Most business websites should publish a clear privacy policy, terms of use, and at least one disclaimer, then add a cookie notice and accessibility statement when you track visitors, run ads, or serve the public online.
For most Orlando and Florida small businesses, these pages are less about “lawyer paperwork” and more about setting clear rules, explaining how you collect and use data, and reducing avoidable disputes. When we build or rebuild sites through our web design work, we put these links in the footer sitewide and also surface them at the point of collection, like contact forms, appointment requests, checkout, and newsletter signups.
The legal pages most business websites should have
| Page | Who needs it | What it should cover |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy policy | Any site that collects personal info (forms, calls, emails), uses analytics, pixels, chat, scheduling tools, or payments | What you collect, why, who you share with (vendors), cookies/trackers, how long you keep data, how to contact you, and how users can request access or deletion where required |
| Terms of use (or terms and conditions) | Any business site, especially if you offer online booking, payments, membership, or downloadable content | Rules for using the site, acceptable use, intellectual property, limitation of liability, warranty language, dispute process, governing law, and how updates to terms are handled |
| Disclaimers | Businesses making claims, publishing advice, showing results, pricing ranges, or testimonials | Scope limits (information only), results vary language, “not professional advice” where relevant, and clarification that your marketing is not a guarantee |
| Cookie notice (and sometimes a cookie policy) | Sites using analytics or ad tracking, and any business with visitors from privacy-regulated regions | What cookies/trackers are used, what they do, and how users can manage preferences; place the notice where it is actually seen |
| Accessibility statement | Businesses open to the public, especially healthcare, law, and high-traffic local services | Commitment to accessible access, what standard you aim for, known issues, and a simple way for users to report barriers |
| Refund, returns, shipping, and cancellation policies | Ecommerce, deposits, subscriptions, or service plans | Timing, conditions, fees, and how customers request refunds or cancellations |
Florida’s broad privacy law (the Florida Digital Bill of Rights) generally targets very large “controllers” and includes requirements like a clear privacy notice that is updated at least annually, plus additional rules tied to targeted ads and sensitive data. Most local service businesses in Orlando will not meet the law’s size thresholds, but you still want a solid privacy policy because you may collect data from residents in other states with their own privacy rules, and because the tools you use (analytics, ad platforms, scheduling, payments) expect you to disclose what you do with data.
Disclaimers matter most when you use reviews, before-and-after photos, “results” stats, or influencer content. The FTC expects material connections to be disclosed (for example, if someone was paid or got a free service), and if you show unusually good outcomes you need language that explains what people can generally expect, not vague “results not typical” throwaways. The FTC also has a Consumer Reviews and Testimonials Rule that targets fake or deceptive reviews and testimonials, so your site should avoid gating, cherry-picking, or posting reviews that are not from real customers.
Accessibility is another place where a simple page helps. The ADA applies to many businesses open to the public, and federal guidance has repeatedly treated web access as part of that expectation. Even if you are not chasing formal certification, an accessibility statement plus a clear method to report issues is a practical step, and we cover the basics in our FAQ on website accessibility.
Two quick guardrails we recommend: (1) put a “last updated” date on your privacy policy and terms, and update them when you add new tools like a chat widget, call tracking, scheduling, or ad pixels; (2) don’t rely on a disclaimer to fix a claim that is misleading. If your headline says “guaranteed results” or your pricing is not realistic, the fine print will not save it.
Finally, if your business targets kids or knowingly collects information from children under 13, you are in a different category and should get legal help right away because COPPA has extra notice and consent rules. And even if you do not target kids, avoid collecting unnecessary sensitive info on basic website forms.
