The fine print, in plain English.
These policies explain exactly how a website project with Cahig Studios works: what you pay and when, what's included, who owns what, and what happens if plans change. They exist so we both know what to expect before any work starts.
The short version
The key points at a glance. The full terms below are what actually apply.
How these policies apply
In short: by paying a deposit or signing a proposal, you agree to these policies. If your written proposal says something different, the proposal wins.
"Cahig Studios", "I", "me" and "my" mean Cahig Studios, operated by Johnpaul Cahig in Brick, New Jersey. "You" and "client" mean the person or business hiring Cahig Studios. "Project" means the website design and build described in your proposal or invoice. "Care plan" means the monthly hosting and maintenance service.
These policies apply to every project and care plan. You accept them when you sign a proposal, approve a quote in writing (including by text or email), or pay any invoice. Your signed proposal or quote, together with these policies, is our full agreement. If the two conflict, the proposal controls for that project.
I may update these policies from time to time. Changes apply to new projects, and to care plans starting with the next billing cycle after I notify you. The version in effect when you signed stays in effect for a project already underway.
Agreeing to these policies doesn't lock you into buying anything. A free call or a booking request through this website is just a conversation.
Scope, quotes and changes
In short: your proposal lists exactly what's included. Anything not listed is extra, and I'll always quote it before doing it.
Every project starts with a written quote or proposal that lists the package, pages, features and price. Package descriptions on this website are summaries, and your proposal sets the actual scope.
What's included
Only what's listed in your proposal. For example, a Launch package is one page with up to 5 sections, an Anchor package is up to 5 pages, and features like booking systems, online ordering or integrations are included only where the proposal says so.
What's not included unless listed
- Writing your text content (copywriting), beyond light editing of what you provide
- Photography, stock photos or paid fonts and plugins
- Logo and brand design
- Online stores, payment processing, or connections to other software
- Paid advertising, ongoing SEO campaigns or social media management
- Moving content from an old website, beyond what the proposal describes
- Your own legal documents, such as your business's privacy policy or terms
Change requests
If you'd like something outside the agreed scope, I'll tell you it's a change, give you a price and a timeline effect, and wait for your written OK before doing it. Approved changes are added to your final invoice unless we agree otherwise. Add-on prices listed on this website (such as an extra page) are starting prices.
Payment and deposits
In short: 50% to start, 50% before launch. Care plans are billed monthly. Late invoices can pause work or hosting.
| Payment | When it's due |
|---|---|
| Deposit (50%) | Before any work begins. Your project is scheduled once it's received. |
| Balance (50%) | When the finished site is approved, and before it goes live on your domain. |
| Change requests | With the balance, unless agreed otherwise in writing. |
| Care plan | Monthly in advance, starting the month your site goes live. |
Larger projects may be split into more milestones, which will be listed in the proposal. Invoices are due within 7 days unless the invoice says otherwise.
Late payments
- If an invoice is more than 7 days overdue, I may pause work on your project until it's paid. The timeline moves back by the length of the pause.
- Invoices more than 15 days overdue may be charged a late fee of $25 or 1.5% of the overdue amount per month, whichever is greater, but never more than the law allows.
- The finished site isn't launched, transferred or handed over until all project invoices are paid.
Chargebacks
Please contact me first if you have a problem with a charge. I'll work with you to fix it. Opening a chargeback or payment dispute for work that was delivered as agreed is a breach of these policies. It pauses all work and services right away, and a $50 dispute fee plus the disputed amount must be paid before anything resumes.
Revisions and approvals
In short: "unlimited revisions" means you can keep refining your package's design and content until you're happy and approve launch. It doesn't cover new pages, new features or starting over with a different design.
Every package includes unlimited revisions. Here's exactly what that covers, so there's never any confusion:
A revision is
- Changing text, photos, colors, fonts, spacing or layout within the agreed pages and sections
- Reordering or adjusting sections, buttons and content that are already part of the scope
- Fixing anything that doesn't match what we agreed
New work (quoted separately) is
- Adding pages, sections or features beyond your package
- Abandoning an approved design direction and starting a new one
- Changes requested after the site has launched (these are covered by your care plan's edit hours, or quoted)
How feedback works
To keep things moving, please send feedback in one consolidated list per round, from the person who has authority to approve the site. I'll work through each list and send back an updated version. Unlimited revisions apply through launch.
Approvals
Approvals count when given in writing, including by text or email. Approving the design lets me start building. Approving the finished site means it's ready to launch. I'm not responsible for mistakes in content you approved, such as typos, prices or hours, but I'll happily fix them through your care plan.
Timelines and your responsibilities
In short: launch dates depend on getting your content and feedback on time. Delays on your side move the date, not the price.
Timelines on this website and in proposals (for example, "live in about a week") are estimates that assume I receive your content and feedback promptly. They start once the deposit and your content are received.
You agree to
- Provide your text, logo, photos and business details in a usable format when requested
- Reply to questions and review drafts within a reasonable time, ideally 3 business days
- Have the right to use everything you provide. You're responsible for making sure your content doesn't infringe anyone's copyright or trademark, and you agree to cover any claim that arises from content you supplied.
- Make sure your business information, prices, claims and any industry rules that apply to you are accurate and legal
If you're late with content or feedback, the timeline moves back by at least the same amount. Payment milestones stay the same.
Paused and abandoned projects
In short: if I don't hear from you for 30 days, the project is paused. After 60 days it's closed, and the work done so far is billed.
| No response for | What happens |
|---|---|
| 14 days | I'll follow up by text or email to check in. |
| 30 days | The project is paused and removed from my active schedule. I'll let you know in writing. |
| 60 days | The project is closed. I'll send a final invoice for work completed beyond your deposit, based on the stages in the cancellation table below. |
Paused projects can be restarted whenever you're ready, subject to my availability. A closed project can be reopened for a restart fee of up to 15% of the project price, which covers rescheduling and catching back up. If we arranged a break in advance, these timers don't apply.
Cancellations and refunds
In short: you can cancel anytime. The deposit isn't refundable once work has started, and you pay for work completed up to that point.
Either of us can end a project in writing. If you cancel, or the project is closed as abandoned, you pay for the work done based on how far along it is:
| Stage when cancelled | Amount owed |
|---|---|
| Before work begins | Full deposit refund if you cancel within 3 days of paying. After that, the deposit holds your spot on my schedule and isn't refundable. |
| Design in progress | The deposit (50% of the project price) |
| Design approved, build in progress | 75% of the project price |
| Site built and sent for final review | 100% of the project price |
Once the amount owed is paid, you receive the files for the work completed up to that point, and ownership of that work transfers to you as described below.
If I have to cancel a project for reasons on my side, I'll refund any payment for work I haven't delivered and hand over everything completed so far.
Care plan fees are not refunded for partial months. Unused edit hours don't roll over or convert to credit.
Ownership and rights
In short: once every project invoice is paid, the website is yours. Until then, it stays mine.
When ownership transfers
When all project invoices are paid in full, I assign to you all rights to the final website design, the custom code I wrote for it, and the final files delivered. There's no license to renew and nothing locking you in. Until full payment, all work remains the property of Cahig Studios, and you may not use, publish or copy it.
What stays mine
- Unused concepts: drafts, alternative designs and ideas you didn't choose.
- My tools: general-purpose code, templates, techniques and know-how I use across many projects. You receive a permanent, royalty-free license to use them as part of your website, but I can keep using them for other clients.
Third-party items
Some items are owned by other companies and licensed rather than sold, such as fonts, stock photos, plugins, maps and booking or payment services. They're covered by their own terms. Any ongoing license fees are your responsibility and will be flagged before we use them.
Your content
You always own your own text, photos, logo and business information. You give me permission to use them only to build and maintain your website.
Portfolio
Once your site launches, I may show it, and a short description of the project, in my portfolio and marketing, and include a small "Site by Cahig Studios" credit in the footer. If you'd prefer I didn't, tell me in writing and I'll respect that.
Hosting and care plans
In short: care plans keep your site online, secure and updated. They're month to month. If you stop paying, the site is taken offline until the balance is cleared.
How care plans work
- Every site I host needs an active care plan (Essential, Plus or Priority). Billing starts the month your site goes live and repeats monthly.
- Plans run month to month. You can cancel, upgrade or downgrade with 30 days' written notice.
- Included edit hours (1 hour a month on Plus, 3 on Priority) cover small updates such as photos, prices, hours, menus and text. New pages, features and redesigns are quoted separately. Edits beyond your monthly hours are billed at my current hourly rate, quoted before work begins. Unused hours don't roll over.
- Response times (1 business day on Plus, same day on Priority) apply to business days, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern, excluding major holidays. They're response times, not completion times.
Unpaid care plans
| Overdue by | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7 days | Reminder, and edits are paused until paid. |
| 15 days | Written notice that the site will be suspended in 7 days if the balance isn't paid. |
| 22 days | The site may be taken offline. A $50 reactivation fee applies, plus the overdue balance. |
| 60 days | The plan may be cancelled, and site files and backups may be deleted after one more written notice. |
An unpaid invoice for any service, whether project or care plan, can pause all services on your account after the notices above.
Leaving a care plan
You're never locked in. If you cancel with 30 days' notice and your account is fully paid, I'll give you a copy of your site's files and reasonable help moving it to a new host. A hands-on migration beyond providing the files is quoted separately. After your plan ends, I'm no longer responsible for hosting, updates, security or backups.
Acceptable use
I won't host content that is illegal, infringes someone else's rights, is used for spam or scams, or puts the hosting service at risk. I may take down content like that and, if needed, suspend the site.
Domains and third-party services
In short: your domain is registered in your name. Services from other companies are covered by their own terms, and I can't control their outages or price changes.
- Domains: your domain is registered in your name and belongs to you. You're responsible for keeping it renewed and your contact details current. If I register or renew it on your behalf, the cost is billed to you at cost.
- Hosting infrastructure: sites are hosted with established providers. Their outages, maintenance and policy changes are outside my control. I'll work to restore service as fast as possible.
- Other services: Google Business Profile, booking tools, payment processors, email providers, maps and other services are governed by their own terms and pricing. I'm not responsible for their changes, fees, downtime or decisions, such as suspending your account.
- Logins: please keep your passwords private and tell me right away if you think an account is compromised.
Launch, bug fixes and guarantees
In short: I fix bugs in my own work free for 30 days after launch. I can't guarantee search rankings, sales or perfect uptime.
30-day bug fix promise
For 30 days after launch, I'll fix any defect in the code I wrote at no charge. A defect means something that doesn't work the way we agreed. This doesn't cover problems caused by changes made by you or someone else, third-party services, or new browser or device releases after launch. Care plan clients are covered for bugs for as long as the plan is active.
What I can't guarantee
- Results: I build sites designed to bring in calls and customers, but I can't guarantee a specific amount of traffic, leads, sales or revenue.
- Search rankings: Google decides rankings, and no honest designer can promise a position.
- Uptime: I aim for your site to be available at all times, but outages outside my control can happen.
- Security: I follow good security practices and keep care plan sites updated and backed up, but no website can be guaranteed against every attack.
- Legal compliance: I build with accessibility and good practice in mind, but I'm not a lawyer and don't provide legal advice. You're responsible for making sure your site meets the laws and industry rules that apply to your business.
Liability
In short: if something goes wrong, my total responsibility is limited to what you paid me in the last 6 months.
To the fullest extent the law allows:
- My total liability for any claim related to a project or care plan is limited to the amount you paid me for that project or plan in the 6 months before the claim.
- I'm not liable for indirect or consequential losses, such as lost profits, lost revenue, lost data, lost business opportunities, or damage to reputation, even if I was told they were possible.
- I'm not liable for delays or failures caused by events outside my reasonable control, such as internet or hosting outages, natural disasters, power failures, illness, or actions by third-party services.
You agree to cover me against claims, costs and damages that come from content you supplied, your products or services, or your use of the website in a way that breaks the law or these policies.
I work as an independent business, not as your employee. Nothing in these policies creates a partnership or employment relationship.
Privacy policy
In short: this website doesn't use tracking cookies or analytics, and I never sell your information.
What this website collects
- Booking and contact requests: when you use the booking form, your details (name, phone, business name, package and project notes) are put together into a message that you send from your own device by text or email. They aren't stored on this website's servers. I receive them the same way as any text or email.
- Things you tell me directly: information you share on calls, by text or by email while we work together, including business details and content for your site.
- Technical logs: like every website, the hosting provider automatically processes basic technical data (such as IP address, browser type and pages requested) to deliver the site and protect it from abuse.
- Fonts: this site loads fonts from Google Fonts, which means your browser connects to Google's servers. Google's own privacy policy applies to that connection.
- Browser storage: the site may save a few settings in your browser's local storage so it works correctly. These aren't used to track you.
This website does not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels or analytics tools. If that ever changes, this policy will be updated first.
How I use your information
Only to respond to you, schedule calls, prepare quotes, deliver and support your project, send invoices, and meet legal and tax obligations.
Who I share it with
I don't sell, rent or trade your personal information, and I don't share it for advertising. It's shared only with services needed to run the business, such as hosting, email, phone and invoicing providers, or when the law requires it.
How long I keep it
Booking requests that don't become projects are deleted within 12 months. Client records are kept for as long as we work together and afterward as long as required for tax and legal purposes, typically up to 7 years.
Your choices
You can ask to see, correct or delete the personal information I hold about you by contacting me using the details below. I'll respond within 30 days. Some records, like invoices, may need to be kept for legal reasons. This website isn't directed at children under 13, and I don't knowingly collect their information.
Client websites
Websites I build for clients may collect information from their own visitors, such as through contact forms. Each client is responsible for their own site's privacy policy and for how they use their visitors' data. I can help set up the technical side, but I don't provide legal advice.
Disputes and legal details
In short: if we disagree, we talk first. If that doesn't work, New Jersey law applies and disputes are handled in Ocean County.
- Talk first: if a problem comes up, let me know in writing. We'll both make a good-faith effort to resolve it within 30 days before taking any other action.
- Governing law: these policies and any project are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey.
- Where disputes are handled: any dispute that can't be resolved informally will be handled in the courts located in Ocean County, New Jersey, including small claims where eligible.
- Collection costs: if I have to take action to collect an unpaid balance, you agree to pay reasonable collection costs and attorneys' fees, as permitted by law.
- Written notice: text messages and emails count as written notice and written approval under these policies.
- Severability: if any part of these policies is found unenforceable, the rest still applies.
- No waiver: if I choose not to enforce a term once, for example by waiving a late fee, that doesn't mean I've given up the right to enforce it later.
- Transfer: you may not transfer a project or care plan to someone else without my written agreement.
Contact
Questions about these policies, a project, or your information? Get in touch and I'll reply within one business day.
Cahig Studios, operated by Johnpaul Cahig
Brick, New Jersey
Phone and text: 848-335-9412