How to Create Terms & Conditions for Your Website or App

I recently developed a web app that generates web design leads e.g. dentists as businesses without websites from your local area. While working on it, I realized something important—having a Terms and Conditions (T&C) page isn’t just something, it is, by law, important to have in your web application. So, I created one and figured I’d share what I learned with anyone who needs to put together a T&C page for their own website or app. I’ll also drop a link to my app so you can check it out for inspiration.

Table of Contents

• What is a Terms and Conditions Page?

• Why Do You Need T&C?

• What Should It Include?

• Best Practices

• Make Sure Users Can Contact You

• Do You Need a Lawyer?

• Example

What is a Terms and Conditions Page?

A Terms and Conditions page (sometimes called Terms of Service or Terms of Use) is basically the rulebook for your website or app. It explains how things work in your website or app, what users can and can’t do, and what responsibilities both you and your users have. Think of it as a way to set expectations and protect your business at the same time.

Why Do You Need T&C?

A T&C page isn’t just about covering yourself legally—it also helps prevent misunderstandings and clarifies key policies upfront.

For example, let’s say you only offer refunds within 14 days of a purchase. If you don’t spell this out in your T&C, people might assume they can ask for a refund anytime. To avoid disputes, make sure your policies are clearly written and easy to find—like linking to your T&C page in your website’s footer.

Pro Tip: To make sure users actually agree to your terms, include a checkbox at checkout that says something like, “I have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.” This little step can save you a lot of headaches later.

What Should It Include?

Not every T&C page is the same, but here are the most common sections you might need:

• Introduction – A quick explanation of what your website/app does.

• User Responsibilities & Restrictions – What users are (not) allowed to do—like no spamming, hacking, or breaking laws.

• Payments, Refunds & Subscriptions (If Needed) – How payments work, refund policies, and whether subscriptions auto-renew.

• Intellectual Property Rights – Let users know that your content, logos, and software belong to you and can’t be copied or reused without permission.

• Limitation of Liability – Explain that you’re not responsible for things like service interruptions, data loss, or user errors.

• Termination of Accounts – Explain the reasons you might ban or suspend users (e.g., fraud, rule violations).

• Privacy Policy Reference – If you collect user data, link to your Privacy Policy and briefly explain how you handle it.

• Dispute Resolution & Governing Law – Let users know how legal disputes will be handled and what laws apply.

• Updates & Changes – State that you can update the terms when needed and encourage users to check back for changes.

• Contact Information – Provide an easy way for users to reach you if they have questions.

Best Practices

• Use a Table of Contents – Helps users quickly find what they need.

• Show the “Last Updated” Date – Let users know when the page was last modified.

• Be Clear & Transparent – No legal jargon, just straightforward explanations of how your site or app works.

• Make It Easy to Find – Place a link in your site’s footer or menu so users can access it anytime.

Make Sure Users Can Contact You

If users have questions, disputes, or need help, they should easily be able to reach you. Here are a few options:

• Email – Provide a support email like support@yourdomain.com.

• Phone – If possible, list a phone number.

• Physical Address – Useful for businesses dealing with legal matters.

• Contact Form – A simple form on your website makes reaching out easy.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

If your site is simple, you can probably write your own T&C page using a mix of common sense and online templates. But if you’re dealing with:

• Payments & subscriptions

• User-generated content

• Sensitive user data (like personal or medical info)

then maybe it’s worth having a lawyer review your terms to avoid legal trouble down the road.

At the end of the day, your T&C page protects you and your business. Even if you don’t get a lawyer, at least make sure it covers the basics.

Example

Want a real-world example? Check out the T&C page from the lead generation platform I built. Feel free to use it as inspiration for your own—but be sure to tweak it to match your website or app’s needs!