Small Business Website Guide: Launch It and Cover the Legal Basics

Launch your site, then cover privacy policies, cookies and terms without the jargon.

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Getting a small business online is easier than ever. The part most owners skip is the legal basics: a privacy policy, cookie consent where it's needed, and clear terms. These guides explain what the main laws actually say, what a small site usually needs, and when it's worth paying a lawyer.

Not legal advice: this is a plain-English summary to help you ask the right questions. Which laws apply depends on where you and your visitors are, what data you collect and how big your business is. For anything high-stakes, talk to a lawyer licensed where you operate.

1. Most business websites need a privacy policy

If your site collects any personal information, including contact-form emails, newsletter signups, orders or analytics data, laws such as California's CalOPPA and the EU GDPR generally require you to explain what you collect and why. Read the privacy policy guide.

2. Cookie banners depend on your visitors and your tools

If you have EU or UK visitors and use non-essential cookies (analytics, ads, some embeds), you generally need consent first. A site with no tracking may not need a banner at all. Read the cookie banner guide.

3. Terms of service protect you, not just your customers

Terms aren't usually legally required for a simple brochure site, but they matter once you sell, take bookings or host user content. Read the terms of service basics.

4. Use a checklist before launch

Privacy, cookies, terms, accessibility, email marketing rules, image rights and affiliate disclosures in one list. Open the website legal checklist.

5. Generator or lawyer?

For a typical small site, a reputable generator is a reasonable start; for sensitive data, kids, health or large scale, get a lawyer. Compare the options.

Recommended generator: Termly

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Termly walks you through a questionnaire and builds a privacy policy (plus cookie, terms and other policies on paid plans) from your answers. Its free plan covers one basic policy and a cookie consent banner with up to 10,000 banner views a month. Paid plans are billed per website and add more policies, editing and automatic updates when laws change. Termly offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.

The honest catch: a generator only describes what you tell it, so the policy is only as accurate as your answers, and it isn't a lawyer reviewing your business. Free alternatives exist too; see our generator vs lawyer guide. Our Termly partner link is for readers in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France and Sweden. If you're elsewhere, you can still go to Termly's website directly.

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