Do I actually need Terms & Conditions for my website?
This is one of the most common questions we get, usually asked slightly hesitantly:
“Do I really need Terms & Conditions… or is it fine without?”
Technically, you can run a business without them.
But in practice, it’s one of the easiest ways to leave yourself exposed.
The simple answer
If your website:
sells anything
offers services
collects payments
or sets expectations with customers
Then yes, you should have Terms & Conditions.
What they’re really doing
Terms & Conditions aren’t just legal wording.
They’re how you define:
what you’re offering
how your business works
what customers can (and can’t) expect
Without them, all of that is implied, which is where problems start.
What happens if you don’t have them?
Nothing… until something goes wrong.
And when it does, you’ve got no framework to rely on.
For example:
A customer wants a refund outside your intended policy
There’s a dispute about what was included
Someone misuses your service
Without clear terms, it becomes much harder to:
manage expectations
resolve issues quickly
protect your position
“Can’t I just use a template?”
You can, and many businesses do.
The issue is that most templates are:
too generic
not aligned to your actual offer
missing key details that matter commercially
So you end up with something that looks right, but doesn’t actually protect you where it counts.
What good Terms & Conditions should do
At a minimum, they should clearly cover:
what you’re selling
pricing and payment terms
delivery or service timelines
refunds and cancellations
limitations of liability
But more importantly, they should reflect how your business actually runs.
The reality
This isn’t about ticking a legal box.
It’s about:
reducing friction with customers
avoiding unnecessary disputes
giving your business a clear structure
When should you get them sorted?
Ideally: before you launch.
Realistically: as soon as possible after.
Because once you start trading, you’re already exposed.
Where we fit in
We don’t just draft Terms & Conditions, we help you think through how your business operates, and make sure your terms support that.
That’s exactly what sits at the core of our starter packages.
This is general guidance designed to help you understand the landscape. It isn’t legal advice, and shouldn’t be relied on as such. If you need support specific to your business, we’re always happy to help.