If you’re running an ecommerce store, you need a set of terms and conditions for an online store for your users to abide by when they’re on your site. Terms and conditions set the rules for how your users are able to use your goods and services. Businesses have a lot of leeway to decide what goes into their terms and conditions as long as the final document complies with applicable law.
Terms and conditions are important tools companies use to protect themselves against legal disputes, intellectual property theft, and even malicious users. If you use an e-commerce site, it’s essential to have your own set of terms and conditions.
Read on to learn more about what goes into a good set of terms and conditions.
Do I need terms and conditions for an online store?
Yes, you should have a solid set of terms and conditions in place for any online store you run. Think of it as proactive protection: you need to document rules for your users to follow so that you can take action in the event that anyone tries to use the site in a way that harms your business. In other words, you want to make sure that you have the right to ban or remove any users who try to use your site maliciously or in bad faith, without jeopardizing your company’s health, status, or bottom line.
While the precise rules included in a set of terms and conditions vary depending on the circumstances of your business, having one is a best practice no matter what you are selling. The most important thing to keep in mind when designing your terms and conditions is to make sure that the final terms and conditions document is compliant with applicable law so that it will be legally binding and enforceable in court.
What should be included in the terms and conditions for an e-commerce store?
Terms and conditions can change depending on what kind of business you have and the type of goods you’re selling. Generally, a comprehensive set of e-commerce terms and conditions should include:
- Contact information: Let your users and customers know where they can reach out if an issue arises.
- Definitions: Define the terminology used within your terms and conditions, in easy-to-understand language.
- Cookie agreement: If your website uses cookies—and most websites do—include a disclosure about how you use cookies and what you use them for, including whether you sell the information or otherwise send it to a third party.
- Intellectual Property: As an online store, you’ll want to take steps to protect your brand. Consider including a provision that clearly establishes your ownership over your business’ intellectual property, such as your logo, business name, and website design.
- Disclaimer: It is vital to include a section limiting your business’ legal liability as much as possible. There are a lot of different ways to structure this type of legal disclaimer. For example, you might want to inform your customers that delivery times are out of your business’ control and disclaim any liability associated with delays in shipping. This would protect your company from incurring any liability to users whose products arrive later than expected.
Can I write the terms and conditions myself?
Yes, you could write the terms and conditions for your website, but the real question is: should you? Writing your own terms and conditions can be risky because, unless you are well-versed in the applicable law, you might end up with a final document that is invalid because it doesn’t meet all of your legal requirements. For that reason, it’s in your own best interest (as well as the best interest of your business) to have a legal professional create, or at least review, your terms and conditions.
Unfortunately, some small e-commerce businesses cannot afford the exorbitant hourly rate required to hire an attorney to draft their terms and conditions . That’s where SixFifty comes in. We deliver world-class legal expertise in conjunction with cutting-edge automated software that will allow you to create a set of legally compliant terms and conditions for a fraction of the cost of hiring an attorney. Instead of wading through a quagmire of complicated legal requirements to try and find the ones that apply to you, just answer some questions about your business and its activities, and you can have a bespoke, legally-compliant set of terms and conditions ready to go in no time. It’s the fastest and easiest way to get a thorough, effective, and legally-compliant set of terms and conditions for your business.
How to create professional terms and conditions with SixFifty
SixFifty is designed to offer premium legal expertise at a low cost. Whether you need to create terms and conditions for an online store, employment agreements, or any number of other business documents, we can help. Rather than hiring a lawyer and racking up the bill, we do the heavy lifting on your behalf. It’s never been easier or more cost-effective to stay compliant.
Best of all, SixFifty continues to research and update clients on their legal obligations. If a change in the law affects your terms and conditions, we’ll make sure you know about it and our tool will walk you through the changes you need to make in order to stay compliant.
Finding the right set of terms and conditions for your online store might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Reach out to SixFifty today to learn more about our offerings, or schedule a free product demo. It’s the best way to legally protect your company.