·4 min read
MVP Legal Checklist: What You Actually Need
You do not need a lawyer to launch an MVP. But you do need some basics in place.
Before Launch: Required
- •Privacy Policy: What data you collect and how you use it
- •Terms of Service: Rules for using your product
- •Cookie consent: Required in EU, good practice everywhere
- •Business email: Use your domain, not personal Gmail
Privacy Policy Essentials
- •What data you collect
- •How you use that data
- •Who you share it with
- •How users can delete their data
- •How to contact you
Terms of Service Essentials
- •Acceptable use policy
- •Payment and refund terms
- •Intellectual property rights
- •Limitation of liability
- •Termination conditions
Free Tools for Legal Docs
| Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Termly | Privacy policy generator |
| Iubenda | Cookie consent and policies |
| GetTerms | Basic terms of service |
| Plain language templates | Starting point to customize |
What Can Wait
- •Trademark registration
- •Formal company incorporation (often)
- •GDPR Data Processing Agreements
- •Custom lawyer-drafted contracts
- •Industry-specific compliance (depends on industry)
When You Need a Lawyer
- •Handling health or financial data
- •B2B with enterprise clients
- •Raising investment
- •Complex equity arrangements
A free privacy policy generator is better than no privacy policy. Start with templates and upgrade later.