#06 Website Documents
More and more businesses are pivoting towards online trading and we are seeing online businesses come under increased scrutiny to ensure they are complying with their legal obligations. This makes it all the more vital for small businesses to make sure their legal documents are in place and that they are tailored to suit their specific business.
In this episode, I discuss the legal documents required by ecommerce businesses. I talk about Website Terms and Conditions, what they are and why they are vital for any small business to have. I outline what a Privacy Policy does and answer common questions I get asked about each document.
There is no substitute for peace of mind when running a business. Knowing that you are meeting your legal obligations by having your correct documents in place will do just that. Proper Website Terms and Conditions and an adequate Privacy Policy will help diffuse any disputes that may arise in the future.
Topics discussed and where to find them
[1:20]: If you are selling goods or services or collecting private information, you need website terms and conditions to be protected and to meet obligations under the Australian Consumer Law
[2:07]: Website terms and conditions set out the rules for how people use your website and what they can and can’t do
[2:30]: They limit your liability to members of the public, protect intellectual property, outline everything to do with sales
[3:25]: How these documents are the cornerstone documents for ecommerce businesses because they do the following:
Disclose product information
Set out details regarding consumer guarantees, warranties, returns & refunds
[4:27]: You are required to have Website terms and conditions and it’s irrelevant if people read them or not
[5:15]: Website terms and conditions are usually published at a link on the bottom of the home page
[5:35]: Website terms and conditions should not be copied because you don’t know if it will be suitable for your business
[6:20]: The Privacy Act stipulates that businesses need to disclose what they will do with personal data, which is set out in the Privacy Policy
[8:00]: The details of the Privacy Policy should be discussed with your lawyer and also should not be copied
[8:30]: Prevention is better than cure. It’s not worth the risk to not have these essential documents.
[9:30]: Having the trio of documents in the business legals suite will give you peace of mind knowing that you’re protected