Commercial Law

Legal considerations for starting your online business

Online business is booming. Most consumers now favour online shopping given that it is quick, convenient and usually cheaper than in a retail shop.

Consider the legal considerations and responsibilities of running business online, preferably before you start trading.

THE FORMALITIES & NECESSARY REGISTRATIONS

The first thing that needs to be remembered is that even though you do not have a shopfront, you are still operating a business. As such, there are certain legal requirements that you will need to abide by. In particular, you need to think about:

  • The structure of your business – consider asset protection, risk management, taxation issues, income splitting;
  • Registration of your business name and (the all too often overlooked trademarks, social media and URL registration);
  • Obtaining a tax file number, ABN and, if required, registering for GST;
  • Putting in place Terms of Trade, Privacy Policies and the like.
  • Government regulations and any advertising restrictions regarding the products or services that you wish to sell.

Although these considerations may seem daunting at first, it is important that they are given due consideration. Take for instance the choice of business name. Many would consider this the most important decision in the establishment of an online business. When choosing a name, you need to make sure that it does not infringe upon or not too similar to an existing business name or another person’s trademark. Preferably you would do this before spending money on websites, logos and the like!

CONSUMER LAWS

Before embarking into the world of e-commerce, it is important to remember that there have been major legislative changes to the laws regulating business transactions. In particular, you should take note of the Australian Consumer Law which regulates consumer affairs and transactions. Provisions which may be relevant to an online business usually concern the issue of misleading and deceptive conduct, misrepresentation and misdescription of products.

Consider the descriptions that you will be putting up about the products you will be selling and the impact that these may have in the mind of the consumer. If you think that they may create a false assumption, then it is best to re-word them and make it clear exactly what the product or service does.

If you are planning on selling products internationally, then you may also need to take regard of legal requirements of the countries that you are proposing to deliver to.

TERMS OF TRADE

Most online businesses do not sufficiently state the terms of their proposed sale to consumers. The description of the goods is usually there, as is the price and a method of delivery… but that’s about it! What if something goes wrong – what other terms would be useful?

Consider these:

  • Where is the law of the contract?
  • At whose risk are the goods while in transit? Are they insured?
  • What warranties or indemnities (if any) are required?
  • Can the performance of the contract be delegated to a third party?
  • Have you secured supply of key components of your product?
  • Can liability be limited in the contract?
  • What happens if circumstances beyond my control prevent you from fulfilling my contractual obligations?
  • Do you need to protect the intellectual property in any goods sold?
  • How will any disputes be resolved?

Many, if not all, of these matters can be addressed by having appropriately drafted terms of trade. If you haven’t brought all of your terms to the customer’s attention before the contract is entered into, they do not form part of the contract at all.

SECURITY & PRIVACY CONCERNS

On-line systems are at risk of fraud 24/7 and from anywhere in the world. When dealing with sensitive information such as personal contact details and credit card information, it is important that you have appropriate security measures in place. You should aim to:

  • Ensure that all personal details and credit card information is securely stored (and encrypted or not stored at all);
  • Take steps to seek to prevent fraud by using appropriate firewalls and software (as well as third party payment systems);
  • Provide a safe and secure online space.

Remember that by doing these actions, you are not only protecting consumers, but also protecting your and your business.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Craig Pryor is principal solicitor at McKillop Legal. For further information in relation to estate planning, business succession or any other commercial law matter, contact Craig Pryor on (02) 9521 2455 or email craig@mckilloplegal.com.au.

in Business / Commercial Law / Dispute Resolution / General  by 01 Nov 2016 0 comments

The importance of proper Terms of Trade for your business

DOES YOUR BUSINESS EVEN HAVE ANY TERMS OF TRADE? IF SO, ARE THEY ADEQUATE (AND UP TO DATE)?

We all sell goods and services, but do we ever really stop and think about what it takes to have a valid contract? There are 4 essentials at law, namely:

  1.  Offer – what is being sold
  2. Consideration – the price
  3. Intention to legal consequences – this is presumed at law
  4. Acceptance – agreement to purchase

Even buying a bottle of water for $1 is entering into a contract. We know what is on offer, we know the cost, we know that once we pay the price, ownership changes hands and it is accepted by paying the price.

Certain things cannot be sold without a written and signed contract in a very specific format that contains certain prescribed documents and words – such as a contract for the sale of land. Most things however don’t need that sort of detailed documentation to form a legally effective and binding contract

Most T&Cs are terribly inadequate. Often they are just copied and pasted from other documents and not tailored, leaving businesses thinking they are adequately protected when they really are not.

Most businesses that have Terms of Trade have terribly inadequate ones and often, the terms don’t form part of the deal at all as they are notified too late – for example where they are printed on the back of a receipt after the deal is concluded. The Terms need to be agreed before the deal is done.

WHAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR TERMS OF TRADE?

Here is a some of the things that should at least be considered for Terms:

  • Parties names and details – Use proper names (a business name is not a legal entity). Who is the buyer/seller?
  • Quotes/estimates – Is it fixed price or based on hourly rates or quantities?
  • How is the offer accepted – Payment, signature, purchase order, ticking a box to acknowledge the terms and then clicking ‘submit’ for online businesses
  • Exclusivity – Is there any obligation not to deal with or sell to others?
  • Term – Is there a fixed term for the arrangement or is it ongoing?
  • Renewal – How can it be renewed and for what term?
  • Obligations – What other obligations (if any) do the parties have to each other?
  • Title – When does ownership to the goods actually pass?
  • Risk – Who is responsible for the goods whilst in transit?
  • Insurance – Who is to take it out? For what amount? To cover what risks?
  • Payment – How much? When is it due? How is it to be paid?
  • Interest – What is the consequence for paying late? What about liquidated damages?
  • Security – What security (if any) is provided to secure late/non-payment? Charge, Mortgage, PPSR Security Interest? Is a director to guarantee a company’s obligations?
  • Termination – On what basis? On what notice?
  • Notices – How are they given and what period of notice is required?
  • Obligations on termination – Return of goods, payment in full of all amounts due etc
  • Limitation of liability – To what extent is it limited? What liability can’t be excluded?
  • Releases and indemnities – What things may be covered by a release and what events is one party entirely responsible for?
  • Privacy – How is private information to be dealt with? Can you use their details to market other goods to them?
  • Warranties – What promises have been made about the product?
  • Entire agreement – is this agreement intended to cover the field regarding the parties’ dealings? Or are there numerous contracts that operate on other terms?
  • Force majeure – What happens if the parties can’t comply through no fault of their own, like a strike, accident or inclement weather?
  • Dispute resolution – What do the parties need to do to resolve a dispute? Mediate? Get an expert? Can they go to court without doing this?
  • Jurisdiction and governing law – which law applies and which court will hear any dispute? Really important for online trading!
  • Delegation – Can a party delegate their role to a third party? How? Do they need approval?
  • Assignment – Can a party assign the benefit of the contract to someone else?
  • Confidentiality – Are the terms of the deal to be kept secret? Are staff also to be restrained?
  • Intellectual property – Who owns the IP? How is it to be used/returned?

If you buy, hire, sell or on-sell goods or services, whether through a shopfront or on-line (or you have a client that does so), please consider whether they actually even have any Terms and Conditions of Trade or if they do, whether they are adequate.

If they do have T&Cs, it may be that they simply copied and pasted various parts from other documents and websites they had seen. This can often lead to them mistakenly thinking they are adequately protected when they actually are not.

They may need to be updated to reflect recent changes in the law such as the Australian Consumer Law and the Personal Property Securities Act (or if they refer to legislation that doesn’t even exist anymore! (Such as the old Corporations Law and the Trade Practices Act).

FURTHER INFORMATION

Craig Pryor is principal solicitor at McKillop Legal. For further information in relation to starting or buying a business, drafting business documents or any other commercial law matter, contact Craig Pryor on (02) 9521 2455 or email craig@mckilloplegal.com.au.

in Business / Commercial Law / Dispute Resolution / General  by 21 Sep 2016 0 comments