Terms of Service

Last updated: November 2, 2025

Effective Date: November 2, 2025

Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access our services.

Intellectual Property

The service and all its original content, features, and functionality are owned by Studio and are protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights laws.

User Responsibilities

By using our services, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information
  • Maintain the security of your account
  • Not use the service for any illegal purposes
  • Respect intellectual property rights
  • Not interfere with or disrupt the service

Service Modifications

We reserve the right to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the service with or without notice. We shall not be liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuance of the service.

Limitation of Liability

In no event shall Studio be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses.

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your Country/State], without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. We will notify users of any changes by updating the "Last updated" date of these terms.

Project Scope & Changes

All projects begin with a clearly defined scope outlined in a project proposal or contract. Any changes to the project scope must be requested in writing and will be subject to additional fees and timeline adjustments.

Minor Revisions

Small adjustments within the original scope (e.g., text changes, color tweaks) are included in the agreed-upon revision rounds.

Major Changes

Significant scope changes (e.g., additional pages, new features) require a change order with updated pricing and timeline.

Payment Terms & Conditions

Payment terms are clearly outlined in each project proposal. Standard payment structure includes:

Initial Deposit (50%)

Required before project commencement. This deposit reserves your project slot and covers initial design and development work. Non-refundable once work begins.

Final Payment (50%)

Due upon project completion and before final deliverable transfer. All files, source code, and credentials will be transferred upon receipt of final payment.

Milestone Payments (For Large Projects)

Projects over $5,000 may be divided into milestone payments as agreed upon in the project proposal. Work will not proceed to the next milestone until the previous milestone payment is received.

Late Payment Policy

Payments not received within 7 days of the due date will result in project suspension. A late fee of 5% per month may be applied to overdue balances. Projects suspended for more than 30 days may be cancelled, with all paid amounts forfeited.

Refund Policy

Deposits are non-refundable once work has commenced. This is because we allocate resources, time, and expertise to your project from day one.

If you wish to cancel the project:

  • Before work begins: Full deposit refund minus 10% administrative fee
  • Within first week of work: Prorated refund based on work completed
  • After first milestone/week: No refund; you retain all work completed up to cancellation point

Monthly retainer and maintenance fees are non-refundable but can be cancelled with 30 days' notice.

Ownership & Intellectual Property Rights

Client Ownership

Upon receipt of full and final payment, you own all rights to the final deliverables, including source code, design files, and any custom graphics created specifically for your project. We will transfer all files and provide full ownership documentation.

Third-Party Components

Some projects may include third-party components (e.g., WordPress themes, plugins, stock photos, fonts, frameworks). These components remain under their original licenses:

  • Open-source software (e.g., WordPress, React) - Subject to their respective licenses
  • Premium themes/plugins - Licensed to you; license terms apply
  • Stock assets - Licensed according to stock provider terms
  • Fonts - Licensed separately if premium fonts are used

Studio's Portfolio Rights

We reserve the right to use completed projects in our portfolio, case studies, and marketing materials unless a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is in place or you explicitly request otherwise in writing.

Pre-Existing Materials

Any pre-existing intellectual property, templates, tools, or code libraries owned by Studio that are incorporated into your project remain our property. However, you receive a perpetual, royalty-free license to use them as part of your project.

Domain & Hosting

Domain Registration

We can assist with domain registration, but domains are registered in your name and you maintain full ownership. We recommend registering domains directly through your preferred registrar (e.g., Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains).

Hosting Services

We offer hosting setup assistance and recommendations. You have two options:

  • Your Own Hosting: You purchase and own the hosting account; we set it up
  • Managed Hosting (Optional): We can manage hosting for an additional monthly fee

We strongly recommend owning your hosting account directly to maintain full control and avoid vendor lock-in.

Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure

We treat all client information with strict confidentiality. We will not share, sell, or disclose any confidential information, including:

  • Business strategies and plans
  • Customer data and lists
  • Financial information
  • Login credentials and access information
  • Proprietary processes and trade secrets

For projects requiring additional confidentiality protection, we are happy to sign a mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

Warranties & Disclaimers

What We Guarantee

  • Website will function as described in project specifications
  • Code will be clean, well-organized, and follow industry best practices
  • Website will be responsive and mobile-friendly
  • 30-60 day bug fix warranty (varies by package) after launch
  • Website will meet WCAG 2.1 Level A accessibility standards (unless upgraded package)

What We Don't Guarantee

  • Search Engine Rankings: We implement SEO best practices but cannot guarantee specific rankings
  • Sales/Conversions: We create optimized designs but cannot guarantee business results
  • 100% Uptime: Hosting providers may experience occasional downtime outside our control
  • Browser Compatibility: We support modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge); legacy browser support may require additional work
  • Third-Party Services: We're not responsible for third-party plugin/service failures or changes

Support & Maintenance

Post-Launch Support (Included)

All packages include a post-launch support period (30-60 days depending on package) covering:

  • Bug fixes and technical issues related to our work
  • Minor content updates and adjustments
  • Basic troubleshooting and guidance

Ongoing Maintenance (Optional)

After the support period, we offer optional maintenance plans starting at $99/month, including:

  • Regular software and plugin updates
  • Security monitoring and malware scanning
  • Regular backups
  • Priority support response
  • Monthly content updates (varies by plan)

Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

In the unlikely event of a dispute, we commit to the following resolution process:

  1. Direct Communication: First, we'll attempt to resolve the issue through direct communication
  2. Mediation: If unresolved, we'll engage in good-faith mediation
  3. Arbitration: If mediation fails, disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

This agreement is governed by the laws of Nova Scotia, Canada. Both parties waive the right to a jury trial.

Force Majeure

Studio shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, pandemics, strikes, or shortages of transportation, facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Studio harmless from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

  • Content you provide that infringes on third-party rights
  • Your use of the delivered website or materials
  • Your violation of these Terms of Service
  • Any modifications made to the website after delivery by you or third parties

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable.

Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with any project proposal or contract, constitute the entire agreement between you and Studio regarding the use of our services and supersede all prior and contemporaneous written or oral agreements.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at hello@studio.com

Business Address: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM AST
Response Time: We typically respond to inquiries within 24-48 business hours