FCA COBS
Also covers: FCA AR arrangement; FCA CASS client money.
Financial promotions must be fair, clear and not misleading, show your FCA status (or your principal's, for appointed representatives) and carry the required risk warnings.
What your website and marketing must show to stay compliant in finance
The rules that apply to a UK finance business, turned into what your site, ads and social posts must show, or must not say. Each point links to the regulator or the legislation it comes from.
General guidance, not legal advice. Rules change and depend on your circumstances; check the linked source or take advice from a qualified adviser before relying on any point.
Finance rules
AML regulations 2017
Also covers: HMRC AML supervision.
Tell clients up front that you will verify their identity; name your AML supervisor where that helps trust.
MTD ITSA
Do not overstate who must comply or from when; link to HMRC for the thresholds.
ICAEW bye laws
Use the "Chartered Accountants" description and ICAEW logos only as the bye-laws allow, and show the practice's regulatory status.
Source: ICAEW regulations
ACCA rulebook
Use ACCA descriptions and logos only as the rulebook allows, and show the practising certificate holder's status.
Source: ACCA rulebook
ICO data protection
Also covers: GDPR.
Publish a privacy notice that names who you are, what you collect on every form, why, how long you keep it and how people use their rights; link it from every form.
Every UK business site
Whatever the sector, these apply to almost every business website.
Company and trading details
A limited company's site must show its registered name, company number, place of registration and registered office address.
Source: Company and trading details
Privacy notice
Say who you are, what each form collects, why, how long you keep it and how people use their rights.
Source: Privacy notice
Cookie consent
Non-essential cookies and analytics wait for consent, and refusing is as easy as accepting.
Source: Cookie consent
Honest claims
Every claim, review and comparison is true, evidenced and not misleading (CAP Code).
Source: Honest claims
Genuine reviews
No fake, bought or selectively hidden reviews (DMCC Act 2024).
Source: Genuine reviews
See how your site measures up
The free grader checks your site against the visible signals buyers, search engines and AI assistants look for, including several of the points above.
Grade my website Finance websites