If you launch a crowdfunding project and offer rewards, you must provide various legal disclosures depending on the content and product. As the provider, you are responsible for the legal notice, labeling, protection of minors, shipping, and other requirements; the following information is intended as a general guide and is not a substitute for legal advice.
What information should be included in my project's legal notice?
Your publicly accessible project page needs a legal notice so that it's clear who is responsible for the published content.
If you're starting as a private individual, no public legal notice will be displayed to protect your privacy.
When an organization launches the project, the following information is displayed:
- Name of the Organization
- First and last name of the person in charge
- Address, including street, house number, ZIP code, city, and country
- Email Address as a Contact Option
- Optional: VAT ID number
- Optional: Additional information in a free-form text field
A legal notice is also important in crowdfunding because you’re publicly sharing text, images, videos, and updates. This can involve issues such as privacy rights, copyrights, or trademark rights.
What information do I need to provide when selling food?
If you sell food items as a thank-you gift (e.g., snacks, beverages, dietary supplements), you must provide the required labeling information depending on the product. This ensures that supporters are well-informed before making a purchase and that your communication complies with legal requirements.
What are some typical required disclosures?
Uniform EU-wide rules on food labeling have been in effect since December 13, 2016. Depending on the product, you’ll need, among other things:
- Product Name (clear and understandable; legally required name, if applicable)
- List of Ingredients (for packaged foods, generally listed in descending order by weight; includes flavorings and colorings)
- Allergens (clearly highlighted)
- Net Content (g / ml / l)
- Country-of-origin labeling (if required; e.g., according to EU regulations)
- Alcohol content (if alcoholic)
- Note regarding caffeine (e.g., “Not suitable for children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers”—if applicable)
- Nutrition Facts Panel (generally required; exceptions may apply depending on the product category)
Where can I enter this information on Startnext?
To ensure that supporters see this information before making a purchase, you can place the required information here, for example:
- in the thank-you description
- in a "Thank You" gallery image (as clearly legible text within the image)
- in the gallery images in the project details
- in writing in the project details (e.g., as a separate section titled “Food Information / Ingredients”)
What should I keep in mind in practice?
- Make sure that information is easy to read (even on mobile devices) and isn't just hidden "in the fine print" on images.
- If you have different variations (e.g., different varieties), clearly indicate which ingredients/allergens belong to each variation.
Depending on the product—such as dietary supplements, alcoholic beverages, or perishable goods—additional requirements may apply.
What do I need to keep in mind when serving alcohol?
In general, you can offer alcohol as a thank-you gift, but you must ensure that sales and shipping comply with laws protecting minors. In Germany, the following age limits apply (in simplified terms):
- Ages 16 and up: for example, beer, wine, and sparkling wine
- Ages 18 and older: Spirits and beverages containing spirits
Make sure that only people who are at least the required age can select the thank-you gift. Also, arrange for an age verification check upon delivery so that the shipping provider will only hand over the thank-you gift to someone who is of the required age. One example is DHL’s age verification check.
In the "Thank You" description, clearly state that an age verification check will be performed upon delivery and that the item cannot be handed over if the verification is not successful.
What information do I need for medications?
For each medication, the following information must be provided in accordance with Section 10 of the German Medicines Act (AMG) and the Regulation on Mandatory Information for Distance Sales Contracts:
- Name of the medication
- Active Ingredients and Composition
- Indications, Dosage, and Side Effects
- Information on Drug Interactions
- Storage Conditions
- Package insert or a link to the PDF document
Before making an offer, also check whether the specific product is even permitted to be offered and shipped through this distribution channel.
What information do I need for cosmetic products?
If you offer cosmetics as a thank-you gift, you typically need to provide the following information in accordance with the EU Cosmetics Regulation and other legal requirements:
- Product Name and Description
- Intended use, for example, “Hair serum for hair and scalp care”
- Ingredients according to INCI, the international nomenclature for cosmetic ingredients
- Required warnings, such as “For external use only”
- Net content, for example, in milliliters
- Name and address of the manufacturer or importer, if you do not manufacture the product yourself
Can I combine a thank-you message with a raffle?
Not as a game of chance for which a fee is charged. A game of chance may exist if participation is paid for through the cost of the thank-you gift and the outcome—win or loss—depends solely or predominantly on chance. In Germany, such games of chance generally require a government license.
One possible alternative is a thank-you gift with a fixed value, accompanied by a free raffle ticket. However, the fact that it is a raffle ticket must not encourage people to purchase the thank-you gift multiple times in order to increase their chances of winning. If in doubt, have the specific details reviewed by a lawyer before you publish the thank-you gift.
If rewards have already been distributed for an ineligible thank-you gift, the thank-you gift can be hidden or removed. Until the project funds are disbursed, the affected rewards can be canceled or refunded. Any change to a fixed reward with a free raffle ticket must be clearly communicated to the affected backers.
When and how do I provide information about the right of withdrawal?
If you offer products or services as a thank-you gift, inform your supporters in writing and well in advance—and no later than before or at the time of delivery—about any right of withdrawal that may apply.
Two possible approaches are:
- 1Send the information by email before shipping, for example, along with the shipping information.
- 2Include a printed copy of the information with the package or shipment.
The information should include:
- Notice Regarding the Right of Withdrawal
- applicable deadline, for example, 14 days, depending on the case
- Mailing address or email address for the notice of withdrawal
- a sample withdrawal form, if applicable
Whether and to what extent a right of withdrawal applies depends, among other things, on whether you are acting as a business owner and what type of thank-you gift you are offering.