The legal pages every online store needs

Legal pages aren’t glamorous, but they protect your business, set clear expectations and build trust. Payment providers, ad platforms and marketplaces also expect them. This guide explains what each one is for and what it typically covers.

Important: this is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by country, state and province, and by what you sell. Have a qualified professional review your policies, especially if you sell internationally or in regulated categories.

Privacy policy

Required almost everywhere you collect personal data, which every store does (names, addresses, emails, payment details). It usually explains:

• what personal information you collect and how
• why you collect it and how you use it
• who you share it with (payment processors, shipping carriers, email and analytics tools)
• cookies and tracking technologies
• how long you keep data
• customers’ rights (access, correction, deletion) under laws such as the GDPR, the CCPA/CPRA, PIPEDA or India’s DPDP Act
• how to contact you about privacy

Terms of service (terms and conditions)

Your rules for using the store and buying from it. Common sections:

• ordering and payment terms
• pricing errors and your right to cancel orders
• product descriptions and availability
• intellectual property in your content
• limitation of liability and disclaimers
• governing law and dispute resolution

Refund and returns policy

One of the most-read pages on any store, and a major factor in purchase decisions. Be specific:

• the return window (for example, 30 days from delivery)
• condition requirements (unused, original packaging)
• who pays return shipping
• refund method and timing
• exchanges, store credit and non-returnable items (personalised, perishable, hygiene or digital goods)
• how to start a return

Make sure your policy meets local consumer law, since some jurisdictions give buyers statutory rights, such as cooling-off periods for online purchases, that your policy can’t remove.

Shipping policy

Sets delivery expectations and reduces “where’s my order?” emails:

• processing time before dispatch
• shipping methods, costs and estimated delivery times
• regions you ship to
• international duties and taxes (who pays)
• what happens with lost, damaged or delayed parcels

Cookie policy and consent

If you use cookies for analytics or advertising, many jurisdictions (notably the EU and UK) require clear information and, for non-essential cookies, consent. A cookie banner with meaningful choices is the usual approach.

Contact and business information

A clear contact page with a response-time promise builds trust. In some regions, online sellers must display a legal business name, address or registration details. Check what applies to you.

Other policies you may need

• Subscription terms for recurring billing: renewal, cancellation and price changes
• Warranty information for products that carry one
• Accessibility statement to show your commitment to accessible design
• Age restrictions for age-regulated products

Business basics to sort out early

• Business registration appropriate to your country (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, etc.)
• Business bank account, keeping personal and business money separate
• Sales tax/VAT/GST registration where required (see payments, shipping and tax basics)
• Product compliance: labelling, safety standards and restricted categories
• Trademark search for your store name (see naming your store)
• Insurance, such as product liability, depending on what you sell

Where to put them

Link every policy in your site footer. Link the returns and shipping policies from product pages and the cart, and link the privacy policy beside every form that collects personal data.

Every store we build launches with all core policy pages in place. Get a quote.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Platform features and pricing change, so check the provider's official pages before deciding. See our Disclaimer and editorial policy.