Online shop as a small business: duties

In short: Whoever sells goods online needs an imprint, privacy policy, cancellation instruction, price details and clear terms and conditions. Mistakes quickly lead to cease-and-desist letters.

In more detail: In distance selling consumers have a 14-day right of withdrawal. Traders must state prices including taxes, show shipping costs and give mandatory information before the contract is concluded. The order button must say “order with obligation to pay” or something equivalent.

In detail

• Imprint: name, address, email, possibly VAT ID. See Imprint.
• Privacy: privacy policy, data processing agreements, cookie consent.
• Withdrawal: instruction and model form, see Right of withdrawal in distance selling.
• Price details: final prices, unit price for goods sold by quantity, a “small business” note.
• Packaging: registration with the Central Packaging Register Agency (LUCID) and a licence if you put packaging into circulation.
• Electrical goods, batteries: additional registration needed.
• Minors: secure customer contracts through the parents/approval.

See also: Selling privately or commercially?, Labelling duties in online trade