How to Legally Spring Clean Your Online Business in 2025

Because “set and forget” doesn’t work when you’re scaling.

Running an online business means you’re constantly evolving, new offers, new platforms, new clients. But here’s the thing no one talks about:

Your legal setup needs to evolve with you.

What protected you last year might be putting you at risk this year. That’s why Q2 is the perfect time to do a legal spring clean, a no-fluff audit of your foundations to make sure everything still holds up.

Here’s how to do it, step by step.

1. Revisit your business structure

When was the last time you thought about your business structure?

If you set things up as a sole trader “just to get started,” but you’re now earning consistently, hiring contractors, or scaling… it might be time to level up.

Checklist:

Are you still on the right structure (Sole Trader vs. Company)?
Are you protected from personal liability?
Do you need a separate entity for new income streams?

Foundd Tip: If you’ve added digital products, group programs, or partnerships, check with your accountant and lawyer to make sure your structure still makes sense for tax, risk, and scalability.

2. Audit your contracts (yes, all of them)

Contracts aren’t “one and done.” They need to evolve with your offers, pricing, and client experience.

Ask yourself:

Have your services changed?
Did you add a course, VIP day, or digital download?
Are you working with people internationally now?
Are clients ghosting, pushing boundaries, or paying late?

If yes, you likely need to update your contracts to reflect your new reality.

Common areas that go out of date:

Payment terms
Scope of work
Refund/cancellation policies
Intellectual property clauses
Dispute resolution

Foundd Tip: Still using a Frankenstein contract from Google + a past client? Stop. That thing won’t hold up if things go sideways.

3. Review your website legals

You know those footer links that no one reads? They matter a lot.

If you’ve changed what you sell, added email marketing, or started collecting payments through your site, it’s time to check your:

Website Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy (especially if you’re running Meta/Google ads)
Cookie Policy

Bonus: If you sell internationally, you may be subject to GDPR or other global privacy laws, yes, even from Australia.

Foundd Tip: You should never copy/paste website legals from another site. You’re legally responsible for what you publish, even if you don’t understand it.

4. Check your IP protection

Think no one’s watching? Think again.

If your brand is gaining traction, on socials, through ads, in your niche, you need to lock it down.

Checklist:

Have you registered your business name and domain?
Have you checked your brand is actually available under trademark law (IP Australia)?
Have you protected your course/program name if it’s unique?
Are your logo and brand assets legally protected?

Foundd Tip: Registering your ABN ≠ owning your brand. You need a trademark to get full protection.

5. Review contractor + team legals

If you’ve started hiring, VAs, OBMs, designers, social media managers, you’re now responsible for protecting their work and yours.

Too many founders skip this part. Don’t.

What to check:

Do you have signed agreements with everyone you pay?
Do your contracts clarify intellectual property ownership?
Do you have confidentiality clauses in place?
Are you complying with employee vs. contractor obligations?

Foundd Tip: If they’re touching client data, creating content, or representing your brand, you need it in writing.

6. Back-up your systems

Okay, not legal per se, but essential for risk mitigation.

Use Quarter 2 as your chance to:

Back up contracts, legal docs, and important files in Google Drive or Dropbox
Review your password management system (e.g., LastPass, 1Password)
Clean out old client data you no longer need (yes, that’s a privacy issue too)
Revoke access from past contractors or collaborators who no longer need it

Foundd Tip: Keep one central “legal hub” folder. Your future self will thank you.

7. Align your legals with where you’re going

This one’s key.

Don’t just spring clean to protect what you have. Do it to prepare for what you’re building.

Planning to:

Launch a course?
Host a retreat?
Create a new partnership?
Expand into a new market?

Great. Now’s the time to lay the legal foundation so you’re not scrambling mid-launch.

Foundd Tip: Law done well = strategic. It lets you move faster with less fear, fewer delays, and way more confidence.

Your business deserves a fresh start

You’ve evolved. Your brand’s grown. Your offers have shifted.

Make sure your legal setup isn’t stuck in 2024.
You don’t need to overhaul everything. You just need to review, realign, and refresh.

Want Help Figuring Out What You Actually Need?

Fast, no-BS tool to help you figure out exactly which legal documents you need based on your business model, offers, and growth plans.

Or explore our industry specific Legal Templates, lawyer-drafted, zero-fluff, and made to actually work in real life.

***Disclaimer. Please read!!***

This article is for general information purposes only and should be used solely as general guidance. It does not and is not intended to represent legal advice or other professional advice.