Benjamin Tietz
Technology & setup
Why this is not just red tape
A missing or incomplete legal notice is one of the most common reasons for cease-and-desist letters in Germany. Small businesses that set up their website on the side are hit particularly often — the rules apply regardless of company size.
The second, often underestimated point: for many customers the legal notice is a trust signal. Someone who finds a real name and a real address there is more likely to call. Someone who only finds a contact form hesitates.
What belongs in the legal notice
The mandatory details follow from German digital services law. For a sole trader the core items are:
- The full name of the owner
- A physical address where documents can be served — a PO box is not enough
- A phone number or another route to fast contact, plus an email address
- VAT identification number, where one exists
- For registered companies: the register and registration number
- For regulated professions: chamber, professional title and the responsible federal state
The privacy policy
The privacy policy describes which personal data your website processes and why. That covers more than most people expect: server log files, contact forms, appointment bookings, newsletters, embedded maps or videos.
One practical note that saves a lot of work: the fewer external services you embed, the shorter and more defensible your privacy policy becomes. If you self-host fonts and skip embedded maps, in many cases you need no cookie banner at all — because there is nothing to consent to.
What we handle — and what we do not
We build the legal notice and privacy policy into every website we deliver and make sure they are reachable from every page. We also tell you which details we need from you and why.
What we do not provide: legal advice. This article is orientation, not a legal review of your individual case. In case of doubt — for example with regulated activities or several shareholders — the route leads to a lawyer.
Benjamin Tietz
Technology & setup
Has been building websites and software for small businesses for over ten years. Built a company in Southeast Asia himself and knows where the paperwork gets stuck.
