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website
There are a few things to bear in mind when creating and running a website:
Creating your website
Design
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Some companies, often registrars offering domain names for sale, offer the ability to create your own website using a simple online toolkit. This is an attractive and user-friendly option, but ultimately functionality can be limited and, frankly, it can take you ages.
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If you have the funds, consider engaging a website designer to create a bespoke website with all the functionality and 'navigabilty' you need. If you do this, make sure the terms of the contract give you ownership of the IP rights in the website once created, full freedom to use, and clarity on the what/where/how of hosting your website going forward.
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Once created, you will need arrangements in place - via staff or external contractors/service providers to ensure the website is properly supported and maintained at all times.
Hosting
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Think about using a service that can ultimately host your website with sufficient stability and security to enable you to manage confidential data, including personal data for which you need to comply with data protection legislation. Check the position with companies offering 'create your own' website toolkits: long term, can they offer this?
running your website
Terms of Use
Whether or not you are selling anything on your website, you will need to create a set of 'ground rules' for users, and include a clear link to this on your homepage. These rules should include:
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Assertion of your ownership of the intellectual property rights in the content of your site (unless indicated otherwise), and be clear that users can access the content but cannot copy or make commercial use of it without your written consent.
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Statement that uses should not upload any content that is offensive, defamatory or that infringes the IP rights of anyone else.
Terms & Conditions of Sale
If you are going to sell products or services via your website, you will need to include a standard set of terms and conditions of sale that customers can click on to read and then tick a box to confirm they accept at the point of sale and form a contract with you.
Amongst other things, you need to make it clear to consumers:
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Payment is made when they click 'buy'
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how they download or access the sales contract
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they can cancel the contract up to 14 days after delivery and return goods for any reason (try to include a model cancellation form).
Privacy & Cookie Policies
You need to include a clear link on your homepage to your privacy policy, setting out what personal information you collect and store from customers, and what you will do with it. See Data Protection for more information on what needs to be included in your policy. You need to ensure your arrangements with suppliers (including, for example, IT 'cloud' storage solutions) also comply. You also need to prepare and display a clear policy on using cookies (small files that enable your website to 'remember' user details).
Consider installing an 'SSL' security certificate to manage security better and offer assurance to users.
Business Details
You should include a means of contacting you (needed, for example, to comply with data protection legislation). Limited liability companies also need to display their registration number and registered office address, and you may want to include your VAT registration number.
Ideally, you should engage a lawyer to assist with preparation of these policies and terms and conditions to ensure you comply fully with consumer protection and data protection requirements.