If you’ve followed my journey, you know I started Me Time to help people reclaim control of their lives. That mission hasn’t changed—it’s just getting sharper. I’ve noticed more and more of you are building newsletters, podcasts, and coaching offers on Substack. You are building a business. And now I’m pivoting to support that work directly: H creators, just like you, grow what you’re doing into a sustainable business without putting your finances or peace of mind at risk.
You don’t need to “go big” to start taking your work seriously. You just need smart boundaries and solid basics—like Terms & Conditions for your Substack.
1. How to Build a Substack Business with Minimum Risk
You don’t need to quit your job or pour thousands into your idea. You can grow your Substack slowly and intentionally—treating it like a side hustle until it earns your full attention.
In this video, I talked about:
The fear of starting a business and how the fear of loosing it all can be managed and reduced to a minimum via T&Cs.
What Substack Terms govern and most importantly, what they lack.
What limitations Substack terms have on risk… and why you should do the same for your publication….
2. Who on Substack Needs Terms & Conditions—and Why
Let’s talk about the part most creators skip… and they may regret later. Having your own Terms & Conditions for your Substack Publication.
🔐 If you’re doing any of the following, you absolutely need your own terms:
Offering advice (legal, financial, mental health, or even productivity)
Sharing coaching tools, worksheets, or templates
Running a podcast, live sessions, or classes
Recommending products or affiliate links
Selling digital products or paid subscriptions
3. When you may not need T&Cs
(but it’s still good to have anyway)
If you’re publishing for fun and everything you share is free and personal, you might not need them yet. But the moment money changes hands—or someone might rely on what you say—you’re in “risk territory.”
4. Why Substack’s Terms Are Not Enough
Substack has its own platform Terms. But those only cover their liability—not yours. Substack terms talk about the relationship between you as a user and creator and them as the platform provider.
Substack terms are NOT talking about the relationship between you and your subscribers. You’re just the “Publisher,” and they make it very clear that what you post is your responsibility. If someone claims they were harmed by your content, Substack won’t (and shouldn’t) step in to protect you.
5. 💡 So what can protect you?
Your own Publisher Terms, of course!
They:
Clarify that your content isn’t personalised advice, it’s not advice at all but simply information.
Limit your liability if someone is affected in a detrimental way by the information you’ve shared.
Discuss how your content can or cannot be used- i.e. no sharing paid content with others.
Set expectations around refunds, cancellations, of other products you sell to your Sub-stackers that’s not already governed by Substack functionality.
In other words: Substack’s terms protect them. Your terms protect you.
Read this for more detailed info on T&Cs and how to add them.
6. What Paid Me Time Subscribers Get
If you’re a paid subscriber to Me Time, you get:
🧾 Publisher Terms Template specifically Created by Substack that you can draft with your own details and have in your website in 10 minutes.
1:1 Office Hours with me to look at what you created, see if something special may need to be added.
Peace of mind that you are building on a solid foundation. And most revenue you get from Substack will stay with you not go on lawsuits and claims.
📚 Ongoing resources tailored for creators like you to understand how to build a modern business harnessing the power of tools so you can hold onto the job, but have something working on the side also.
I super power creators to create portfolio careers, including passions, businesses and a classic career and so hopefully we can reduce the impact of AI taking our jobs will have on our ability to provide for our families!
7. A Bit About Me (Noemi Apetri)
I’m Noemi! Hi! I am a former lawyer and legal counsel with over a decade career in tech, working closely with SaaS companies to help them scale without drowning in risk.
At the core of what I want to share here is the idea that Terms and Conditions are the written boundaries we set in place to ensure our creativity and what we offer the world on Substack does not turn out to affect our livelihood or savings. That we remove as much of the risk as possible.
I’ve created Me Time because I believe everyone deserves the chance to build something meaningful, on their own terms, to help people and not hurt their livelihood int he process.
If you want to work together or you have questions, do reach out via DM.
If you want to build something that secures your income in a scary world where AI takes most jobs, join Me Time where we learn together how to develop and adapt with the times to ultimatelt thrive.
I want everyone to work reduced hours and make lots of money so they can use it for leasure, family time, doing things that bring you and others joy!
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