Website Design & Development – Terms & Conditions
These terms and conditions are here to ensure that clients and I are on the same page from the start of a project – they protect clients’ interests as much as mine and help avoid any confusion down the line. Please take a moment to read through these points. If anything isn't clear or you have questions, I'm happy to discuss them before we begin.
1. Project Start
Work begins only once the following are in place:
A signed contract or written agreement
A clear and agreed-upon brief
A confirmed project fee
An initial payment (minimum 40–50% unless otherwise agreed)
2. Scope & Changes
The project fee covers the design and build outlined in an agreed brief. Copywriting is not included unless specifically agreed in writing. Any additional pages, features, functionality, content support, or revisions beyond the agreed package will be quoted separately before work proceeds.
Out-of-Scope & Urgent Requests:
All requests for work outside the agreed scope must be submitted in writing and will be subject to a formal quote and written approval before commencement.
Requests submitted:
With less than 72 hours’ notice, or
Outside agreed working hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM GMT)
may incur a 50% premium fee and/or extended delivery timelines, and may be declined at the sole discretion of the service provider. No work will begin without prior written agreement and confirmation of fees.
3. Client Responsibilities
The client is responsible for providing all written content, images, assets, and information needed for the site, unless copywriting or content creation has been explicitly included as part of the project. All materials should be provided in a timely manner. Delays in receiving content or decisions may delay the project timeline.
The client is responsible for domain and platform subscription costs. These are not included in design and/or implementation fees.
4. Payments
Invoices must be paid within 14 days unless otherwise stated. Work pauses automatically if payments fall overdue. The final site will only be transferred, launched, or handed over once all fees are paid in full.
5. Timeline
Any proposed timeline depends on the client supplying content and feedback as agreed. Delays on the client side may shift delivery dates.
6. Cancellations & Termination
If the client cancels the project after work has begun, the initial payment is non-refundable. Any additional work completed will be invoiced at the agreed hourly rate or project fee proportion.
Either party may terminate this agreement with 31 days’ written notice. All fees for completed work or scheduled sessions remain payable. No further work will be undertaken after termination unless a new written agreement is signed and payment received in advance.
7. Platform & Technical Notes
Websites are built using platforms (e.g., Squarespace, Cargo, WordPress) and set up for responsive behaviour within those systems' capabilities. Sites are tested across major modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) and common device sizes during development. However, browser differences, third-party changes, or platform limitations may affect appearance or performance. Extensive stress testing, performance optimisation beyond standard best practices, or testing across legacy browsers requires additional time and will be quoted for separately if needed.
8. Maintenance & Aftercare
Ongoing maintenance, updates, future changes, or training are not included unless a monthly or hourly arrangement is agreed separately.
9. Intellectual Property
All design files, layouts, and related materials remain my property until the project is paid for in full. Once final payment is received, all rights to the delivered website design and assets are transferred to the client. Preliminary drafts, unused concepts, and working files remain mine.
10. Communication & Professional Boundaries
Communication and decision-making take place during agreed working hours and through agreed channels.