If you run an ecommerce store, having a clear terms and conditions agreement is essential to protect your business and set expectations with your customers.
A good terms of service outlines things like your refund policies, liability limitations, intellectual property rights, and rules for how customers can use your website.
While you could pay a lawyer to draft a custom terms and conditions template, there are also many free online terms and conditions generators that provide a great starting point, especially for small ecommerce businesses.
Here’s a look at five of the best free terms and conditions generators to consider for your ecommerce website:
1. TermsFeed
TermsFeed is one of the most popular free terms and conditions generators available.
Many people really like the TermsFeed terms and conditions generator because it provides a guided questionnaire to help you include all the important details for your business.
To generate terms and conditions with TermsFeed, you simply answer a series of questions about your business practices, like what kinds of products you sell, how you handle payments and refunds, whether you have user accounts, and more.
TermsFeed then uses your answers to create a custom terms of service agreement tailored to your ecommerce store.
The TermsFeed generator supports a variety of specific clauses and disclosures that are important for ecommerce, such as:
- Refund and return policies
- Shipping and delivery terms
- Payment processing
- Subscription billing
- User generated content
- Affiliate marketing
Once you complete the questionnaire, you can download the terms and conditions template in HTML or text format to copy and paste onto your website. TermsFeed also provides a hosted version you can link to.
While the TermsFeed terms and conditions generator is free to use, they do offer premium options starting at $27 that allow you to remove TermsFeed branding and get access to additional legal agreements like privacy policies.
2. Shopify
If your ecommerce store is built on Shopify, you’re in luck. Shopify provides its own free terms and conditions generator as part of its platform.
To access it, simply log into your Shopify admin dashboard and navigate to Settings > Legal.
From there you can generate a terms and conditions agreement pre-filled with details about your store and business practices.
Shopify’s generator includes standard ecommerce terms like:
- Refunds, returns, and exchanges
- Shipping policies
- Payment terms
- Prohibited uses of your website
- Limitation of liability
- Dispute resolution
You can further customize the terms and conditions template if needed.
Once you’re happy with the agreement, simply click “Publish” to add it to your Shopify store‘s website footer.
You can also download a text version to use elsewhere.
Shopify’s generator is a convenient option if you already use their platform.
However, it’s not as flexible or comprehensive as some other standalone terms and conditions generators.
3. Ecommerce Terms & Conditions Generator by WebsitePolicies
WebsitePolicies offers a free online terms and conditions generator designed specifically for ecommerce stores and online shops.
To use it, you fill out a form with details about your business, website, and sales practices.
The WebsitePolicies ecommerce terms and conditions template covers important topics like:
- Acceptable use of your website
- Intellectual property rights
- User accounts and registration
- Product descriptions and pricing
- Payments
- Shipping and delivery
- Refunds and returns
- Disclaimers and limitation of liability
After completing the form, you can download the terms and conditions agreement in HTML or text format to add to your website.
The generated terms and conditions page includes all the required legal disclosures and protections.
One nice feature is that WebsitePolicies provides a link where you can update your terms and conditions in the future if your business practices change.
The generator is free to use, with premium options to remove branding and access additional legal templates.
4. FreePrivacyPolicy.com
As the name suggests, FreePrivacyPolicy.com offers a free terms and conditions generator alongside its privacy policy generator.
It’s a good option if you need both documents for your ecommerce store.
To generate a custom terms of service, you complete an online questionnaire covering details about your business, products, payments, and more.
The FreePrivacyPolicy terms and conditions template includes clauses on:
- Intellectual property rights
- User obligations and prohibited uses
- Limitation of liability
- Indemnification
- Governing law for disputes
- Refunds and returns
- Subscriptions and auto-renewal
You can choose to download the terms and conditions in HTML, DOCX, or PDF format.
FreePrivacyPolicy also provides a direct link to your agreement that you can use on your website.
The FreePrivacyPolicy generator is completely free to use, with no premium options or upsells.
However, the terms and conditions template is somewhat generic and may not cover all the unique aspects of your ecommerce business.
5. Avodocs Terms and Conditions Generator
Avodocs provides a simple online terms and conditions generator that you can use for free.
It asks you a few basic questions about your website and business, then generates a terms of service agreement you can copy and paste.
The Avodocs terms and conditions template covers topics relevant for ecommerce:
- Acceptable use of your website
- User accounts and registration
- Intellectual property rights
- Limitation of liability
- Governing law
- Refund policy
For a free tool, the Avodocs generator does a decent job of creating a terms and conditions agreement you can use on your ecommerce site.
However, the questionnaire and resulting template are not as detailed as some other generators on this list.
After completing the questionnaire, you can copy the terms and conditions text to paste on your website.
There’s no option to download in other formats or get a hosted version.
But for a quick and easy solution, Avodocs is worth checking out.
Ecommerce Terms and Conditions FAQ
Still have questions about terms and conditions agreements for your ecommerce store?
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Are terms and conditions legally required?
Technically, terms and conditions are not required by law in most jurisdictions. However, having a terms and conditions agreement is strongly recommended for all ecommerce websites. It helps protect your business by limiting your liability, establishing rules for your site, protecting your intellectual property, and more.
How do I display terms and conditions on my website?
You should display your terms and conditions prominently on your ecommerce website, either in the footer, on the checkout page, or anywhere else customers are likely to see it. Many websites have customers check a box to agree to the terms of service before making a purchase. You can also send a link to the terms as part of your purchase confirmation emails.
Can I write my own terms and conditions?
Yes, you can write your own terms and conditions from scratch if you want. However, unless you have legal expertise, it’s usually better to start with a template or generator to ensure you don’t miss any important clauses. The terms and conditions generators on this list provide a solid foundation you can customize for your specific business needs.
How often should I update my terms and conditions?
It’s a good idea to review and update your terms and conditions periodically, especially if you make major changes to your business practices, like your refund policy or how you handle user data. With most terms and conditions generators, you can create an account to save your information and easily make updates in the future.
By taking the time to create a comprehensive terms and conditions agreement, you’ll help ensure a positive experience for your customers while protecting your ecommerce business. Consider using one of these free terms and conditions generators to get started.
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