Most small business websites are built for customers and forget about the fine print entirely, or copy a random policy off another site and hope. But the legal and policy pages on your site are not decoration: they set the rules, limit your liability, and are increasingly expected, or required, by law. The good news is that a small business does not need a stack of dense documents. It needs a short, honest set of pages that fit how you actually operate. Here is what they are and why each one matters. This is orientation, not legal advice.
The essentials most sites need
- Privacy policy. If your site collects any personal information, a contact form, analytics, an email signup, you need one, and Canadian privacy law expects it. It explains what you collect, why, and what you do with it. See our guide on writing one honestly.
- Terms of use (or terms of service). The rules for using your site: acceptable use, your intellectual property, disclaimers, and limits on your liability. This is the page that protects you when someone misuses your site or relies on it in a way you never intended.
- Cookie and tracking notice. If you use cookies or analytics, visitors should be told, and often given a choice. Our cookie guide covers when you need a banner.
Pages you may need, depending on your business
- Terms of sale, returns, and refunds if you sell anything online. Clear, fair terms here prevent most disputes before they start.
- Shipping and delivery policy for physical goods.
- An accessibility statement, which pairs with actually making your site accessible.
- Industry-specific notices if you are in a regulated field (health, finance, legal).
Getting them right, not just present
Two mistakes are common. The first is having no policies at all; the second, almost as bad, is having ones that do not match your business, a copied policy that promises things you do not do, or references laws that do not apply to you, can be worse than none, because it sets expectations you are now breaking. Your pages should describe what you actually do, in plain language, and stay current as your business changes. Make them easy to find (usually the footer), keep them honest, and revisit them when you add a new service or start collecting new data.
When to get help
For a simple site, careful, honest pages tailored to your business go a long way. For anything higher-stakes, selling regulated products, handling sensitive data, operating across borders, or if a dispute is on the horizon, it is worth having a professional review your terms. The cost of a review is small next to the cost of unenforceable terms when you actually need them.