Launching a website without legal pages is like opening a store without insurance. Nothing happens until something goes wrong - and then everything happens at once. Here are the legal pages your website actually needs, what they do, and how to get them without spending thousands on a lawyer.
1. Privacy Policy (Required by Law)
A privacy policy isn't optional. If your website collects any personal data - and it almost certainly does - you're legally required to disclose how you handle it.
What it covers:
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What data you collect (names, emails, payment info, device data)
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How you use it (service delivery, analytics, marketing)
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Who you share it with (Stripe for payments, Google Analytics for tracking)
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How long you keep it
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What rights users have (deletion, access, correction)
Who requires it:
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GDPR (EU/UK): Fines of up to 4% of global revenue
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CCPA (California): Up to $2,500-$7,500 per violation
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PIPEDA (Canada): Mandatory for commercial data collection
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Google: Required for AdSense, Analytics, and Play Store apps
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Apple: Required for App Store submissions
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Stripe: Required to process payments
Bottom line: If you have Google Analytics on your site, you need a privacy policy. Period.
2. Terms of Service (Strongly Recommended)
Terms of Service establish the rules between you and your users. They're not always legally required, but operating without them leaves you exposed.
What it covers:
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Acceptable use rules (what users can and cannot do)
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Liability limitations (capping your financial exposure)
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Payment and refund terms (if you charge for anything)
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Intellectual property (who owns what)
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Dispute resolution (where and how conflicts get resolved)
Why you need it: Without Terms of Service, a user who misuses your platform has no contractual obligation to stop. A customer disputing a charge has no agreed-upon refund policy to reference. A lawsuit defaults to the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdiction instead of one you chose.
3. Cookie Notice (Required in EU/UK)
If your website uses cookies - and it does if you run Google Analytics, use a login system, or display ads - you need to tell users about it.
What it covers:
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What cookies your site uses
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What each cookie does
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How users can manage their cookie preferences
The practical approach: Most privacy policies include a cookies section. A separate cookie banner or notice is required under EU law but can be simple - a banner saying "We use cookies" with a link to your privacy policy's cookie section.
4. Disclaimer (Recommended for Specific Industries)
If your website provides information that could be mistaken for professional advice, you need a disclaimer.
Who needs one:
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Health and wellness sites ("This is not medical advice")
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Financial content ("This is not investment advice")
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Legal information sites ("This does not constitute legal advice")
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AI-generated content ("Results should be reviewed by a professional")
What it covers:
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The information is for educational/informational purposes only
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It does not replace professional advice
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You're not liable for decisions made based on your content
5. Refund/Return Policy (Required for E-commerce)
If you sell anything online - physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions - you need a clear refund policy. Many payment processors and marketplaces require it.
What it covers:
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Whether refunds are available
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Time limits for requesting refunds
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Conditions (used products, downloaded files, subscription cancellations)
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How to request a refund
Best practice: Even if your policy is "no refunds," state it clearly. Ambiguity leads to chargebacks and disputes.
What This Costs
The traditional route:
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Lawyer: $500-$3,000 per document
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Total for all 5: $2,500-$15,000
Subscription generators:
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Termly: $10/month ($120/year)
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TermsFeed: $15/month ($180/year)
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Over 3 years: $360-$540
One-time generators:
- TermsCraft Legal Bundle: $24.99 one-time for Privacy Policy + Terms of Service
Here's the thing: TermsCraft's three documents cover all five needs. Your Privacy Policy includes cookie disclosure and data handling sections. Your Terms of Service includes acceptable use rules, refund policies (when applicable), and liability disclaimers. You don't need five separate documents - you need two comprehensive ones that cover everything, plus an implementation guide that shows you where to put them.
For under $25, you get professional legal pages tailored to your business, delivered as PDF and editable Markdown, with an implementation guide showing you where to put everything.
How to Set Up Your Legal Pages
- Generate your documents - Answer 10 questions about your business (3 minutes)
- Create the pages on your site - Add /privacy/ and /terms/ pages
- Paste the content - Use the Markdown version for web, PDF for records
- Link from your footer - Every page should link to Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
- Link from your checkout - "By purchasing, you agree to our Terms of Service"
- Update when things change - New features, new data collection, new regions served
Don't Overthink It
Legal pages feel intimidating, but for most small businesses they're straightforward. You're not drafting a merger agreement - you're telling users what data you collect and what rules apply to your service.
Get them in place, link them from your footer, and move on to building your business. You can always update them later as your business grows.