If you're thinking Liability Insurance is going to be super expensive, I'm here to tell you the cost may not be as bad as you might expect. It's going to depend on the type of consulting you do or plan to do. I have a friend who is a Licensed Professional Engineer. His insurance is bound to be higher than mine, because his risk is greater in comparison. Before you go and get yourself insurance, let's talk about the type of business you're providing and identify the risks involved. That will be the type of information you'll need to have prepared to talk with an insurance agent. And not all insurance agents offer Business Liability Insurance. I'm using Hiscox. The entire process for the quote was done online via their website. I cannot attest to them being the best, but they were "just right" for what I needed. I have what's called Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance and my risk is low so my coverage is set accordingly. Some clients may require you to have coverage up to a certain dollar amount. Each client may be different, so I would recommend determining when to get insurance, based on what type of activities you're engaged in already. Once you sign a contract, you'll need to have your insurance already arranged and not later. If you wait until afterwards, there could be timing issues with the insurance coverage. You don't want the contract date to be before you secured your insurance policy. Take away the insurance company's excuse to not cover you if something happens. Some companies might cover your liability in case they're taken to court. This would be something to talk over with your prospective client to see if they will cover you so you don't have to defend yourself separately from them, but not all will go for it. Just know it's something you should discuss with your client during Contract Negotiations. More on that topic later. My policy is paid up front and due annually. I've spoken with an Agent at Hiscox in the past and found that their customer service was good, but like I said, you may need a different type of policy than the one I obtained. It's always good to talk with an Agent and explain your business, your risks, and have them guide you to a policy that meets your needs.