Business Website and Documentation Compliance
Updated December, 2025
This guide outlines the compliance standards expected from Trusted Trader Hub members. These requirements apply to websites, paperwork and business documentation to ensure transparency, professionalism and consumer protection.
For businesses outside our membership, this guide can still be used for general reference. Only a court can provide a definitive interpretation of UK law. For further clarification, refer to Business Companion (Chartered Trading Standards Institute) or the relevant guidance on GOV.UK.
Website Requirements for UK Businesses
Below is what Trading Standards expects to see on a business website.
For Limited Companies and LLPs
Your website must display:
Full business name as shown on the Certificate of Incorporation
Company registration number
Place of registration (e.g. “Registered in England & Wales”)
Registered office address clearly labelled
Trading address, if different
Telephone number
Email address or contact form
VAT number (if registered)
Accurate pricing displaying VAT-inclusive amounts (if VAT registered)
Membership details for any trade associations, schemes or professional organisations
Note:
You must consistently use either “Ltd” or “Limited”. Once chosen, the suffix must appear the same way across all business documents, signage, advertising and official correspondence.
For Sole Traders and Partnerships
Your website must include:
Full business name
Name of the business owner(s) or partners (if not part of the business name)
An address where official documents can be served
Telephone number
Email address or contact form
VAT number (if registered)
VAT-inclusive pricing (if VAT registered)
Additional Website Compliance
All UK businesses must comply with:
Data Protection Act 2018
UK GDPR
ICO regulations relating to privacy, data handling and consumer information
For guidance, see the ICO resource:
“Getting started with Data Protection”.
Documentation Requirements
Below are the mandatory details your invoices and quotations must include.
What Must Appear on Invoices
Limited Companies and LLPs
Unique invoice number
Invoice date
Payment due date (minimum seven days to pay)
Full company name
Company registration number
Place of registration
Trading address
Telephone number
Email contact
VAT number (if applicable)
Customer’s name, address and contact details
Clear description of goods/services
Total amount charged
VAT amount (if applicable)
Final amount payable
Accepted payment methods, including bank details if required
Sole Traders and Partnerships
Unique invoice number
Invoice date
Payment due date
Full business name
Business owner’s name(s) if not in the business name
Trading address
Telephone number
Email contact
VAT number (if registered)
Customer’s name, address and contact details
Description of goods/services
Total amount charged
VAT amount (if applicable)
Final total payable
Payment methods accepted, including bank details if provided
For more details, refer to GOV.UK’s guidance on invoicing and record-keeping.
What Must Appear on Quotation Documents
Limited Companies and LLPs
Unique quote reference number
Date the quote was issued
How long the quote is valid
Full business name
Company registration number
Place of registration
Trading address
Telephone number
Email address
VAT number (if registered)
Customer’s name and contact details
Full description of the work
Total cost
VAT amount (if applicable)
Total payable including VAT
Payment terms and accepted methods
Sole Traders and Partnerships
Unique quote reference number
Issue date
Quote validity period
Business name
Owner/partner names (if not in the business name)
Trading address
Telephone number
Email address
VAT number (if registered)
Customer name and contact details
Description of work or service
Total cost
VAT amount (if applicable)
Total payable
Accepted payment methods and invoice payment timelines
Additional Requirements for Trusted Trader Hub Members
Trusted Trader Hub expects the following to be provided to customers before a contract is agreed:
1. Guarantee / Warranty Details
These can be included in:
Terms & Conditions
Cover email
Cover letter
Link to a webpage or digital document
2. Complaints Handling Policy
This may appear in:
Terms & Conditions
Quotation
Invoice
Standalone document
We also provide basic templates in the Trusted Trader Hub Document Library for businesses that need support creating compliant paperwork.
Need Help?
Members and applicants can contact us for guidance:
Email: support@trustedtraderhub.co.uk
Phone: +447732222345
If you are not a Trusted Trader Hub member, please consult the resources linked above or visit the Business Companion website for further information.