Terms & Conditions

A legal disclaimer

The explanations and information provided on this page are only general and high-level explanations and information on how to write your own document of Terms & Conditions. You should not rely on this article as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do, because we cannot know in advance what are the specific terms you wish to establish between your business and your customers and visitors. We recommend that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your own Terms & Conditions.

Terms & Conditions - the basics

Having said that, Terms and Conditions (“T&C”) are a set of legally binding terms defined by you, as the owner of this website. The T&C set forth the legal boundaries governing the activities of the website visitors, or your customers, while they visit or engage with this website. The T&C are meant to establish the legal relationship between the site visitors and you as the website owner.

T&C should be defined according to the specific needs and nature of each website. For example, a website offering products to customers in e-commerce transactions requires T&C that are different from the T&C of a website only providing information (like a blog, a landing page, and so on).

T&C provide you as the website owner the ability to protect yourself from potential legal exposure, but this may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so make sure to receive local legal advice if you are trying to protect yourself from legal exposure.

What to include in the T&C document

Generally speaking, T&C often address these types of issues: Who is allowed to use the website; the possible payment methods; a declaration that the website owner may change his or her offering in the future; the types of warranties the website owner gives his or her customers; a reference to issues of intellectual property or copyrights, where relevant; the website owner’s right to suspend or cancel a member’s account; and much, much more.

To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Terms and Conditions Policy”.

Whether you need a license to run a consultant business depends on several factors, including your location, the type of consulting you provide, and the structure of your business. Here are some things to consider:

1. Location (Country/State/Region):

In the U.S.: Licensing requirements vary by state and even city. Some states or cities may require a business license or a professional license, while others might not. For instance, if you're offering specialized consulting services (e.g., legal, financial, medical), you might need a professional license.
In other countries: Each country has its own business and regulatory requirements. For example, in the UK, you may not need a license for general consultancy, but some industries (such as legal or financial consulting) might require specific qualifications or registrations.

2. Type of Consulting:

General Consulting: If you’re providing general advice or consulting (such as business, marketing, or IT consulting), in many places, you may not need a special license but may need to register your business with local authorities.
Specialized Consulting: If you're offering advice in regulated industries like law, accounting, engineering, or healthcare, you often need specific qualifications and licenses to operate legally. For example, an accountant must be a certified public accountant (CPA), and a financial consultant may need FINRA or SEC registration.

3. Business Structure:

If you’re operating as a sole proprietor, you might only need to register your business name (if it’s different from your personal name) and obtain a basic business license.
If you’re forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company), S Corporation, or Corporation, you’ll need to file specific documents with the state and may need additional licenses or permits depending on your location and the services you offer.

4. Tax ID (EIN):

Even if you don’t need a formal business license, you may need to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS (if you're in the U.S.) or a similar tax ID in your country. This is especially necessary if you plan to hire employees or operate as a business entity (LLC, Corporation, etc.).

5. Industry Regulations:

Some industries may have specific requirements for consultants. For example, financial consultants often need to register with regulatory bodies like FINRA or the SEC, and management consultants may need certain certifications (like PMP for project management).

Summary:

No specific license is generally required for a consultant business, but you will likely need to register your business and possibly obtain a business license.
If you’re offering specialized consulting services in regulated industries, you will need professional qualifications and licenses.
Always check with local regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with any legal or licensing requirements in your area.