What Website Legal Policies Does Your Business Need?
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If you run a website, whether for a business, a blog, or an e-commerce store, you’re required to comply with certain legal regulations. While website legal policies might not be the sexiest part of running a site, they’re essential for protecting both you and your visitors.
Failing to include the right legal pages can result in fines, lawsuits, or even your website being taken down. But don’t worry—I’m here to break it all down in a simple, no-fluff way.
In this post, we’ll cover the essential legal policies your website needs, why they matter, and how to make sure you’re compliant.
It should be noted that I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice.
1. Privacy Policy
A Privacy Policy is one of the most crucial legal pages for any website. If your site collects any personal information—like names, emails, IP addresses, or payment details—you need a privacy policy that discloses:
- What data you collect
- How you collect it (e.g., through forms, cookies, tracking pixels)
- Why you collect it (e.g., marketing, analytics, account creation)
- How you store and protect it
- Whether you share it with third parties (e.g., Google Analytics, email marketing platforms)
- How users can request their data or opt out
For third-party software that you may use on your website (e.g. Google Analytics), it’s best to hyperlink to their privacy policies within your privacy policy, so users can also see how their data is collected, shared, and how they can retrieve their data from those third parties.
Why It’s Required
Privacy laws exist to protect users’ personal information. Depending on where your visitors are located, you may be subject to:
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – Applies to websites with visitors from the European Union
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – Applies if you have visitors from California and meet specific criteria
- Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) – Required if your website targets children under 13
Even if you don’t fall under these laws, having a privacy policy builds trust with your audience.
How to Stay Compliant
- Clearly explain your data practices in easy-to-understand language.
- Provide a way for users to contact you about their data rights.
- Keep your policy updated as regulations change.
2. Terms and Conditions (Terms of Service)
Your Terms and Conditions (also called Terms of Service or Terms of Use) is a legal agreement that outlines the rules for using your website. While not always required by law, this policy is essential for protecting your business from liability.
What It Should Include
- User Responsibilities – What’s allowed and not allowed on your site (e.g., no spamming, no illegal activity)
- Intellectual Property Rights – Who owns the content on your website and how it can be used
- Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability – A statement that you’re not responsible for damages caused by using your site
- Termination Rights – Your right to ban users who violate your terms
- Governing Law – Which country or state’s laws apply to disputes
Why It’s Important
Having a Terms and Conditions page helps protect you from legal disputes and clarifies expectations for your users. Without it, you may be vulnerable to lawsuits if users misuse your site.
How to Stay Compliant
- Make sure users can easily find and agree to your terms.
- Use clear, plain language to avoid misunderstandings.
- Regularly update your terms as your business grows.
3. Cookie Policy
If your website uses cookies (which most do), you’ll need a Cookie Policy. You may be asking, “what even are cookies?” They’re small data files that track user behavior, and privacy laws require you to disclose how they’re used.
What It Should Include
- What types of cookies you use (e.g., essential, analytics, marketing)
- Why you use them (e.g., improving user experience, running ads)
- How users can disable or control cookies in their browser
- Whether third-party cookies (like Google Ads) are used
Why It’s Required
Laws like GDPR and ePrivacy Directive (also known as the “EU Cookie Law”) require websites to get user consent before collecting cookies. This is why you see those pop-ups asking users to accept cookies.
How to Stay Compliant
- Display a cookie consent banner that allows users to accept or decline cookies.
- Provide a link to your full cookie policy.
- Offer an easy way for users to change their cookie preferences.
4. Disclaimer Policy
A Disclaimer Policy helps limit your liability for the content you publish. This is especially important if you provide advice, sell products, or have user-generated content. This is the policy you do not want to overlook if you’re an online blogger, coach or are writing content for highly regulated industries such as medicine or finance.
What It Should Include
- General Disclaimer – A statement that your content is for informational purposes only
- Affiliate Disclosure – If you make money from affiliate links, disclose it (this is required by the Federal Trade Commission)
- Earnings Disclaimer – If you share income reports or financial claims, clarify that results aren’t guaranteed
- Medical, Legal, or Professional Advice Disclaimer – If your site covers health, law, or finance topics, state that it doesn’t replace professional advice
Why It’s Important
Without a disclaimer, you could be held legally responsible if someone acts on your advice and experiences negative consequences.
How to Stay Compliant
- Be honest about affiliate partnerships and financial claims.
- Clearly state that your content is not professional advice.
- Place disclaimers in an easy-to-find location.
5. Refund and Return Policy (for E-commerce Websites)
If you sell products or services online, a Refund and Return Policy is a must. This policy sets clear expectations for customers and helps you avoid disputes.
What It Should Include
- Return Eligibility – What items can and can’t be returned
- Timeframe – How long customers have to request a return
- Refund Process – Whether refunds are given as store credit, original payment, or another method
- Restocking Fees – If applicable, disclose any fees for returns
Why It’s Required
Consumer protection laws in many countries require businesses to disclose their refund policies. Even if you don’t offer refunds, you need to state this clearly.
How to Stay Compliant
- Make your policy easy to find on product pages and checkout.
- Be clear and fair about your return terms.
- Ensure your policy aligns with consumer protection laws in your location.
6. Accessibility Statement
An Accessibility Statement is not legally required in every case, but it’s a good practice. This document states your commitment to making your website accessible to users with disabilities.
Why It’s Important
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set standards for web accessibility. If your site isn’t accessible, you could face lawsuits. Websites of public entities (state, federal, and local governments) with populations of 50,000 or more will have until April 2026 to comply with WCAG for their websites and apps. Even if you’re a solopreneur or run a small private business, it’s good practice to strive for accessibility with your web design. I’ll dive deeper into ways to ensure your website is accessible in a more detailed blog post but for now…
How to Stay Compliant
- State what accessibility features your website has.
- Provide contact information for users who need assistance.
- Regularly test your site’s accessibility with tools like WAVE or Axe.
Final Thoughts
Legal policies may not be the most exciting part of running a website, but they’re absolutely essential.
To stay compliant:
- Have a Privacy Policy if you collect user data.
- Use Terms and Conditions to protect your business.
- Display a Cookie Policy if you use tracking technologies.
- Include Disclaimers if your site gives advice or earns affiliate income.
- Provide a Refund and Return Policy if you sell online.
- Add an Accessibility Statement to promote inclusivity.
Need a quick and easy way to generate these legal policies for your website?
You can use legal template generators like Termly or consult a lawyer to ensure full compliance.
Personally, I’ve found an option that is somewhere in between! While legal template generators are a great, quick way to get coverage, I found that real peace of mind came from a small business lawyer who created legal templates specifically for entrepreneurs doing business online.
Amy Neisham of Artful Contracts not only drafts editable contracts and website policies, her templates come with comprehensive video trainings detailing:
- what policies your business needs,
- why your business needs each one
and exactly how to customize it for your unique business.
When I started my online business as a service provider, I knew I wanted to work with robust, clear contracts protecting both my business and my clients. I also knew I needed policies for my website, so I invested in the Legal Protection Bundle (you can get a discount if you use my code ‘SHELAGH’).
This included templates for Freelancer Contracts, Coaching Contracts, Contract Amendments, Trainings on legal email marketing, non-disclosure agreement templates,
Plus, the Website Protection Bundle (this bonus includes the website legal policies mentioned above: Privacy Policy, Disclaimers, and Website Terms & Conditions template WITH detailed training and instructions on how to edit them. You can get the template separately for $37 or get a 10% discount using ‘SHELAGH’)
If you choose to work with me on your new website, I always require you provide your website legal policies before we launch your website so your investment is protected and you show up online like the professional you are!
Ready to bring your website vision to life? See how we can do it in ONE WEEK.
