General terms & conditions: how to draft them.

Templates (Startium)

• General terms for in-person B2C sales (docx)
• Withdrawal form (docx)
• General terms B2B (docx)
• General terms webshop B2C (docx)

Summary (based on UNIZO info via Startium)

Are general terms mandatory?

No—there is no legal obligation. They are useful when you work with the same conditions often.

What do you typically include?

Payment terms, delivery/execution, cancellation/change terms, complaint procedure, liability limits, force majeure, IP, applicable law and competent court.

What is not allowed?

Unbalanced clauses that are disproportionally in your favour can be invalid.

When must customers receive/accept them?

They must be readable and accepted before the agreement/order is concluded.

• B2C: strict—if you cannot prove prior access/acceptance, they may not apply.
• B2B: still best practice to provide them upfront; do not rely on “no protest” alone.

Is it enough to mention them on the invoice?

No—never only on the invoice.

Sources

• Startium board: https://gentrepreneur.startium.be/public/boards/5d70c839-54e0-4c04-bdca-610c09dc2792
• UNIZO article: https://www.unizo.be/ondernemersgids/juridisch/contracten/algemene-voorwaarden-0