What does your website legally need as a solo business?

Good news first: it's less than you'd think. For most solo businesses it comes down to four things. If those are in place, you're covered — whether you cut hair, do odd jobs or coach.

1. Your business details

If you're registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, your KVK number must be on your site. Add your business name as it appears in the trade register, and a way to reach you: an email address or phone number. If you sell online, your VAT identification number belongs there too. The idea behind it is simple: customers must be able to see who they're doing business with.

2. A privacy policy

As soon as your site does anything with personal data — a contact form, a booking calendar, statistics — you're processing data and the GDPR applies. That makes a privacy policy mandatory: which data you collect, what for, and how long you keep it. It doesn't have to be a book; above all it has to match what your site actually does.

3. Cookies — only a banner when it's really needed

Functional cookies (like a shopping basket) are allowed without consent. Only tracking or marketing cookies require visitors to choose first. If you use privacy-friendly statistics without tracking, your site can go without a banner — calmer for your visitors, and perfectly allowed.

4. Terms and conditions, and prices

Terms and conditions aren't legally required, but they are smart as soon as customers book or pay through your site: they settle what happens with cancellations or no-shows. What is a rule: prices shown to consumers include VAT. So €32,50 on the price list really is €32,50 at the till.

How ChatBuild takes care of this for you

Build your site with ChatBuild and this is in place from day one: a footer with your KVK number, a fitting privacy policy and cookie behaviour that matches your site. You only check that your details are correct — the rest is already done. Unsure about something? Just send your question in the chat.