UK Business Website Legal Requirements: What You Must Show
A handful of legal details belong on every UK business website. Most are quick to add, and missing them is both avoidable and surprisingly common. This is general information, not legal advice.
A business website is not only marketing. It is also a place where the law expects certain information to appear. The details below apply to most UK businesses, but your sector and structure may add more, so treat this as a starting checklist and take professional advice for your own situation.
If you are a limited company
Company law requires a limited company's website to show its full registered name, its company registration number, the country of registration such as England and Wales, and its registered office address. Many firms put these in the footer. If you are a partnership or sole trader, you should still show the business name and the owners' names where required.
Contact details
Rules on online services expect you to make it easy to contact you quickly and directly, including an email address in addition to any contact form. Show a postal address and telephone number if you have them, since customers and regulators expect them.
VAT and professional details
If you are VAT registered, show your VAT number when you quote prices or sell, and show prices clearly with or without VAT as appropriate. If you belong to a trade body or hold a regulated profession, display the details your regulator requires, such as registration numbers.
A privacy notice
If your site collects any personal data, including through forms, analytics or newsletters, you need a clear privacy notice that explains what you collect, why, your legal basis, who you share it with, how long you keep it and how people can use their rights.
Cookies
Non essential cookies, such as analytics and advertising, normally need consent before they are set, through a banner that makes accepting and declining equally easy, with an explanation of what each category does.
Terms for selling online
If you sell to consumers, you must provide clear information about the goods or services, the total price including delivery, how to pay, delivery times, cancellation rights and your returns policy, and consumers have statutory cancellation rights for most distance sales. Written terms and conditions protect both sides.
Accessibility
The Equality Act expects reasonable adjustments so disabled people can use your services, and following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines is the usual way to show you have taken that seriously. An accessibility statement is good practice.
Regulated sectors
Law firms, accountants, financial advisers, healthcare providers, estate agents and others have additional rules on what they must show and say. Check with your regulator or professional body.
K4O5 builds these pages and details into every site we make, and we will tell you plainly when you need a solicitor to approve wording.