What's The Worst That Can Happen?

Suzanne Dibble
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
What's The Worst That Can Happen?

“What’s the worst that could happen?” – multi-award winning business lawyer Suzanne Dibble chats to fellow online small business owners about the worst-case legal scenarios that can, and unfortunately do, rear their ugly head, and importantly how to prevent them – all covered in a fun and light-hearted way, but with a serious undertone because you really do want to put the protections in place to stop the worst happening so that you can sleep easy at night! And just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s boring – Suzanne’s passion for helping fellow business owners is engaging and infectious. She is renowned for her ability to break down the complexities of legal protection so that they are easy to put in place whether you’re a solopreneur, micro business or small business. For the past 11 years, Suzanne and her expert team have helped tens of thousands of small business owners get to grips with the law and regulations – providing all the resources needed to be proactive about legal affairs in an affordable way so that small business owners do not risk easy to prevent legal problems and can sustain and grow their business to secure financial independence. Suzanne is one of the few lawyers that really understands the practicalities of running a small business. Her flagship product, the Small Business Legal Academy was heralded by the SRA and Legal Services Board as “pioneering”, won a Law Society Award and 100% of its members, when surveyed, would recommend it. To access all of the amazing resources mentioned in the show, visit https://suzannedibble.com/podcastresources/ For further information visit https://www.suzannedibble.com or email support@suzannedibble.com

  1. 09/30/2022

    WTW023 What's the worst that can happen to Gemma Went founder of the Lighthouse Academy?

    Today on the podcast, Suzanne is delighted to have Gemma Went, an online business mentor, with a focus on helping online business owners to create the foundations that allow them to scale. She also trains and certifies online business coaches and consultants in the methods she’s been using for almost a decade and is founder of the Lighthouse Academy.   This episode covers so much … as Suzanne and Gemma go into the various benefits of trademarking, some of the potential drawbacks of waiting, as well as some of the nuances involved with ensuring you’re protected wherever you intend to do business. Gemma also shares how she’s managed to save a small fortune on legal costs where trademarks are concerned.   Finally, Gemma shares her concerns with Suzanne surrounding defamation and how to properly protect herself from that, as well as what could happen if Gemma could no longer work within her business. If you run an online business, plan to trademark anything in the near future, or are the face and main facilitator of your brand, this episode is well worth a listen.   In this episode:   [1:34] What does Gemma help people do as an online business mentor?  [4:33] What are some of the things Gemma has trademarked within her business? [7:22] Possible outcomes of waiting too long to trademark something within your business and what happens if someone tries to use something you’ve trademarked already. [12:07]  Suzanne shares the costs of registering your trademark in various jurisdictions, as well as the benefit of doing so. [18:33] Is defamation the worst thing that could happen in Gemma’s business? How would she protect herself against that?  [29:04] What happens if Gemma can no longer work within her business?    Learn more about Gemma: https://gemmawent.co.uk   If you would like access to all of the resources mentioned in this podcast, please visit: www.suzannedibble.com/podcastresources   The contents of this podcast are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to amount to advice. You should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Suzanne Dibble and Niche Legal Solutions Limited disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast (other than in relation to matters for which is not legally permissible to disclaim liability)

    47 min

  2. 09/16/2022

    WTW022 What’s the worst that can happen to Karen Haller of the Behavioural Design Consultancy

    Today on the podcast, Suzanne is delighted to be joined by Karen Haller founder of the Behavioural Design Consultancy, which works with corporates and design professionals.  She’s also the author of the best selling Penguin published A Little Book of Colour which has been translated into 14 different languages. Karen’s business journey has not been without legal issues and concerns, especially when it comes to Intellectual Property.  Over the years she’s learned valuable lessons including which party should present the contract first as well as the value of slowing things down during negotiations. She also shares her recent experience of what happens when you  transfer a large sum of money to the wrong business account … and the recipient then goes into liquidation! Karen and Suzanne then go on to discuss the worst that could happen in her business and what you can do to protect yourself if a client doesn’t like the product or service that you’ve provided.    In this episode: [1:45] Who is Karen Haller and what does she do? [6:10] What is the value in sending your agreement to an organisation first instead of accepting theirs?  [10:57] Should you have an agreement in place and your first invoice paid before you begin work? [20:24]  Lessons learned: What happens when you make a payment to a wrong account? [23:58] Can you get your money back from a mistaken payment?  [32:30] What's the worst that can happen in Karen’s business, and how can she protect herself if a client decides they’re not happy with the end product? Learn more about Karen:   Consulting: https://karenhaller.com/  Free design industry e-book:  https://karenhaller.com/free-10-myths-ebook/  Colour & Design courses https://karenhaller.com/courses/ If you would like access to all of the resources mentioned in this podcast, please visit: www.suzannedibble.com/podcastresources The contents of this podcast are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to amount to advice. You should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Suzanne Dibble and Niche Legal Solutions Limited disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast (other than in relation to matters for which is not legally permissible to disclaim liability)

    42 min

  3. 09/02/2022

    WTW021 What Should You Actually Trademark?

    Today on the podcast we're looking at what you should actually register as a trademark. Most people know that trademarking the name of their business is a crucial step in establishing legal protection over your brand, but should you delve a little deeper and register other components of your business? If you do, which components should you consider registering including is it worth registering your own name for a trademark? All of these questions and quite a few more are answered in this final piece of the trademark training trilogy.   In this episode: [2:18] What is the main thing you should consider trademarking within your business? [3:40] Under what circumstances might it not be possible to register?  [7:00] What can you do if trademarking your business name isn’t possible? [9:18]  What are 3 major things to consider registering for a trademark outside of your business name? [13:40] Can you register your own name and surname for a trademark, and is it worthwhile to do so?  [25:15] How much does it cost for a trademark registration in the UK?   Please note: In this episode Suzanne refers to a workbook and pop up Facebook group which were only available during the live Trademark Implementation Sprint earlier this year.     If you would like to listen to all of the replays and receive the downloadable workbooks from Suzanne’s Trademark Implementation Sprint sessions go to: www.suzannedibble.com/podcastresources   The contents of this podcast are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to amount to advice. You should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Suzanne Dibble and Niche Legal Solutions Limited disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast (other than in relation to matters for which is not legally permissible to disclaim liability)

    30 min

  4. 08/19/2022

    WTW020 The Value of a Registered Trademark

    Today, on the podcast, Suzanne discusses the value of owning a registered trademark in the second of her trilogy of podcasts taken from her highly successful Trademark Implementation Sprint.   In this episode she covers:   What is a brand?  What are your brand values? What are the main benefits of owning a registered trademark? If someone copies your trademark how easy is it to stop them using it? Clarity on jurisdictions and classes. How much does it cost to register a trademark and how long will it take?   If you’re unsure, or you’ve been sitting on the fence, about applying to register a trademark this is definitely an episode you’re going to want to listen to.    In this episode: [5:00] What is your brand and why is it important to protect it? [12:29] What happens if someone were to copy your registered trademark?  [16:30] Why trademarking your brand can lead to licensing opportunities, which can be of great benefit to your business. [21:30] Do you need to register your trademark in each jurisdiction you plan to trade within? [27:37] What are the costs to register a trademark?  [29:31] How long does the process of registering a trademark take in the UK?   Please note: In this episode Suzanne refers to a workbook and pop up Facebook group which were only available during the live Trademark Implementation Sprint earlier this year.     If you would like to listen to all of the replays and receive the downloadable workbooks from Suzanne’s Trademark Implementation Sprint sessions go to: www.suzannedibble.com/podcastresources   The contents of this podcast are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to amount to advice. You should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Suzanne Dibble and Niche Legal Solutions Limited disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast (other than in relation to matters for which is not legally permissible to disclaim liability)

    34 min

  5. 08/05/2022

    WTW019 The 5 Vital Checks To Carry Out Before Using Any Name

    Today, on the podcast, we’re doing something a little different. For the next 3 weeks we’ll be focusing on a topic that Suzanne is asked about time and time again … trademarks. Earlier this year over 3000 people registered for Suzanne’s Trademark Implementation Sprint and since then she’s helped hundreds of people in actually going forward to register their trademarks.  In this episode she shares the 5 vital checks that you need to carry out before you think about using any name for your business whether applying for a trademark or not.   Business name, name of a programme, membership site, course, book or methodology, anything you're naming for your business needs to be run through this checking process if you want to avoid someone with the same name accusing you of copyright infringement at a later date.   This really is a must listen for anyone thinking about naming anything in their business!   In this episode: [5:00] Suzanne recounts the case of a client who was set to run an event in two days, only to be informed that she was infringing on another person’s trademark and with that came costly implications. [7:05] What’s the worst that could happen if you don’t carry out these 5 vital checks?  [9:03] Which 2 vital checks are the most important to perform first? [12:20] What are the other 3 vital checks that you need to carry out before choosing a name? [18:10] Is there a registry for business names that are not company names? [22:52] What should you do if you discover that somebody else is using your proposed name? [35:53] Can you stop another business from using your name?   Please note: In this episode Suzanne refers to a workbook and pop up Facebook group which were only available during the live Trademark Implementation Sprint earlier this year.     If you would like to listen to all of the replays and receive the downloadable workbooks from Suzanne’s Trademark Implementation Sprint sessions go to: www.suzannedibble.com/podcastresources   The contents of this podcast are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to amount to advice. You should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Suzanne Dibble and Niche Legal Solutions Limited disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast (other than in relation to matters for which is not legally permissible to disclaim liability)

    45 min

  6. 07/22/2022

    WTW018 What's the worst that can happen to Sara Price of Actually

    Today on the podcast, Suzanne is delighted to be joined by Sara Price, the founder of Actually, a business that supports purpose-led business owners to achieve their business dreams through marketing and strategy support. She was also the co-founder of one of London's leading independent PR agencies.   Sara shares her experience of choosing to start a business at a time when the economy was recovering from the financial crash and, despite the odds, turning it into a huge success. That success brought with it rapid growth. The company then had to be restructured a few years later leading to some staff redundancies which meant negotiating all the complexities and legalities that came with it.   Suzanne and Sara discuss some very important distinctions between employees and freelancers, and the rights and regulations that come into effect with each type of relationship.    They then go on to talk about the worst that could happen in Sara’s business - the ever- present threat that someone will steal Sara’s Intellectual Property, and what happens if someone decides not to pay their bill.     As always, Suzanne has practical advice on all of the subjects discussed in this episode - particularly timely as anyone in business tries to navigate through these very challenging times.   In this episode: [3:50] Sara recounts her story of starting a business within a recessive period and having massive success during that time. [5:00] Sara talks about having to restructure her business after that growth period, and how that led to making some of her employees redundant. [7:52] Suzanne highlights some of the intricacies involved in letting employees go, and how to avoid major consequences. [9:50] Suzanne and Sara discuss the differences between an employee and a freelancer, and why that definition matters when it comes to governing the professional relationship. [16:26] Suzanne shares resources to help you determine whether or not you have an employee, or have hired a freelancer. [21:41] How Sara intends to grow her team moving forward. [27:00] Sara presents Suzanne with the worst thing she feels could happen in her business surrounding non-payment and IP theft..    Learn more about Sara: https://actually.world   Find the resources mentioned in this episode! www.suzannedibble.com/podcastresources   The contents of this podcast are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to amount to advice. You should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Suzanne Dibble and Niche Legal Solutions Limited disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast (other than in relation to matters for which is not legally permissible to disclaim liability)

    38 min

  7. 07/08/2022

    WTW017 What's the worst that can happen to Danusia Malina-Derben, Founder and CEO of DMD Global?

    Today on the podcast Suzanne is delighted to be joined by Danusia Malina-Derben  - author, podcast host, mother of 10 (yes 10!), global leadership consultant and trusted advisor, and founder of DMD Global/C-Suite Consultant.   If that’s not compelling and fascinating enough, Danusia also brings with her two fascinating stories…   Danusia tells us about the time she came up with a new concept for a television show and pitched it. The pitch went very well, what followed turned into a fascinating legal experience as her show format was essentially stolen from beneath her.    In this gripping episode Danusia chats to Suzanne about how she was able to regain ownership of her show by auditioning for, and winning the expert spot she had been removed from in the first place!   Suzanne and Danusia then go on to discuss the worst that could happen in her business, only in this episode it isn’t hypothetical, it actually happened. A major bank, a contract with a CEO who suddenly passed away, and a very interesting resolution… listen in to find out more.   In this episode: [2:01] Danusia shares some of her life and accomplishments, including enjoying a long academic career, building a successful business, writing books, and hosting podcasts. [3:44] Suzanne and Danusia talk about the fact that Danusia did everything listed above while also giving birth to 10 children! [7:01] Danusia talks about the exciting and very unexpected opportunity to pitch a TV show she had written, and how it ultimately led to her show idea being stolen. [12:38] Danusia tells a story about how she attended an audition for a show that sounded alarmingly like the one she pitched, and how that audition presented the legal opportunity to regain ownership of her show.  [22:58] Suzanne asks Danusia about the worst thing that could happen in her business, and it turns out that it had already happened.  [25:16] Suzanne explains how Danusia had left herself legally exposed, and Danusia shares how the issue was resolved surrounding a contract that could no longer be honored because of an unexpected death.   Learn more about Danusia:http://www.danusiamalinaderben.com/   Find the resources mentioned in this episode! www.suzannedibble.com/podcastresources   The contents of this podcast are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to amount to advice. You should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Suzanne Dibble and Niche Legal Solutions Limited disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast (other than in relation to matters for which is not legally permissible to disclaim liability)

    31 min
  8. WTW016 What's the worst that can happen to Liz Melville, Facebook Ads and Launch Specialist?

    06/24/2022

    WTW016 What's the worst that can happen to Liz Melville, Facebook Ads and Launch Specialist?

    Today on the podcast we’re excited to have Facebook Ads and Launch Strategist Liz Melville as our guest. Liz has an impressive list of carefully selected VIP clients that would make most business owners envious.    Helping her clients achieve excellent launch results through strategy and paid traffic, Liz explains that sometimes paid traffic doesn’t always perform as expected, and when that happens the blame occasionally is aimed at Liz instead of the ads themselves.  When you’re talking about launches that are worth multiple millions of pounds it’s therefore paramount for Liz to get her legals in order.   In this episode Suzanne and Liz discuss what happens when ads don’t work out the way they’re intended to, and how Liz has protected herself against that. They also share their thoughts on trademarks, and why it’s important to trademark not only your business name, but also your courses or programmes. Finally, Liz shares her concerns around defamation and reputational damage, and whether it would spell the end of her business.    In this episode: [1:22] Suzanne asks Liz to share the names of some of the high-profile clients she’s worked with, and how she came to win James Wedmore as a client. [6:36] Liz shares how she works with clients one to one, but also the two programmes she runs to help clientele with their overall launch strategy, and then taking it a step deeper to focus on the paid traffic element of the launch. [8:25] Liz talks about how the world of paid traffic, and the unpredictable nature of paid ads, has led her to not only appreciate contracts and agreements, but to see them as a crucial and necessary step in any professional relationship. [10:11] Suzanne relates that most legal issues come from a place of the client and the provider having mismatched expectations, and how to ensure that doesn't create an unpleasant legal scenario in your business.  [13:53] Liz shares a story about a trademark she obtained, and how it really changed the way she viewed and thought about trademarking not only her business name, but also the names of her programmes and courses. [20:50] Liz talks about her fears around defamation, and reputational damage as possibly the worst thing that could happen within her business, and Suzanne gives her insights on protecting yourself against someone who has decided to run a campaign against your brand.   Find the resources mentioned in this episode! www.suzannedibble.com/podcastresources   The contents of this podcast are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to amount to advice. You should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Suzanne Dibble and Niche Legal Solutions Limited disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast (other than in relation to matters for which is not legally permissible to disclaim liability)

    29 min
See All (23)

Ratings & Reviews

About

“What’s the worst that could happen?” – multi-award winning business lawyer Suzanne Dibble chats to fellow online small business owners about the worst-case legal scenarios that can, and unfortunately do, rear their ugly head, and importantly how to prevent them – all covered in a fun and light-hearted way, but with a serious undertone because you really do want to put the protections in place to stop the worst happening so that you can sleep easy at night! And just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s boring – Suzanne’s passion for helping fellow business owners is engaging and infectious. She is renowned for her ability to break down the complexities of legal protection so that they are easy to put in place whether you’re a solopreneur, micro business or small business. For the past 11 years, Suzanne and her expert team have helped tens of thousands of small business owners get to grips with the law and regulations – providing all the resources needed to be proactive about legal affairs in an affordable way so that small business owners do not risk easy to prevent legal problems and can sustain and grow their business to secure financial independence. Suzanne is one of the few lawyers that really understands the practicalities of running a small business. Her flagship product, the Small Business Legal Academy was heralded by the SRA and Legal Services Board as “pioneering”, won a Law Society Award and 100% of its members, when surveyed, would recommend it. To access all of the amazing resources mentioned in the show, visit https://suzannedibble.com/podcastresources/ For further information visit https://www.suzannedibble.com or email support@suzannedibble.com

Information

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada