Journey

Start a retail business - compliance essentials

Put the legal basics in place before you open a shop: consumer rights, pricing, weights and measures, product safety, data, accessibility, staff safety, fire, business rates and waste. Then add the licences for what you sell.

Retail & Consumer Goods Starting Updated 3 November 2026

  1. Know who enforces retail law

    Trading Standards at your local council enforces most of the law on what you sell and how you price it.

  2. Meet consumer rights on what you sell

    Goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, and your terms cannot take those rights away.

    Consumer rights compliance for traders Avoid unfair trading practices

  3. Show prices correctly

    Show the selling price of everything you offer to consumers, clearly and close to the product.

    Price marking for retailers

  4. Weigh and measure for trade

    Needed if you sell goods by weight or volume, loose or packaged.

    Weights and measures law

  5. Check ages for restricted products

    Needed if you sell alcohol, tobacco, vapes, knives, fireworks or other products with a minimum age.

    Age-restricted products

  6. Sell only safe products

    You must not sell products that you know, or should have known, are unsafe.

    Ensure product safety compliance for retailers

  7. Protect customer and staff data

    If you use personal information, including CCTV footage or a mailing list, you must pay the data protection fee to the Commission unless you are exempt.

    Data protection for retail businesses Pay the data protection fee to the Information Commission

  8. Make your shop accessible

    As a service provider, you must make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers.

    Equality and accessibility for retail businesses

  9. Get licences for what you sell

    Most shops need no licence to trade, but some products and premises do.

    Specialist retail licences and registrations If you sell food or run a convenience store If you also sell alcohol If you sell vapes, nicotine pouches or tobacco

  10. Protect your staff

    Insure your employees, assess the risks of the work and act on what you find.

    Employers' liability insurance Your duties as an employer under health and safety law Health and safety for retail premises

  11. Assess fire risks

    If you control the premises or employ staff there, you must carry out a fire risk assessment.

    How to conduct a fire risk assessment

  12. Pay business rates and manage your waste

    Your council bills business rates on your shop, and you are responsible for your waste until it reaches a registered carrier.

    Understanding business rates Meet your business waste duty of care

  13. Keep up once you are trading

    Extra rules apply if you sell online, and VAT applies once you pass the threshold.

    Start selling online legally Distance and off-premises selling requirements Retail compliance quick check VAT compliance for retailers

Official guidance

Online and distance selling (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK

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