Here is an old expression that a small-business owner is not likely to use very often: "So sue me."  The reason is because a lot of people these days will happily take you up on the offer. We live in a litigious society, and there is no getting around that reality. Getting sued is not worth the expense, even if you have no reason to expect to lose in court.

Here are seven tips to help you stay out of the courtroom.

1. Never let a lawsuit take you by surprise.

One of the most effective ways to prevent a lawsuit is to acknowledge the possibility of one -- and, from there, to take every possible proactive step to prevent a lawsuit. Identify those elements and functions of your business that are most critical, and pinpoint volatile items within those areas. Then, work out planned responses so that problems are dealt with effectively and as a matter of course.

The most important thing to prevent lawsuits is to be proactive, not reactive. The fact is most lawsuits are preventable if you proactively manage trouble and have plans already in place.

2. Get all agreements in writing.

Sad to say, but the day when a businessperson's handshake was bond enough has gone the way of pet rocks and eight-track tapes. For one thing, so many details of any sort of agreement -- be they completion time frames, costs and other salient details -- are often glossed over or ignored if the contract isn't written out.

Moreover, many states have a statute of frauds which nullifies contracts that are not in writing.

3. Make sure the agreement specifies how disputes will be resolved.

Not only is it essential that contracts be written out, equally important is that they be comprehensive in scope. In addition to other details, that also means steps to resolve any disagreements that may crop up during the life of the agreement. For instance, many contracts specify that the parties agree to arbitration, mediation or some other form of dispute resolution short of heading off to the courtroom. Those and other options can often prove invaluable in avoiding a lengthy and expensive legal battle.

4. Make certain an attorney sees all agreements.

Getting everything down on paper is only one protective element. But even well-intentioned written contracts can blow up in your face if they contain some loophole or other issue that the other party can exploit. So, make sure that your lawyer reviews anything you plan on signing.

5. Never stick your head in the sand regarding customer complaints.

Complaints from and problems with clients and customers are a fact of small-business life. But ignoring them should never be. Far too many snafus start out as small issues and fester into a lawsuit simply because someone didn't pay sufficient attention to dealing with them as minor headaches.  Instead of the dispute being a money issue, many sue because they feel they were slighted or treated unprofessionally.

6. Swallow your pride on occasion.

Particularly maddening are problems with customers or clients that you know are simply not justified.  It's always nice to pursue truth and honesty, but don't go tilting at windmills if the time and expense are simply not worth it. Consider compromise and settlement -- even if you know you did nothing wrong, it's cheaper than going to court. Even if you are in the right, offering a discount, compromising a bill or even offering an apology will usually trump the eventual cost of a lawsuit.

7. Spend a little now, save a lot later.

Granted, most small businesses are on the tightest financial leash possible -- including what they have to spend on legal matters. But don't be afraid to invest before the fact in legal protections and other measures that may prevent far more costly lawsuits further down the line. It need not be a bottomless pit. For instance, rather than having an attorney draw up all contracts from scratch, do some research and track down the best sort of prototypes that you can find. Then, have your attorney review them and, if need be, tailor them to your business.

Put protective measures in place before problems crop up.  This proactive approach will limit the chance of future legal action.  Every business has risk.  Nevertheless, not every business has to be risky.