Avoid Legal Landmines: Attorney Steven Jacobs’ Playbook for SMBs (Contracts, IP, Data Breach & More)

Small and mid-size businesses face the same legal risks as big companies—just with fewer reps and resources. In this episode of What Keeps You Awake.tv, host David Hooser sits down with attorney Steven Jacobs to unpack the most common (and costly) legal pitfalls SMBs run into—and how to prevent them before they become bet-the-company problems. Steven explains why “buttoning up the holes” matters, how airtight contracts protect revenue, what to know about employees vs. contractors, and why IP, data security, and fast-changing regulations (including AI and employment rules) should be on every owner’s checklist. He also shares practical, budget-smart ways to work with counsel so legal becomes a growth enabler, not just a cost center. What you’ll learn: Why SMBs are vulnerable: fewer repetitions, ad-hoc processes, scattered records The contract basics that save you in court (and help you get paid) Employees vs. contractors: avoiding misclassification traps across states and cities IP protection 101: trademarks, copyrights, patents—and avoiding “borrowed” web content Compliance in motion: how policy shifts and AI rules can hit small teams Data protection and breach response: why investing early (and using a solid MSP) reduces legal exposure Statutes of limitation and record-keeping: how long you’re on the hook—and what to retain Mass arbitration vs. class actions: why prevention beats defense every time If this helped, please like, subscribe, and share with a fellow business owner. Got questions for Steven? Drop them in the comments—we’ll compile and pass them along for a future FAQ episode. #SmallBusiness #LegalTips #Contracts #IntellectualProperty #Compliance #EmploymentLaw #DataSecurity #AIBusiness #Entrepreneurs #SMB #StartupLaw #BusinessGrowth #WhatKeepsYouAwakeTV #StevenJacobs