The deal, in plain English: I build websites for a fixed price, I keep my promises about the timeline, and you own everything when we're done. Below is the formal version — but everything in it should match what we agreed on the call.
"Topline Studio" is the trading name of Ben Edwards, a sole trader based in Liverpool, United Kingdom. References in these terms to "we", "us" or "the studio" mean Ben (currently a one-person business). References to "you" mean the customer named on the proposal you signed.
Bespoke web design and front-end build for small businesses — usually trades, clinics, hospitality, salons and other local services in the North-West of England. We do not, by default, provide:
If any of those are in scope they'll be written into your proposal.
We work to three fixed-price tiers. The price you see on the proposal is the price you pay — there are no usage-based fees, no hidden modules, no "scope creep" surcharges as long as you're working within the agreed brief.
Payment is split 50% on signing and 50% on launch. Both halves are payable by bank transfer or Stripe link. The first half is what we call the "deposit" in these terms.
If your first draft isn't delivered within 7 working days of the deposit clearing and the project questionnaire being returned, you can ask for the deposit back. No questions, no clawback. This is the only commitment in these terms where a refund is automatic.
"First draft" means a working multi-page (or single-page for Starter) site on a staging URL, designed to the brief, with placeholder copy where you haven't yet supplied the real thing.
To hit the timeline, I need a few things from you. Specifically:
The project is considered launched (and the final 50% becomes payable) when:
If a launch is delayed by you (e.g. final approvals or DNS access withheld) the final invoice is still payable 14 days after the site is otherwise ready.
On full payment, you own the finished site — the source files, the design, the copy I wrote for you. No platform lock-in, no licence fee, no monthly hostage situation. You can move it, fork it, hire someone else to extend it.
I retain two rights only:
Unless your proposal explicitly includes hosting, the customer owns and pays for the domain name and the hosting account. I'll happily recommend providers and set you up — but the account is in your name with your card on file. This is on purpose: it means I can't be a single point of failure for your business.
You may add a Care plan at £79/month at any point. It covers:
The Care plan is rolling-monthly, no minimum term. Cancel any time with 14 days' notice by emailing ben1.edw@gmail.com. On cancellation I'll send a final handover doc — your site keeps working, I'm just no longer on call.
Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, if you're contracting with me as a consumer (not in the course of business) you have 14 calendar days from the date of signing to cancel without giving a reason.
If you ask me to start work within that 14-day window — which is normal, given the 7-day first-draft promise — you're agreeing to waive your right to a full refund to the extent of the work I've actually done. If you cancel before any work has begun, you get the full deposit back. If you cancel after I've started, the deposit covers a fair share of the work done up to that point.
This contract is governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes that can't be resolved by an honest conversation will fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Topline Studio's total liability under any project is capped at the fees you have actually paid for that project. Neither party is liable for indirect or consequential losses (lost profits, lost goodwill, business interruption). Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud — because the law doesn't allow that.
These terms apply to new projects from the "last updated" date at the top of the page. Existing projects are governed by the version of these terms in force on the date you signed your proposal. The current version is always available at /terms.html.
Questions, edge cases, or anything that doesn't seem fair — email ben1.edw@gmail.com. I'd rather work it out than send a stiff letter.