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Is Your Small Business Website GDPR Compliant in 2025?

📅 7 July 2026 ⏱ 4 min read 🌐 Web Design

Most small business websites aren't compliant — and the owners don't know it

You built a website, or someone built it for you, and you haven't thought much about it since. That's normal. But if your site has a contact form, uses Google Analytics, or shows a cookie banner that says nothing more than "We use cookies" with a single OK button, there's a good chance you're not meeting what the law requires in Spain in 2025.

This isn't meant to alarm you. It's meant to give you a clear, practical picture of what's actually required — so you can fix what needs fixing before it becomes a problem.

Cookie consent banner displayed on a small business website

Two laws you need to know about

In Spain, your website must comply with two overlapping frameworks:

Both apply to you even if you're a one-person business, a holiday rental, a hair salon, or a local restaurant. If your website collects any personal data — a name, an email, an IP address — you're in scope.

What your website must have in 2025

1. A genuine cookie consent banner

Spain's data protection authority, the AEPD, has been very specific about this. A compliant cookie banner must:

A banner that just says "We use cookies. OK" does not comply. The AEPD has issued fines for exactly this. Even small businesses have been caught.

2. A Privacy Policy that actually says something

Your privacy policy isn't just a legal formality — it's a genuine right your visitors have. Under GDPR it must clearly state:

A copy-pasted generic policy you found online may be missing several of these points. It's worth a proper review.

Small business owner checking their website on a laptop

3. A Legal Notice (Aviso Legal)

This is a specifically Spanish requirement under the LSSI-CE. Every commercial website must display:

Many websites built outside Spain miss this entirely. If yours doesn't have an Aviso Legal page, it needs one.

4. Compliant contact forms

Every contact form on your site must have an unticked checkbox where the user explicitly accepts your privacy policy before submitting. The link to the policy must be right there, visible. Pre-ticked doesn't count. "By submitting you agree" buried in small print doesn't count either.

5. Secure connection (HTTPS)

If your site still shows "Not Secure" in the browser bar, that's both a trust problem and a compliance red flag. Any site that collects data must use HTTPS. This is also a Google ranking factor — it affects your visibility in search results.

RequirementRequired byCommon mistake
Cookie consent bannerGDPR / AEPD guidelinesNo reject option at same level
Cookie policyGDPR / LSSI-CENo list of individual cookies
Privacy policyGDPRGeneric template missing legal basis
Aviso LegalLSSI-CE (Spain)Completely absent on non-Spanish builds
Form consent checkboxGDPRPre-ticked or missing entirely
HTTPSGDPR (data security)Still on HTTP

What are the actual risks?

The AEPD (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos) actively investigates complaints and carries out its own audits. Fines for SMEs typically range from €1,000 to €20,000 for procedural breaches, and higher for serious ones. Beyond the financial risk, a non-compliant site damages trust — especially with the tech-aware expat community on the Costa Blanca who will notice a dodgy cookie banner.

Privacy policy document on a desk

DIY or get help?

If you're confident with your website platform (WordPress, Wix, Shopify etc.) you can install a reputable cookie consent plugin, update your policies, and add an Aviso Legal page yourself. The AEPD website publishes guidance in Spanish.

But if you're not sure where things stand, or if your site was built by someone else and you have limited access, it's worth having someone audit it properly. A compliance check typically takes less than a couple of hours and can save you significant hassle later.

At Campoverde Repair we handle web builds and updates for local businesses across the Costa Blanca, including making sure the legal side is covered from the start. If you'd like your site checked, see why a properly built local business website makes a real difference — compliance included.

FAQ

Does GDPR apply to my small business website in Spain?

Yes. GDPR applies to any website that collects personal data from EU residents, regardless of business size. Even a basic contact form collecting an email address brings you into scope.

What's the difference between GDPR and LSSI-CE?

GDPR is the EU-wide data protection regulation. LSSI-CE is Spain's national law for online services and adds requirements specific to Spain, most notably the mandatory Aviso Legal (legal notice) page.

Can I be fined if my cookie banner isn't compliant?

Yes. The AEPD actively enforces cookie regulations and has fined businesses of all sizes. Common violations include not offering a genuine reject option and loading tracking cookies before consent is given.

How do I know if my website is already compliant?

Check for: a cookie banner with equal Accept/Reject options; a cookie policy naming each cookie; a privacy policy covering all GDPR requirements; an Aviso Legal page; consent checkboxes on all forms; and HTTPS across your whole site.

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