Should I establish an S-Corp or is Liability Insurance enough to Protect myself from Personal Liability?

I see that you are in the Bay Area, so it is important that you be familiar with what CA law is on alter ego liability. (Of necessity, Wikipedia is general in nature.)

The post Beware Your Alter Ego addresses CA law specifically. The following paragraphs are copied from that post:

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Alter ego typically arises when a plaintiff sues an insolvent corporation and needs another defendant – the entrepreneur – who can pay the hoped-for award of damages. California courts apply the doctrine when (1) there is a unity of interest and ownership such that the entrepreneur and the corporation are no longer separate entities and (2) adhering to the fiction of a separate corporate entity would sanction a fraud or promote injustice. Minifie v. Rowley (1921) 187 Cal. 481, 487.

In determining whether there is a unity of interest and ownership, courts look at such factors as:

* Whether corporate and individual funds were commingled
* Whether corporate funds were used for personal purposes
* Whether adequate corporate records and minutes were kept
* Whether the corporation was merely a shell for the entrepreneur’s activities
* Whether the corporation was severely undercapitalized

Harris v. Curtis (1970) 8 Cal.App.3d 837, 840-41.

The last factor merits elaboration. Many new companies are underfinanced. However, if the invested capital “is illusory or trifling compared with the business to be done and the risk of loss,” the court may apply the alter ego doctrine. Harris at 842.

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You have stated that you are concerned about personal liability. A corporation and liability insurance are not mutually exclusive - you probably should do both.

Disclaimer: This information does not constitute legal advice and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.