Ask HN: How do I protect my start-up from law suits? (USA)
I've been tossing around a couple of ideas for side businesses that I could try out while holding on to my day job, and then see where they go from there. I'm turning over the ideas of selling herbal supplements (not a la Tim Ferriss, I swear), and/or selling consulting services as a patient advocate.
I understand that 95% of a start-up is just getting off your butt and doing it, but I find that I stall when I think about possible legal issues. What if someone with a severe ragweed allergy goes into anaphylactic shock over chamomile contamination? What if somebody gets the idea that I should pay their $100,000 chemotherapy debt because the health insurance company won't, despite my best efforts?
Incorporating sounds like putting the cart ahead of the horse, but I don't want to put my personal assets at too much risk unnecessarily.
What steps would you suggest to shield my business and my family from liability?