language, please consider the following:
Purpose of contract
Name of parties
Effective date
Make sure deliverables are spelled out—what is and is not included in the project/package
Outline timeframe/deadlines and what happens if not met
Outline what is considered confidential
Intellectual property rights—client usually owns any copy or images created. Please note, though, that your books are your intellectual property, so be sure to outline that.
Payment terms (fees, costs, expenses, etc.)
What you’ll need to give your personal assistant (PA) access to in order for them to do their work
Termination provision (by either party and what happens afterwards)
Indemnification clause
Where Can I Get a Contract?
The Creative Law Shop specializes in providing legal templates and educational resources for creative entrepreneurs.
Regardless of where you get your contract, please be sure to have your attorney ensure it’s sound, especially since laws vary by state, province, territory, and country.
Contractor or Employee?
Hiring a Personal Assistant (PA) on a contracted basis, rather than as an employee, is recommended.
Especially in the indie romance realm, it is common for authors to have more than one PA. Each of these PAs often specializes in 1-2 tasks, so they perform these specific tasks for numerous authors. When you’re ready to add to your team, you may wish to consider this model, as well.
The beauty of hiring on a contract basis is that the PAs are not your sole responsibility. You are not responsible for putting the food on their table, a roof over their head, nor providing them with health insurance nor contributing to their retirement.
It’s a beautifully simple relationship.
You hire them to complete given tasks.
They complete given tasks.
You pay them for given tasks.
Both parties have the liberty to extend or end as outlined in the contract.
It’s the true HEA 💐
Author PAs choose to go into this niche because they want to support YOU! Oftentimes, their love for reading is the impetus for wanting to help you in bringing your stories into the world!
Author PAs WANT to be your supportive side character and to free you up, so you have more time to dedicate to your WRITING!
Imagine what life will be like without feelings of overwhelm!
Instead, you’ll have someone always in your corner, so you can focus on writing the stories your readers are clamoring for!
For more information on what needs to be considered when hiring a PA, download:
It’s free and provides detailed, actionable steps to finding and hiring your dream PA!
When you’re ready, check out my PA services page to learn more about how I can help get your books into readers’ hands!
In the meantime, know that your readers appreciate you and are so grateful to you for sharing your stories with us! ❤️
Your supportive side character,
Lisa
NEXT ON YOUR TBR…
Looking to Hire an Author Personal Assistant? Here’s What You Need to Know
How to Bring an Author PA into Your Self-Publishing Business
Please note that I am not an attorney nor an accountant, so please take the information in this post as helpful guidance, rather than substitution for legal or financial advice. Please consult with your attorney and accountant beforehand to ensure all bases have been covered before bringing on your author PA and/or any independent contractors.