So what is next after you launch your company and have all of your basic business documents in order. Protecting yourself and your company should be at the top of your priority list.
So how do you protect your company and your website users?
To keep out of trouble with partners, contractors, employees and users, keep in mind these three key items.
1. Website Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
As with most web sites, you will see the links to these at the bottom of this page. These documents let users know what data you collect and how you use it. To be honest, most people don’t read them, but they are still important to have on your website. A terms of services policy, (or terms of use policy), is simply a set of terms telling a visitor how they can use your company's website or mobile application. Likewise, a privacy policy tells a user how their data and information that is collected from them will be used. There are three basic reasons why you need to have both a terms of service and a privacy policy in posted:
Online Payments
A terms of service or privacy policy is often required to be able to get a payment gateway for your website or mobile application. Without one, you will not be able to accept payments online.
Trust
Because most customers do not want their information shared with others under any circumstances whatsoever, they will not be able to trust you with their information and business if you don't have these policies in place. A privacy policy is necessary if you want users to feel comfortable using your website.
It may be tedious, but read these policy that are posted on web sites that are in a similar businesses to your own. This will give you an idea of what to include and how to write yours. And don't just write it and forget it. The market changes quickly and you need to keep it updated to address the latest technologies. Your potential customers will notice.
Security
If you do not have these policies in place, then you may not be able to take action against a user who misbehaves on your website. Examples include hacking or posting offensive, pornographic or abusive content on your site.
2. Partnership Agreement
One of the biggest mistakes that first time entrepreneurs make is not writing a partnership agreement. There are two main reasons for writing one. The first is to be able to effectively manage your business by dividing and managing duties based on the skills and abilities of each partner. These roles should be decided upon up front during the organizational formulation of the partnership. Remember that a partnership agreement is essentially a divorce decree. You can circumvent future misunderstandings or arguments if someone decides to leave the partnership.
3. Confidentially agreement and NDAs
These types of documents protect both your company and those that you contract to fill specific roles for you.
If the contractor has access to sensitive information, it is vital for the company to have them sign a nondisclosure agreement as a condition of their contract. It is important for a company to protect itself from any type of accidental or intentional exposure of privileged information. A nondisclosure agreement helps to ensure that this information does not fall into the hands of a rival company. They protect you and your ideas from intellectual theft.