If you’re getting paid for your creative work more than once in a while, you’re not “just doing a side gig” anymore—you’re running a business, whether you meant to or not.
In 2026, creatives in film, TV, music, fashion, gaming, and content creation should think about three basics:
1. Is this really a business now?
If you’d miss the money or worry about the fallout if a project goes wrong, you’re beyond hobby stage. Regular payments, repeat clients, brand deals, or a growing audience are all signs you’re operating a real business.
2. Choose a structure on purpose
Staying “just you” means every contract and every risk hits your personal life. Forming an LLC or corporation can help separate your personal assets from your creative work and make you look more professional to collaborators, brands, and platforms.
3. Don’t start serious projects without basic contracts
At minimum, most creatives should have:
A collaboration agreement (who owns what and how money is split),
A services/client agreement (what you’re doing, for how much, and when you’re paid), and
*A license/rights agreement when someone wants to use your work.
If you’re in California and want help setting this up before you sign the next deal, you can reach out to Catherine James Esquire to talk about your options.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship with Catherine James Esquire. This is an attorney advertisement
