Terms of Service

Welcome to Atelier Website Design!

These terms explain how our business relationship works when you use our services. We’ve written this in clear language because we believe you should understand what you’re agreeing to.

By using our website or hiring us for web design services, you’re agreeing to these terms. If something doesn’t make sense, please ask us about it before moving forward.

Our Services

We provide professional web design and development services to businesses worldwide. This includes custom WordPress websites, eCommerce development, website redesigns, and ongoing maintenance. We also offer SEO services, Google My Business setup, and various tutorials. Visit our services page for more detailed information.

Each project is unique, so we’ll provide specific details about deliverables, timelines, and costs in your project proposal. The proposal becomes part of our agreement once you accept it. Think of it as the detailed blueprint for our working relationship.

Our goal is to create websites that help your business succeed online. We bring years of experience and proven strategies to every project. However, we can’t guarantee specific business results like increased sales or improved search rankings, as these depend on many factors beyond our control.

Getting Started

Most projects begin with a consultation where we discuss your needs and goals. This initial conversation is free and helps us understand whether we’re a good fit for each other. No pressure, no sales pitch – just an honest discussion about your project.

If we decide to work together, we’ll send you a detailed proposal. This document outlines exactly what we’ll deliver, when we’ll deliver it, and how much it costs. We won’t start any work until you’ve approved the proposal and we’ve received your initial payment.

For larger projects, we typically require a deposit before beginning work. This protects both of us and ensures we can dedicate the necessary resources to your project. Payment schedules vary by project size, but we’ll always discuss this upfront.

Your Responsibilities

A successful web design project requires collaboration. You’ll need to provide content, images, and feedback on time. If we’re waiting for materials from you, it might delay your project timeline.

You’re responsible for ensuring you have the right to use any content you provide. This includes photos, text, logos, and other materials. We assume you own or have permission to use everything you give us. If there are copyright issues later, that’s your responsibility to resolve.

You also need to review our work and provide feedback promptly. Clear communication from both sides makes everything run smoothly.

Intellectual Property and Ownership

Here’s how ownership works for different parts of your project. You own your content, branding, and any materials you provide to us. We don’t claim any rights to your business assets.

For custom design work, you’ll own the final website design once the project is complete and fully paid. However, we retain rights to our underlying code, frameworks, and development methods. Think of it like buying a custom-built house – you own the house, but the builder keeps their construction techniques.

We reserve the right to showcase your project in our portfolio and marketing materials unless you specifically request otherwise. Most clients are happy to be featured because it demonstrates the quality of our work. If you prefer privacy, just let us know.

Any third-party software, plugins, or templates used in your project remain subject to their original licenses. We’ll make sure everything is properly licensed, but you’re responsible for maintaining these licenses going forward.

Payment Terms

Our payment terms are straightforward and designed to be fair for everyone involved. We typically require 50% of the total project cost upfront, with the balance due upon completion. For larger projects, we might arrange milestone-based payments.

All invoices are due within 30 days of receipt unless otherwise specified. We accept bank transfers, checks, and most major payment methods. Late payments may be subject to a 1.5% monthly service charge.

If your project scope changes during development, we’ll discuss additional costs before proceeding. No surprise bills – we believe in transparent pricing throughout the process.

For ongoing services like website maintenance, we typically bill monthly or quarterly in advance. You can cancel these services with 30 days’ written notice.

Project Timelines

We provide estimated timelines for every project, but several factors can affect completion dates. Your responsiveness with feedback and materials is the biggest factor. Complex projects naturally take longer than simple ones.

We don’t control third-party services like domain registrations, hosting setups, or content delivery networks. Delays with these services might impact your timeline. We’ll keep you informed if any external factors affect your project.

Rush jobs are possible but typically require additional fees to accommodate the accelerated schedule. We prefer to do quality work on a reasonable timeline rather than rush through important details.

Website Maintenance and Support

Websites require ongoing maintenance to stay secure and functional. We offer maintenance packages that include updates, backups, and basic support. These services are separate from your initial website development.

Without proper maintenance, websites can become vulnerable to security threats or stop working properly. While we build robust sites, ongoing care is essential for long-term success.

If you choose to maintain your website yourself, we provide training and documentation to help you succeed. We’re also available for questions and technical support as needed.

Hosting and Domain Names

We can help you set up web hosting and register domain names, but these services are provided by third-party companies. You’ll own your domain name and have direct access to your hosting account.

We can recommend hosting providers, but the ongoing relationship is between you and them. If you experience hosting issues after your site launches, you’ll need to work with your hosting company for resolution.

We strongly recommend keeping your domain registration current and your hosting account in good standing. Expired domains or suspended hosting can take your website offline immediately.

Limitations and Warranties

We stand behind our work and will fix any bugs or issues that arise from our development. However, we can’t guarantee that your website will be completely error-free or work perfectly with all future software updates.

Technology evolves rapidly, and what works today might need updates tomorrow. We build websites using current best practices, but future changes in browsers, search engines, or other technology might require updates.

We’re not responsible for problems caused by third-party software, hosting issues, or changes you make to the website after delivery. If you modify our work and something breaks, fixing it might require additional charges.

Limitation of Liability

Our total liability for any project is limited to the amount you paid us for that specific project. We won’t be responsible for lost profits, business interruption, or other indirect damages.

This might sound harsh, but it’s standard in the web design industry. We carry professional liability insurance and take our responsibilities seriously. However, the nature of web development requires reasonable limits on liability.

If something goes wrong with your website, we’ll work quickly to fix it. Our reputation depends on client satisfaction, so we’re motivated to resolve problems promptly.

Cancellation and Refunds

You can cancel your project at any time, but refunds depend on how much work we’ve completed. If we haven’t started design work, we’ll refund your deposit minus any costs we’ve already incurred.

Once design work begins, we’ll calculate the refund based on completed work and time invested. This is fair for both parties and reflects the custom nature of our services.

For ongoing services like maintenance, you can cancel with 30 days’ written notice. We’ll provide a prorated refund for any unused time if you’ve paid in advance.

Force Majeure

Sometimes events beyond anyone’s control affect business operations. Natural disasters, government actions, or other extraordinary circumstances might delay or prevent us from completing work.

In these situations, we’ll communicate openly about impacts and work together to find solutions. Neither party is responsible for delays caused by circumstances beyond their reasonable control.

We’ll make every effort to minimize disruptions and keep your project moving forward even during challenging circumstances.

Privacy and Confidentiality

We treat all client information as confidential business communication. Your project details, business information, and personal data are protected according to our privacy policy.

We won’t share your confidential information with anyone except as necessary to complete your project. Any third-party services we use are carefully vetted for their privacy and security practices.

If your project involves sensitive information, we can sign additional confidentiality agreements to provide extra protection.

Dispute Resolution

We prefer to resolve any disagreements through direct communication. Most issues can be solved with an honest conversation about expectations and outcomes.

If we can’t resolve through discussion, we agree to try mediation before pursuing legal action. This saves time and money for everyone involved.

Any legal disputes will be governed by Nigerian law and resolved in Nigerian courts. This applies regardless of where you’re located, as our business is based in Nigeria.

Changes to These Terms

Business practices and legal requirements evolve over time. We may need to update these terms occasionally to reflect changes in our services or applicable laws.

When we make significant changes, we’ll notify existing clients through email or our website. For new projects, the current terms will apply from the start of our working relationship.

We recommend reviewing these terms periodically, especially before starting new projects with us.

Website Use and Acceptable Behavior

Our website is provided for informational purposes and client communication. You agree not to use our site for any illegal or harmful activities.

This includes attempting to hack our systems, sending spam through our contact forms, or using our site to distribute malware. We reserve the right to block access for anyone who misuses our website.

We want our website to be a helpful resource for potential and current clients. Please use it responsibly and respectfully.

Third-Party Services

We often integrate third-party services into websites, such as payment processors, email marketing tools, or analytics platforms. These services have their terms of use that you’ll need to comply with.

We’ll help you understand what third-party services we’re using and why. However, your ongoing relationship with these services is separate from your relationship with us.

Some third-party services require their accounts and billing arrangements. We’ll guide you through the setup process, but you’ll be responsible for maintaining these relationships.

SEO and Marketing Disclaimers

Search engine optimization and digital marketing are complex fields with no guaranteed outcomes. We use proven strategies and best practices, but we can’t promise specific rankings or traffic increases.

Search engines frequently update their algorithms, which can affect website performance. What works today might need adjustment tomorrow. We stay current with industry changes, but some fluctuation in results is normal.

Our SEO and marketing services focus on sustainable, ethical practices. We don’t use shortcuts or techniques that might harm your website’s long-term performance.

Technical Support Scope

After your website launches, we provide basic technical support for issues related to our development work. This covers bugs, functionality problems, or questions about features we built.

Technical support doesn’t include training on general computer use, troubleshooting unrelated software, or fixing problems caused by third-party services. We’re happy to recommend resources for broader technical questions.

For complex ongoing support needs, we offer maintenance packages that provide more comprehensive assistance.

Data Backup and Recovery

We recommend regular backups for all websites, and our maintenance packages include automated backup services. However, you’re ultimately responsible for ensuring your website data is properly backed up.

If your website experiences data loss and you don’t have current backups, recovery options may be limited. We’ll do our best to help, but prevention through regular backups is much more effective than attempting recovery after the fact.

We maintain backups during active development, but these are primarily for our workflow purposes rather than long-term data protection.

Contact Information

If you have questions about these terms or need clarification on any point, please contact us. We’re here to help and want to ensure you understand our policies completely.

Email: Contact@atelierwebsitedesign.com
Phone: +234 808 187 2184

You can also reach us via our Contact page.

We typically respond to inquiries within 24 hours during business days. For urgent matters, calling is usually the fastest way to reach us.

These terms of service are designed to create a fair and clear framework for our business relationship. If you have concerns about any provision, please discuss them with us before starting your project. We’re committed to working with clients who share our values of honesty, quality, and mutual respect.