Recently one of my clients asked me about rules and regulations for a website in the UK.
I thought it was easy just be truthful about what product and services you sell.
But client asked me to check this out for him and to my surprise there are a host of rules and regulations governing e-commerce business.
Being an accountant I am no expert on this matter but main items that i found I thought should share with others:
1- As customers will be buying service via a website, rules in the link below apply:
It gives detailed information about what customers have to be informed before and after an order.
https://www.gov.uk/online-and-distance-selling-for-businesses/overview
2- Law on Computer Cookies
In simple terms, we must ask consent before installing cookies on their computers.
The link also gives an example and detailed information about this cookie consent.
http://ec.europa.eu/ipg/basics/legal/cookies/index_en.htm
3- Advertising rules:
These rules give information about telephone and direct marketing.
https://www.gov.uk/marketing-advertising-law/overview
Main important rules I see among them is telephone marketing and display of price.
4 – Data protection:
Organisation which handle personal data need to register , fee is £35 per year.
ico.org.uk
I think if a start-ups starts complying with all these rules on day one, it may make the whole project unviable. But every organisation should knows its responsibilities and must have a time bound compliance program as the business grows.
Roy Accountants 