When you’re starting a business, there’s a long list of things that make it feel official. Like that moment when you finally file for your LLC, when you get your branding nailed down, launch your website for the first time, and of course when you make your first sale.
All of those things are super exciting and definitely can make you categorize yourself as a real business, but the truth is that none of those things make your business legally legit.
The ONLY thing that truly makes your business “official” is operating with legal compliance in all that you do – including how you set up your website. Even if your site is beautifully designed and strategically optimized, if it’s missing certain legal elements, you could still be putting yourself (and your business) at risk.
So if you want your business to not just look professional but actually BE protected, it’s time to make sure your website meets the essential legal requirements.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Websites?
When you think about designing and launching your website, you probably think of the fun and functional parts of it.
Like your logo and branding being displayed appropriately, your navigation bar being strategically placed, the copy that outlines who you are and what you do, and of course your beautiful brand photos so people can get a glimpse of the type of person you are.
And trust me I get it – as an online business owner myself, I deeply care about all of those things too! But the lawyer side of me can’t ignore the fact that all websites (including my own!) have to meet certain legal requirements.
But why exactly? Well, simply put it’s the LAW. 😂 But on a human level, it has everything to do with transparency for your website visitors.
Every website that collects personal data, sells products, or even runs email opt-ins has a legal responsibility to disclose certain information and set clear terms of use.
In practice, that looks like:
Privacy Compliance
You must disclose what personal information you collect (like names, emails, or IP addresses), how you use it, and how visitors can opt out or request deletion of their data.
Terms of Use
If your website offers digital products, memberships, or educational content, you’re responsible for outlining what users can and can’t do with your material.
Accessibility
Your site should be designed so people with disabilities can reasonably access and navigate it.
Consumer Protection Laws
If you sell products or services, you must comply with refund policies, transparent pricing, and truth-in-advertising rules.
Is Website Accessibility a Legal Requirement?
Let’s zoom into the website accessibility for a second because this one can’t be fixed with a legal agreement and instead has everything to do with your website design – but that doesn’t make it any less of a legal requirement and is something to keep in mind when designing your website (or when working with a website designer!).
Website accessibility is about ensuring that all users (including those with visual, auditory, or physical impairments) can access your site’s content and functionality.
While there isn’t one federal law that explicitly spells out every website requirement, several major laws overlap to create a clear expectation that accessibility matters with the two most common being:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been interpreted by courts to apply to many websites, especially for businesses offering goods or services to the public.
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal websites to be accessible, setting an example for private businesses.
So, even if you’re a small business or online educator, ignoring accessibility can open you up to unnecessary risk and it can alienate potential customers.
The good news is that website accessibility really doesn't have to be complicated and can usually be fixed with a few simple changes:
✔️ Add alt text to all images
✔️ Use high-contrast colors for text and background
✔️ Make sure your website is keyboard-navigable
✔️ Provide captions or transcripts for video or audio content
At the end of the day, website accessibility isn’t just about legal protection, it’s about inclusivity for all that may come across your brand and displaying professionalism by communicating that you care about your audience and their specific needs.
The Most Important Legal Website Agreement Templates Your Business Needs
Aside from website accessibility, ensuring that your website is legally legit requires implementing a few legal website agreements, starting with the 4 essentials:
Website Privacy Policy
This is one of the non-negotiables for any website, especially if you collect email addresses, use contact forms, or run analytics tools like Google Analytics.
Your Privacy Policy tells visitors:
- What information you collect
- How and why you collect it
- How it’s stored or shared
- Their rights to access or delete their information
And remember: this agreement isn’t just something that falls under “website best practices.” It’s legally required under laws like the GDPR (Europe), CCPA (California), and other data protection regulations.
Website Terms of Use
Next up are the “house rules” for your website aka your Terms of Use. This legal agreement helps protect your content, define what’s allowed, and give you a legal foundation if disputes ever arise.
Your Terms of Use should include:
- Intellectual property rights (so no one can steal your content)
- Payment and refund terms (if applicable)
- Limitations of liability
- Disclaimers for accuracy or third-party links
Your Privacy Policy and your Terms of Use go hand in hand, which is why I’ve bundled them together so you can get BOTH website legal requirements to make sure you’re covered!
Disclaimer
A website legal requirement that often gets overlooked are disclaimers and these are especially important for service-based businesses, coaches, educators, or digital product sellers.
They clarify that the information you share is educational or informational only, not personalized advice. That distinction protects you from being held responsible if someone takes your content and interprets it as professional guidance.
For example, if you’re a health or wellness professional, your disclaimer clarifies that your content is not medical advice.
Or if you’re a business coach, your earnings disclaimer makes it clear that results aren’t guaranteed for your programs, especially monetary results.
And if you’re not sure if you need a disclaimer, click here to read 5 common scenarios that prove you DO! Then, grab the one that’s specific to your business HERE!
If you don’t see one specifically for your industry, a General Disclaimer gets the job done.
Cookie Policy
Lastly, if your site uses cookies (and most do thanks to tracking tools, analytics, or ads), you MUST disclose that to visitors.
A Cookie Policy outlines:
- What cookies are active on your site
- What data they collect
- How visitors can manage or opt out of tracking
Many business owners forget this one, but cookie compliance is a key part of global privacy laws, especially if you serve international audiences.
And honestly, this is one of the easiest legal website requirements to set up on your site. Simply grab the website cookie language HERE and paste it into the Cookie section on the backend of your website.
(Here’s how to do it in Squarespace and here’s directions for Wordpress!)
The All In One Website Legal Agreement Suite
If reading this checklist made you realize your website might be missing a few key legal pieces, don’t panic – they can be easily fixed! The most important part is that you actually fix them because failing to keep your website legally legit puts you at major risk.
The easiest way to make sure your business is covered is by using ready-to-go templates written by a lawyer who understands online businesses and that’s exactly what I’ve created here at The Boutique Lawyer!
If you just need one or two agreements, you can shop the contract templates to get exactly what you need, but if you know your business is missing multiple legal requirements and you want to cover all your bases, the Chief Legal Officer Suite was created with you in mind!
The Chief Legal Officer Suite includes ALL of the legal website requirements mentioned above, PLUS client agreements, sales and purchase protection, marketing and affiliate materials and more!
And the best part is that each template is written in plain English, is easy to customize, and comes with built-in instructions, so you aren’t guessing at how to implement them.
We’ve truly done the hard work for you (including going to law school 😉), all you’ve gotta do is grab the best contract bundle you’ll find for online business owners and follow our step-by-step guide to start using them with ease!
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Written by Amber Gilormo, founder of The Boutique Lawyer, a licensed attorney who helps creative entrepreneurs protect their work with legally sound contracts, trademarks, and business systems. Her signature collection of creative-friendly legal templates has supported over 7,000 business owners in protecting and scaling their brands.
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