If you want to set up an online store, it is legally required to register your business, as already mentioned. However, in addition to the business permit, there are other things to do to become legally insured and avoid receiving a disciplinary warning letter.
- Photo and text rights: All images and descriptions provided on your web store must be your own property. Simply copying content from other websites is a punishable offence. You should therefore either create your own original texts and images or employ somebody to do it for you. Another option is to use online archives to search for license-free texts and images (most of these only retain their legal right of use through royalties). Alternatively, you can also request the permission of the rights holder. However, you should get any positive responses in writing to make it legally binding.
- Prices: There are strict regulations on how prices of goods should be presented online. Firstly, you need to state the final price, including sales tax and shipping, where the shipping costs are presented not as part of the product description, but as part of the ordering transaction. For products that are sold by weight or volume, the flat rate must be stated (i.e. 100g = $1.99.) For businesses that are exempt from sales tax, basic prices must be given.
- Cancellation policy: Your customers must be made aware of their right to return unsatisfactory products. The standard return period is at least 14 days. For every product, the law provides a different model that may not be changed.
- Terms and conditions: A contractual term must appear on every web store. This discloses all relevant terms and conditions, such as the mode of delivery and delivery time, product availability, payment methods, guarantees or privacy policy.
If you are using a webstore program you will usually receive a pre-written text on terms and conditions, which will include all the information to which a shop owner is legally obliged. That will include, for example, the 14 day return period, shipping costs or delivery times. Never forget that the order button, which makes the sale binding, must have the word “order” or “buy” on it. Legal offices will also sometimes provide free support so that your terms and conditions are always of current legal status.