Some legal aspects of owning an online store

When starting any kind of business, there are always various legal aspects to deal with and to be aware of. Though e-commerce might seem like a paper and a tax free business experience, in fact your online store is no different from any other kind of “physical” store. Here are some things to keep in mind and research well before opening an e-store:

• Store Business License. The regulations for a store license vary with the country and the state. They also depend on the type of products you are selling (pharmaceutical products, alcoholic beverages, firearms, etc.). In most cases, receiving a license is a relatively easy process, though could differ from case to case. Business license will also qualify you for a business (rather than personal) bank account.
• Taxes. You will definitely need to report your taxable items revenues and pay income tax.
• Advertisements on your website. For example you need to make sure that pay-per-click advertisements placed on your site are not fraudulent. 
• Keep the following statements up to date: license/buyer agreements, terms and conditions, terms of services, etc. You will also have to prepare contracts for third-party services and affiliate programs.

There are also several general items that are always relevant and important, and can protect you from a potential legal pitfall: make sure information placed on your site and sent out in e-mails to customers is authentic and always protect your site from spam.

You can get more information on legal aspects of e-commerce business: http://www.ecommercelaw.typepad.com/