Protect Your Online Course Business with an Earnings Disclaimer

You’ve just launched your online course with a bang, promising strategies to double income in just six months. Your success story pulls in hundreds of eager clients. But a few months down the line, not everyone is seeing these miraculous results, and the discontent starts brewing. One particularly frustrated client decides they’ve been misled and takes you to court. Now, you’re caught up in an expensive lawsuit because you didn’t have an earnings disclaimer clarifying that those results aren’t typical for everyone. Ouch.

Why this nightmare could be yours: That scenario isn’t just bad luck; it’s a real risk for anyone offering educational content, coaching, or consulting services online. It shows why having an earnings disclaimer isn’t just ticking a legal box—it’s crucial for protecting your business and your reputation.

What exactly is an Earnings Disclaimer?

It’s that vital bit of text that tells your clients, “Hey, results vary!” An earnings disclaimer is there to let everyone know that the success stories or financial promises on your website may not happen for everyone. It explains that while your courses or coaching are designed to be helpful, the actual cash someone might pocket can really differ because of a whole slew of external factors.

Do you really need one?

An earnings disclaimer is your legal safety net. It sets the right expectations and builds trust by being honest about what your services can realistically achieve. This statement acts as your legal armor against accusations of false promises about financial gains. It clearly tells your clients that success depends on various factors, including their own efforts and situations, which helps sidestep misunderstandings and protects your business while keeping your reputation solid.

Who should have one on their website?

Pretty much anyone whose work suggests you might make money from their advice:

Course Creators: If your courses promise to teach money-making skills, you need to clear up that not everyone will rake in the cash.

Coaches and Consultants: From life coaching to financial advising—if your sessions hint at financial improvement, make sure your disclaimer covers you by explaining results vary.

Bloggers and Influencers: Sharing affiliate links or money-making tips? An earnings disclaimer keeps your followers’ expectations in check.

This simple piece of text reassures your audience that while you’re providing them with the tools and knowledge for financial success, you’re not handing out guarantees, and a lot depends on their own grunt work.

What should an Earnings Disclaimer include?

Here’s the lowdown on what to pack into your earnings disclaimer to cover all bases:

• No Guaranteed Earnings: Kick off by making it clear that making money isn’t guaranteed. Highlight that past successes or testimonials aren’t a guarantee that everyone will hit the jackpot.
• Typical Results: Be upfront about what the average Joe might expect. If you don’t know, say so—that way, no one’s assuming they’re a shoo-in for stellar results.
• Factors at Play: Spell out that various personal and external factors like motivation, market conditions, and individual skills can influence outcomes.
• About Affiliates: If you’re earning from affiliates or third-party links, disclose this. Make it clear that while you back these products or services, you’re not promising they’ll work wonders for everyone.
• Read and Acknowledge: Consider including a bit where users confirm they’ve read and understood your disclaimer. This isn’t just about covering your legal bases—it’s about ensuring everyone’s on the same page.

By weaving these elements into your earnings disclaimer, you’re not just legally safeguarding your business—you’re also nurturing trust by setting honest, transparent expectations with your audience.

How to Write an Earnings Disclaimer

Crafting an effective earnings disclaimer doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s all about clear communication and understanding your business’s specific needs. Let’s break it down with a straightforward example and some practical tips on how to pen one that fits your offerings.

Here’s a simple Earnings Disclaimer example:

"We offer powerful tools and resources aimed at helping you achieve financial success. However, we can’t promise that you’ll earn money using the techniques and ideas mentioned here. The examples we show aren’t guarantees of earnings, and your actual earning potential depends entirely on you—how much time you invest, your financial resources, knowledge, and various skills."

Steps to Write an Earnings Disclaimer:

1. Be Clear and Concise: Stick to simple, straightforward language to ensure everyone can easily understand your disclaimer. Stay away from complex legal terms that might confuse your audience.
2. Address Variability: Make it clear that past results aren’t predictive of future outcomes. Emphasize that success differs from person to person and depends on individual effort and external factors.
3. Specify Any Assumptions: If your success stories rely on specific conditions, be transparent about these. This helps prevent any misunderstandings about what your audience can expect.
4. Include Relevant Examples: Where fitting, share examples of typical results or testimonials to illustrate your point, but remind readers these aren’t guarantees of their future success.
5. Update Regularly: Keep your disclaimer up-to-date with any changes in your offerings or relevant laws.
6. Consult with Legal Professionals: For full compliance and to tailor your disclaimer perfectly, it’s wise to get advice from a lawyer.

By sticking to these guidelines, you’ll craft an earnings disclaimer that not only protects your business but also clearly communicates with your clients, reducing the risk of legal headaches.

For inspiration, take a look at Douglas Dwellings: They have a well-crafted earnings disclaimer that clearly outlines their stance, providing a great example of how to protect your business while setting the right expectations. View Douglas Dwellings Earning Disclaimer for more details on how they articulate their disclaimer.

Don’t Risk It! The High Cost of Skipping an Earnings Disclaimer

Skipping out on an earnings disclaimer might seem like no big deal, but it can actually land you in some hot water. Here’s what could go wrong if you don’t have one:

Legal Headaches: Imagine this—you promise big results, someone doesn’t see those results, and decides you’re to blame. Next thing you know, you could be facing a lawsuit. Without a disclaimer, you don’t have much to stand on legally.

Money Down the Drain: Legal battles don’t come cheap. You could end up shelling out a ton for lawyers, and if things don’t go your way, you might even have to pay settlements or fines.

Reputation on the Line: Your online reputation is everything. If word gets out that you’re not delivering on your promises, it can seriously harm your business. Once trust is broken, it’s really hard to win back.

Fines and Penalties: Depending on what you’re selling and where you’re located, you might be breaking some serious rules by not having a disclaimer. This can lead to fines and other unpleasant surprises from regulatory bodies.

Trust Issues: Customers expect transparency. If they feel like you’re not being upfront about what they can realistically achieve, they’ll lose trust in you. And once trust is gone, it’s incredibly difficult to get it back.

In short, an earnings disclaimer isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have. It protects you, keeps your customers informed, and helps maintain the trust you’ve worked so hard to build. So, do yourself a favor and make sure your website has one—it could save you a lot of trouble down the line.

Need Help Crafting Your Earnings Disclaimer?

If you’re feeling a bit unsure about making your earnings disclaimer, don’t worry! You don’t have to figure it out on your own. There are some great places online that can make the process super easy and make sure your disclaimer does exactly what it needs to:

Termly.io: This site is awesome because it helps you create legal documents without needing to be a lawyer yourself. They have tools that walk you through making an earnings disclaimer that fits your business just right. You can check them out at Termly.io.

Plainly Legal: This is where Bobby Klink’s legal templates have found a new home. They offer loads of customizable legal templates perfect for course creators, coaches, and consultants. They make it really simple to get the legal stuff right. Head over to Plainly Legal’s website to see what they offer.

Using these resources can take a lot of the stress out of making sure you’re covered legally, so you can focus more on growing your business and less on the fine print!