The launch checklist first-time founders rarely get: identity, legal pages, accessibility, claims and licenses.
1. What it is
A short set of checks that separates a site that works and holds up from one that quietly loses visitors or invites complaints.
2. Why it matters
Missing legal pages, unreadable text, unlicensed photos or unsupported claims are the usual problems, and all are cheap to fix before launch.
3. Where to look
- Your Brand OS already holds most of the inputs: legal name, voice, visual rules, claims rules and asset licenses.
4. How to do it
- Show your legal business name and a working contact method.
- Publish a privacy policy and terms that name your legal entity, if you collect any personal information or take payments.
- Check text contrast and that every image has alt text and every form works by keyboard.
- Make sure every claim on the site can be backed up, especially health, food, financial or environmental claims.
- Confirm you hold a license for every font and photo used.
- Send a test through every form and every checkout, and check the site on a phone.
5. Official sources
- Privacy and data security guidance (FTC) ↗
- Advertising and marketing basics (FTC) ↗
- Accessibility checklist (WCAG quick reference) ↗
- Colour contrast checker (WebAIM) ↗. Paste two hex colours. 4.5:1 or better for body text.
- The Open Font License, explained ↗. Fonts under this license are free to use commercially.
6. Record what you found
Keep a note of where each of these lives:
- Date of the launch check and who did it
- Links to the published privacy policy and terms
- Where font and photo licenses are recorded
In Brand Axis this becomes a step on your launch map: you record where the proof lives, mark how it was checked, and get a reminder when it needs checking again.
7. Check it
Mark it done once you have seen the record yourself. It counts as verified when the record is an official one, and as professionally reviewed when someone qualified has checked it. When to get help: An attorney for privacy terms if you handle health, financial or children's data.
8. Where it gets used
The check result gates the Launch dimension of your readiness.
9. When to check again
Repeat after any redesign, new product line or new data collection.
General information for US businesses, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by state and change over time. Check the official source, and ask a qualified professional about your situation. Scope: United States. Federal steps apply everywhere; state steps link to your own state's office. Last reviewed 2026-09-19 by AxisAlign editorial.