M A K E Y O U R B U S I N E S S L E G I T I N J U S T 4 5 M I N U T E S
Follow my step-by-step guide to ensure your photography business is legally & financially sound
And your personal assets are protected from anything that could go wrong.
T H I S I S N ’ T Y O U R H I G H - S C H O O L B A B Y S I T T I N G G I G
Being paid in cash (or via one of the apps)
& doing shoots to make extra money on the side
is putting everything you’ve built on the line.
Separating your business from your personal life is the first step
to go from a side hustle to a real-life business owner.
It may not feel like a problem if you haven’t quite “hit it big” yet—
But if you’re going to do this for real (aka make more
than $600/year*), you’ve gotta do it right.
*The amount the IRS says is a paid job vs a little extra walking-around money.
The good news?
It’s not that hard.
You could finish the whole process in the time it takes you to stream a few episodes of your favorite show’s reruns—just don’t watch the TV too closely.
Listen, I get it:
Creating a legitimate business setup might feel like taking things a little too seriously—but what if I told you, you’re not taking your skills seriously enough?
You’ve got what it takes to make your photography gig
into something really awesome—
It could be your ticket out of a job you hate,
a path to greater freedom & flexibility,
and the road to financial stability you’ve always craved …
… but not if you don’t take the steps to protect yourself,
your business, & your personal assets.
Operating a sole proprietorship
(aka a side hustle under your name & tied to your social security number)
means your business and your personal life
are one (super tangled-up) entity.
And if something goes sideways—everything you and your business own is at risk.
There’s other stuff, too—businesses get tax breaks that individuals don’t,
and certain investment opportunities to grow your business’s cash reserves are only available if your business is actually a business.
W H E N I T C O M E S R I G H T D O W N T O I T :
The pro-con list for making your business legit heavily favors
the pro column … (In fact, the con list is … well … blank.)
I N T R O D U C I N G T H E
BUSINESS BASICS WORKSHOP
with Jessica Whitaker
Featuring the eight essential steps to build your photography
business and make it bloom—the right way.
Inside, you’ll learn:
The basics of LLCs, how to create yours, and how to get your EIN—and a super simple explanation for both in case the alphabet soup went over your head. ;)
Opening a business bank account & separating your money
How to work with an accountant on your business financial goals
Simplified business bookkeeping & how to do it yourself
What contracts & legal docs to consider & where to buy them
The starting point for saving for your retirement
How to find a financial advisor
How to start investing
Where to find business insurance
T H I S 4 5 - M I N U T E C O U R S E C U T S T H R O U G H T H E F L U F F
& B R E A K S D O W N E V E R Y T H I N G Y O U N E E D T O K N O W
Skip the overwhelm and get your
(financial & legal) ducks in a row—
so your business & personal assets are safe once and for all.
What you really NEED to know from the
Business Basics Workshop
✅ The money your business makes and the assets you have are kept separate & safe.
Your photography business doesn’t own your house or your car—you know that—but if your business isn’t set up the right way the law doesn’t see a difference. In the event of a lawsuit, without the proper protection, everything you own could be up for grabs to pay damages if the plaintiff wins their case.
✅ You’re ready for tax season—well before April.
No more crossing your fingers and hoping the numbers go your way. I’ll teach you my simple savings practices, how I keep money organized and accounted for, and how I make sure that tax season doesn’t hurt so bad when I have to pay my share to the IRS.
✅ Your financial future is a priority.
Owning your own business shouldn’t mean you lose out on perks like retirement and investment opportunities, but many business owners put these on the back burner until they’re “more successful.” Bad idea. I’ll show you how to make small gains from the very beginning to make sure that your financial future is always built into your business goals.
✅ You’ve covered your bases if something “unexpected” comes up.
Things like contracts and policies can kinda suck the fun out of things—but they’re necessary, especially when you’re providing a paid service to clients. Of course, we hope we don’t have to enforce the scary terms & conditions, but they need to be in place to protect everyone in the exchange.
✅ How to outsource the important stuff to trustworthy people.
Accounting is one of the only things I 100% believe should be outsourced. Why? Because most photographers aren’t CPAs. (If you are, you can skip this one!) Tax law and investment strategy is not something the average person just understands—so having someone you can turn to for advice is key in getting your business running smart from the very beginning.
Inside the Business Basics Workshop, you’ll learn:
The basics of LLCs, how to create yours, and how to get your EIN—and a super simple explanation for both in case the alphabet soup went over your head.;)
Opening a business bank account & separating your money
How to work with an accountant on your business financial goals
Simplified business bookkeeping & how to do it yourself
What contracts & legal docs to consider & where to buy them
The starting point for saving for your retirement
How to find a financial advisor
How to start investing
Where to find business insurance
Hey, I’m Jessica!
I teach simplified, straightforward photography and business education to photographers who want to build businesses they can be proud of without getting bogged down.
My goal is to share the lessons I’ve learned & the skills I’ve honed to make your path easier and more enjoyable. Plus, everything I teach & sell is aimed at making your future successes more accessible, so my resources are bite-sized & affordable without skipping any important details.
When it comes to Business Basics—here’s what you’ve gotta know: your skills are important but your legal & financial security is an even bigger deal.
Don’t let yourself spend one more minute on the “pretty stuff” if you haven’t gotten the business stuff squared away.
Jessica is such a gift to this world!
She pours her soul into everything she cultivates.
I was amazed by her knowledge and expertise—she simplified the intimidating topics of taxes and finances and made it seem a whole heck of a lot more doable! Things can be scary in the beginning, but Jessica is so real, relatable, and has your best interest in mind when she teaches!"
- Grace
Whenever I listen to Jessica, I feel like she’s so relatable
and breaks down complex topics so well that you feel inspired to take action.
I finished knowing the exact next steps to take in my business.
- Alison
I’m a momma, wife, and registered nurse in Texas. I recently fell head over heels
IN LOVE with photography and am itching to turn it into a legitimate side hustle.
I have zero background in business operations or start-ups, and the Business Basics Workshop with Jessica was phenomenal.
She is so sweet and personable, and such an amazing teacher! The class has given me a solid launching board for getting my business going and I am SO EXCITED! It is 10000% worth the price, and I definitely plan on taking more of Jessica’s workshops in the future!
- Heather
Jessica laid out the fundamental steps to creating a sustainable and legally abiding business in such a simple way!
I have been hesitant to register my business mainly because it felt like such a daunting task but after she explained the process, it felt like something I could accomplish easily on my own. I finished the class feeling motivated to elevate my business and grow as a young business owner knowing I'm taking the right steps towards success!
- Jasmine
I was having trouble figuring out how to get an LLC and I finished feeling confident in even more topics I didn't even realize I was in the dark about.
For example, the tip regarding tax expenses and qualifying for a mortgage is very smart!
Jessica is super funny and personable, making the rather dry content actually enjoyable to learn. It really felt like sitting down with a friend 1:1. I loved that she discussed how important it is for women to become empowered in business. Worth every penny!
- Kathleen
You’ve got questions, I’ve got answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the course start and finish? ↓
You’ll get immediate access to the video-based course, and keep access forever. It is a completely self-paced online course—you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long is the course? ↓
It's short & sweet at just 45 minutes of instruction time. Implementing what you learn will likely take a few hours.
What format is this course in? ↓
It is video format so you can learn at your own pace! You can adjust the playback speed so that nothing stands in the way of you learning the material.
Will this course include the legal documents (such as photography contracts)? ↓
No, photography contracts and legal documents need to be written by a business attorney, and those documents are not included in the course—but I do provide guidance on where to get them. Some tools will require you to sign up or pay to use them if you choose to use them. Please note, the content of this course is not to be considered legal or financial advice, but I do point you to trustworthy resources & tools that relate to the content & topics we cover in this course.
How long do I have access to the course? ↓
You receive lifetime access to this version, Business Basics 1.0, and can access it from any device you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course? ↓
If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us at workshop@jessicawhitaker.co within 7 days of purchase and we will give you a full refund.
Does this course apply to only those in the United States? ↓
I am based in the United States and the information provided in this course is based on laws & regulations within the United States. If you are based in another country, the information regarding business registration & tax laws may or may not be applicable for you—but some of the concepts would still apply.
S Q U A R E U P Y O U R B U S I N E S S W I T H T H E
BUSINESS BASICS WORKSHOP
with Jessica Whitaker
Complete the eight essential steps to set up your photography
business and make it bloom—the right way.
Inside, you’ll learn:
The basics of LLCs, how to create yours, and how to get your EIN
Opening a business bank account & separating your money
How to work with an accountant on your business financial goals
What is bookkeeping & how to do it yourself
What contracts & legal docs to consider & where to buy them
The starting point for saving for your retirement
How to find a financial advisor
How to start investing
Where to find business insurance
Jessica Whitaker is not an accountant, financial advisor, or lawyer and is no way giving legal or financial advice.