Legal & Terms
What you're agreeing to
before we start.
Every project starts with a signed agreement. This page walks you through what's in it in plain language, so nothing catches you off guard. The full contract is available to download at the bottom.
The short version
Six things every client should know upfront.
These are the points that most often surprise people who skip the contract. Read these and you already know 90% of what matters.
50% deposit before work starts
No deposit, no start. Once you pay the first invoice, the deposit is non-refundable if you cancel after work has begun.
You own the work when you pay in full
Full copyright transfers to you the moment the final invoice is paid. Before that, the work legally belongs to the designer.
Revisions are agreed upfront
Your contract specifies how many rounds of revisions are included. Extra rounds are billed separately, agreed before they start.
Scope changes require re-agreement
If you want to add pages, features, or deliverables mid-project, that is a scope change. Work pauses while we agree on the updated price and timeline.
Your content is your responsibility
If you provide text, images, or logos for your project, you are responsible for owning or licensing them. The designer is not liable for content the client supplies.
The work goes in her portfolio
Once your project is live, the designer can feature it in her portfolio and case studies. If you need confidentiality, that can be noted in the contract.
Before any work begins, both parties agree in writing on the scope of the project: what gets delivered, in what format, and what is explicitly out of scope. This is documented in the project brief that you approve before paying the deposit.
The scope is the single most important part of the contract. A clear scope protects you from being billed for things you didn't expect, and protects the designer from doing unlimited work for a fixed fee.
Good news: The brief is written in plain language. If something is unclear, ask before you sign. Changes after signing require a new agreement on price and timeline.
If the project grows during work (new pages, new features, additional screens), that is a scope change. Work on new items will not start until the updated scope and any additional cost are agreed to in writing, usually just a quick email exchange.
All projects are invoiced through PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to pay: you can pay with a card directly through the invoice link.
Standard payment structure:
- Invoice 1 (50%) is sent when we agree on scope. Work begins when it is paid.
- Invoice 2 (50%) is sent when final files are ready for delivery. Files are released when it is paid.
- For larger projects over $3,000, a three-milestone payment plan can be agreed before work starts.
About the deposit: The deposit is non-refundable once work has started. It compensates the designer for time spent and for blocking off availability that could have gone to other clients. If you need to cancel before any work begins, the deposit is refunded in full.
Invoices are due within 7 days. Late payments may pause work until the balance is cleared. Ownership of all deliverables transfers only when the final invoice is paid in full.
Upon receipt of final payment, full copyright in the final deliverables transfers to the client. This means the client owns the finished work completely and can use, modify, or resell it however they want.
The client owns:
- All final design files and deliverables specified in the project brief
- Full copyright in those final works once final payment is received
- The right to modify, build upon, and use the work commercially without restriction
The designer keeps:
- Preliminary sketches, rejected concepts, and work-in-progress files not part of the final deliverables
- Reusable design tools, Figma components, and code snippets developed independently
- The right to display finished work in her portfolio and case studies
Before payment is complete: The designer retains full ownership of all work in progress. Do not publish, launch, or use any deliverables until the final invoice is paid.
The number of revision rounds included in your project is specified in the brief before you sign. A revision round means you send consolidated feedback, and the designer responds in one pass. Sending feedback in multiple separate batches counts as multiple rounds.
Extra revision rounds, scope additions, or substantial direction changes beyond what is agreed are billed separately at a rate agreed before that work begins. Nothing extra starts without your written confirmation.
If you need to cancel:
- Cancel before work starts: full deposit refund
- Cancel after work has started: deposit is non-refundable, any work beyond the deposit value is billed at a prorated rate
- You do not receive rights to any work in progress until all outstanding balances are paid
If the designer cancels: You receive a full refund of your deposit and all work completed to that point at no charge.
If you provide text, images, logos, or other content for the project, you are responsible for legally owning or licensing that content. The designer is not responsible for infringement claims arising from content the client supplies.
The client is also responsible for the accuracy and legality of any claims in the final deliverables, for example, marketing claims on a website or descriptions on a product page.
Both parties agree to keep each other's confidential information private. The designer will not share your project details or business information with third parties. You will not share the designer's unpublished work, processes, or proprietary tools.
Feedback timeline: The client agrees to review deliverables and respond with feedback within 5 business days. If no response is received, the deliverable is considered approved. Extended silence may pause the project while the designer takes other work.
The designer's maximum liability for any claim related to this agreement is the total amount the client paid for the project. The designer is not liable for lost profits, lost data, business interruption, or any indirect damages.
If a dispute comes up, both parties agree to try to resolve it directly first. If that does not work, disputes go to mediation before any legal action. This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Alabama.
The designer is an independent contractor, not an employee or business partner. Nothing in this agreement creates an employment relationship, partnership, or joint venture.
About the full contract: This page summarizes the key points. The full signed agreement is the legally binding document. If anything here contradicts the signed contract, the signed contract governs. Read the full contract before signing.
The Fine Print
A few more things worth knowing.
Working together does not mean the designer works exclusively for you. She takes multiple clients and reserves the right to work with competitors in your industry unless an exclusivity arrangement is specifically negotiated and priced into the project.
During the project and for 6 months after, the client agrees not to directly hire any subcontractor or team member introduced through the designer without prior written permission. If this happens, a placement fee applies.
If the project is delayed because the client is slow to respond, provide assets, or approve work, the timeline adjusts by the same amount of time. Significant delays may require the designer to reschedule and take other work in the meantime.
If the project requires stock photography, licensed fonts, or other paid third-party assets, those costs are billed to the client at cost. The client is responsible for ensuring they hold the appropriate licenses for any assets used in the final work.
Changes to the signed agreement must be made in writing by both parties. An email exchange confirming a change is sufficient. Verbal agreements do not modify the contract.
This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Alabama. Both parties consent to jurisdiction in Alabama courts for any disputes that cannot be resolved through mediation.
Want to read the full agreement?
Download the complete project contract. Every client gets a version of this filled in with their specific project details before signing.