As an online business owner, you face a unique set of challenges that brick and mortar businesses don’t have to worry about. The internet provides the perfect opportunity for anyone to start a business, but it also leaves your business open to attack from criminals both domestically and abroad. In this article, we will discuss six tips that will help you protect your online business from theft, fraud, and other malicious activities.
Give Your Business a Legal Entity
One of the best ways to protect your online business is to give it a legal entity. This can be done by forming a corporation or LLC. Doing this will create a barrier between your assets and your business assets, which will protect you if your business is sued or faces other legal problems. As seen with folks at Revision Legal, it’s important to have an online business lawyer help you with this process to ensure that everything is done correctly. If you don’t form a legal entity for your business, you could be putting your assets at risk.
Remember, the goal is to protect your business, so don’t cut corners when it comes to legalities. In some cases, it may even be worth setting up a trust to further protect your assets.
Get Business Insurance
Another way to protect your online business is to get business insurance. This will protect you financially if something goes wrong with your business, such as if you are sued or if your website is hacked. Business insurance can be expensive, but it is worth the investment if you want to protect your online business. In most cases, you can get business insurance through your local chamber of commerce or the Small Business Administration.
However, many online insurers offer business insurance. Consider getting quotes from several different insurers to find the best rate. If you have a home-based business, you may be able to get a discount on your homeowners’ insurance by adding business insurance riders to your policy.
Always Use Written Contracts
When you are doing business online, it is important to always use written contracts. This will protect you if there is a dispute between you and your customer or client. A written contract should outline the terms of the agreement between you and the other party, such as what services will be provided, how much money will be paid, and when the work will be completed. Having a written contract will give you the ability to take legal action if the other party does not hold up their end of the deal.
Keep in mind that oral contracts are also legally binding, but they can be more difficult to enforce. However, if you do not have a written contract, it is important to at least send an email confirmation of the agreement so that you have a record of what was agreed upon.
Choose a Secure Host
When you are setting up your online business, it is important to choose a secure host. A secure host will protect your website from hackers and other malicious activities. There are many different types of hosts, so make sure to do your research to find the best one for your needs.
In general, you want to choose a host that offers security features such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and malware removal. You also want to make sure that the host has a good reputation and is reliable. Some hosts will even offer security guarantees, so be sure to ask about this when you are shopping around.
Use Strong Passwords
Another way to protect your online business is to use strong passwords. Strong passwords are important because they will help to keep your account safe from hackers. When you are choosing a password, you should choose one that is at least eight characters long and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. You should never use the same password for more than one account, and you should change your password regularly.
In addition, you should never share your password with anyone. If you are worried about forgetting your password, you can use a password manager to help you keep track of all of your passwords.
Back-Up Everything
One of the most important things you can do to protect your online business is to back up everything. This includes your website, databases, email, and other important files. There are many different ways to backup your data, so you will need to choose the method that best suits your needs. In general, you should back up your data weekly and store the backups off-site. This will ensure that you always have a recent backup in case something goes wrong with your website or computer. There are many different backup services available, so be sure to shop around to find the best one for your needs.
There are many things you can do to protect your online business. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your business is safe from hackers, data loss, and other potential problems. Remember to always use strong passwords, choose a secure host, and backup your data regularly. You should also consider getting business insurance and using written contracts.
