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Website terms of use

  • Quick and easy to complete
  • Provides key protections for your website
  • Essential for running a successful website

Website terms of use (also called terms of use, website terms and conditions, or terms of service) are a set of terms and disclaimers that protect your site from undesirable use and help to protect your business if something goes wrong on your site.

Through your website terms of use you can set guidelines for visitors using your site, and limit your liability to users.

These standard website terms of use also help to protect your site from unauthorised copying, and set out what kind of content users are allowed to post.

Don’t forget to also download our Checklist of information to include to ensure your website is legally compliant.

You can also purchase these terms of use as part of the Starting an online business toolkit.

Q&A

  • When should I use this document?

    You should use these standard website terms of use if you run a website and want to protect it from unauthorised use.

    Your website terms of use should be obvious and easily accessible to your customers and other users – eg you could include a hyperlink on your website.

    Make sure you keep your terms of use updated if you change the way you run your website or any of your business details change.

  • What does this document cover?

    This website terms of use covers all the key terms needed to protect your website, in an easy-to-read format. The terms of use include:

    • a copyright notice, to protect the copyright and other intellectual property in your website and preventing others from using it for commercial purposes;
    • a disclaimer, which limits your liability to the users of the site if something goes wrong with the site;
    • rules around how users are allowed to post or submit content to the site;
    • a licence which allows you to use the content that users post to the site; and
    • your right to terminate a user’s access to the site.
  • Why do I need this document?

    You need standard website terms of use because they help you to set up guidelines for how customers and other visitors should use your website.

    Website terms of use safeguard your business in the following ways:

    • protecting your site from unauthorised use;
    • protecting your intellectual property from being copied or used in a way you don’t intend;
    • limiting your liability to users of the website if they have any problems with your site (like their computer getting a virus after using your site).

    Although website terms of use are not a legal requirement, they are a key way of protecting your business and helping your site run efficiently and successfully. They should be used in conjunction with Privacy policy and Cookie policy.

  • Where can I find out more?

    If you want to find out more about running a successful website and website terms of use, see Website content and terms of use.

    If you make sales online, Terms and conditions for online sales provides guidance on how to make sure your terms are legally sound.

    You can also use Checklist of information to include to ensure your website is legally compliant to check you haven’t missed any essential requirements on your website.

Related Toolkits

Starting an online business toolkit

This toolkit to start an online business includes all the legal documentation and know-how you need to set up a website and change your business to online sales. It comprises 9 key documents, including: separate cookie and privacy policies, and terms of use for your website; a customisable set of terms and conditions to cover you for the supply or goods or services or both; template invoices (VAT and non-VAT) and cancellation form; and a quick guide to customer rights, which are much broader for online sales than face-to-face transactions. Our helpful how-to guide will take you step-by-step through how to use the documents included in this pack, whether you are starting a new business or changing an existing business model to set up your own website and start selling online. Note that if you provide online services in the EEA, you will also need to ensure that you follow the rules of each EEA country you operate in. If you are not sure how this applies to you, you can access a specialist lawyer in a few simple steps using our Ask a Lawyer service.
  • How-to guide: Starting an online business toolkit
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Website terms of use
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cancellation form
  • VAT invoice
  • Non-VAT invoice
  • Quick guide to customer rights in online sales
  • Checklist of information to include to ensure your website is legally compliant

Small claims toolkit

This small claims toolkit guides you through the right process to follow if you want to make a straightforward small claim against someone, and contains a pack of all of the template documents you are likely to need. Use the small claims process to get back money you are owed for amounts less than £10,000 (for example, if a supplier has not sent you the right goods or you have not received payment from a customer). Documents provided in this small claims toolkit include: letter before action (also known as a letter of claim), which must be sent to someone before you sue them to set out what you are claiming; witness statement, which provides a template for any witness statements you are providing to ensure they are legally compliant; and letter of non-attendance for small claims hearing (if you want the court to judge your case on paper evidence rather than you attending a hearing). By using this small claims toolkit you can avoid the need to use a lawyer and maximise your chances of getting back money you are owed. It helps you avoid common mistakes that can reduce your chance of a successful claim.
  • How-to guide: Small claims toolkit
  • Letter before action
  • Witness statement
  • Letter of non-attendance for small claims hearing

Redundancy toolkit

This redundancy toolkit guides you through the key steps you need to take to make an employee redundant, and provides a pack of the relevant template documents you are likely to need. You will find guidance and a pack of 9 supporting documents, including letters, notices and agendas, for each step of the redundancy process: Initial steps (considering alternatives and reasons for redundancies); Creating a redundancy pool, applying selection criteria and notifying employees; Carrying out a consultation process; and Making a final decision, calculating payments and terminating employment. It also includes a template letter to offer alternative employment to employees who are at risk of being made redundant. By using this redundancy toolkit, you will ensure that your redundancy process is fair and legally compliant, which reduces the chance of any employees suing you. The guidance in this redundancy toolkit also helps you to ensure you do not make redundancies in a discriminatory way. Use this redundancy toolkit to ensure you are legally compliant without the need for a lawyer.
  • How-to guide: Redundancy toolkit
  • Redundancy - Letter warning of proposed redundancies
  • Redundancy - Selection criteria form
  • Redundancy - Provisional selection for redundancy letter
  • Redundancy - First individual consultation meeting agenda
  • Redundancy - Outcome of individual consultation meeting
  • Redundancy - Invitation to final individual consultation meeting
  • Redundancy - Final individual consultation meeting agenda
  • Redundancy - Notice of termination of employment
  • Redundancy - Offer of alternative employment

Disciplinary toolkit

This disciplinary toolkit will guide you through the process of handling a disciplinary matter. It includes a how-to guide and a pack of 16 relevant documents you are likely to need. You will find template letters, agendas and other documents which can be used at each key step of the disciplinary process: Investigating the disciplinary matter (including suspension of your staff member if necessary and appropriate); Attending a disciplinary meeting with your staff member; Taking disciplinary action eg written warnings or dismissal; and Providing an opportunity for your staff member to appeal your decision. The toolkit also includes a list of common disabilities, so that you can check whether you need to make any reasonable adjustments at disciplinary meetings. This toolkit will help you to follow a fair and proper disciplinary process, which reduces the risk of your staff member taking legal action against you in future.
  • How-to guide: Disciplinary toolkit
  • Suspension letter pending investigation
  • Disciplinary investigation template
  • Invitation to attend a disciplinary hearing
  • Invitation to attend meeting to discuss sickness absence
  • List of common disabilities
  • Note taking template for disciplinary proceedings
  • Basic script for conducting a disciplinary hearing
  • First written warning for capability
  • First written warning for misconduct
  • Final written warning for capability
  • Final written warning for misconduct
  • Sickness absence meeting - outcome letter
  • Dismissal letter
  • Invitation to attend a disciplinary appeal hearing
  • Basic script for conducting a disciplinary appeal hearing
  • Letter to confirm outcome of a disciplinary appeal