The Smart Creator’s Guidebook
The Legal Side of Your Online Business, Finally in Plain English
GDPR, FTC disclosures, copyright, AI content, and more. A plain-English reference guide from a retired attorney who has run an online business since 2014, so you know what actually applies to you and what to do about it.
One-time payment of $27 · PDF and ePub · Instant delivery
Written by a retired attorney
Licensed in two states, in online business since 2014
Plain English throughout
No legalese, no scare tactics
A clear reference for $27
Instead of piecing it together from random blog posts
Lifetime access to future editions
Updated second edition, published in 2025
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If Any of These Sound Like You, This Guide Is for You
Most online business owners piece together their legal knowledge from blog posts, Facebook groups, and the occasional conference session. That leaves gaps you don’t know about until something makes you look.
Why It Matters
Why Understanding This Early Pays Off
None of these topics are hard once someone explains them. They only feel overwhelming when you’re sorting through contradictory information on your own.
Your legal pages and policies
Knowing which disclaimers, disclosures, and policies your site needs, and what each one should include.
Data privacy
What GDPR, CCPA, and newer state privacy laws mean for your email list, analytics, and website tools.
Affiliate links and sponsored content
How to disclose the right way, before your first affiliate link, ad network application, or brand deal.
Copyright, trademarks, and AI
What copyright and trademarks cover, what to do if your content is stolen, and where AI-generated content fits in.
Newer rules
Coverage of newer developments like the FTC rule on recurring subscriptions, BOI reporting, and the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation for digital products.
Confidence to move forward
When you know what applies to you, you can make informed decisions instead of hoping for the best.
The Honest Comparison
A Dozen Search Results vs. One Clear Reference
Type a legal question about your online business into a search bar and you’ll get a dozen answers that don’t agree. Some are outdated, some are written for big companies, and most are full of legalese.
That’s the reason this guidebook exists. The legal side of online business has a reputation for being complicated, which keeps people either ignoring it or overwhelmed by it. Once someone explains what each rule means for a business your size, it gets a lot more manageable.
What you get here instead: a plain-English reference guide, written for online business owners, that you can come back to whenever a question comes up.
What You Get
What’s Inside the Guidebook
14 chapters covering the laws and rules that affect online business owners, plus checklists to help you take action.
Delivered as a PDF and an ePub, so you can read it on your computer, tablet, Kindle, or Apple Books.
How It Works
Four Steps to Clarity
1. Download the Guidebook
Get instant access to the PDF and ePub versions and read it wherever works best for you.
2. Start With the Checklist
The Cover Your Assets checklist shows you where your site already stands and where the gaps are.
3. Read What Applies to You
Jump to the chapters that match your business, or read it cover to cover.
4. Take Action
Use what you learn to update your site, your policies, and your processes, and come back whenever a new question comes up.
Included With Your Purchase
Everything That Comes With It
The complete guidebook
14 chapters on the legal side of running an online business.
PDF and ePub versions
Read it on your computer, tablet, Kindle, or Apple Books.
Bonus checklists
Step-by-step checklists so you always know what to do next.
Lifetime access to future editions
As laws change and new editions come out, you get them too.
Get Clarity
Ready to Stop Guessing?
A clear legal reference for your online business, for less than the cost of dinner out.
$27 one-time · Instant delivery
Meet Your Educator
I’m Liz Stapleton
I got licensed to practice law in two states, then spent years in a career most attorneys never have: teaching lawyers and judges how to use legal research tools more efficiently. If I could help the people who practice law for a living work smarter, I can explain the legal side of your online business in plain English.
I’ve been in online business for 10+ years, so I know what it feels like to wear every hat and try to figure out what’s actually required, without spending thousands on attorneys who don’t speak your language.
“If your grandma can’t understand it, it’s not clear enough.”
I wrote this guidebook because the gap between “I know I need to understand this” and “I can actually afford an attorney” shouldn’t exist. I stay current on the legal changes that affect online businesses, including GDPR updates, FTC disclosure rules, and new AI use laws.
I’ve helped thousands of bloggers, creators, coaches, and online business owners get properly protected, and I’ve spoken at virtual and in-person conferences on website legal compliance.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this just for bloggers?
No. It’s for anyone running an online business: bloggers, course creators, freelancers, service providers, and digital product sellers.
Is it US-based?
I’m US-based and wrote it from that perspective, but it also covers international laws like GDPR. And if you work with US-based companies, like ad networks or affiliate programs, many of the rules it covers likely apply to you too.
Is this a set of legal templates?
No. It’s a plain-English reference guide that helps you understand the legal landscape so you can make informed decisions. My legal templates are sold separately.
What format is it in?
You get both a PDF and an ePub, so you can read it on your computer, tablet, Kindle, Apple Books, or other e-readers.
Do you offer refunds?
Because this is a digital product with instant access, I don’t offer refunds.
Is this legal advice?
No. The guidebook is general education and information, not legal advice, and it doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. For advice on your specific situation, consult with an attorney.
One Less Thing to Wonder About
Know Where You Stand Legally
Plain English. No scare tactics. A reference you can come back to anytime.
$27 one-time · PDF and ePub · Lifetime access to future editions
Disclaimer
ElizabethStapleton.com is not a law firm. While I am an attorney, I am not your attorney, and nothing on this website, downloads, or content available are to be construed as creating an attorney-client relationship. Additionally, nothing in this site or resources made available are to be considered legal advice. Content and resources provided on this site are meant for educational and informational purposes only. The author is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content, downloads, or resources made available on or through this website. If you need specific legal advice, consult with an attorney who specializes in your subject matter and jurisdiction.
Testimonials and case studies about others’ experience with my website, products, and services are from actual customers and clients and are shown as examples of what is possible. There are several factors that determine a customer’s success, such as hard work and time, so I can in no way guarantee that current or future customers will achieve the same or similar results as previous customers. The examples, case studies, and testimonials are simply illustrative of what is possible.