Terms of Service

1. Services

Social Animal provides website design and development and search engine optimisation services, including fixed-scope website builds and ongoing SEO growth partnerships billed on a recurring basis. The specific scope, deliverables, and fees for an engagement are defined in the Client's quote, proposal, or signed service agreement.

2. Scope and quotes

Each engagement covers the deliverables defined in writing for that engagement. Work outside the agreed scope is discussed, agreed in writing, and quoted before execution. There are no hidden charges and no surprise scope add-ons. Quotes are fixed for the defined scope unless the Client requests changes.

3. Payment terms

• Website builds. Fixed-fee projects are typically billed as a deposit on signature and the balance at launch, or as otherwise set out in the Client's agreement.
• SEO growth partnerships. Recurring SEO work is billed quarterly in advance, due at the start of each quarter, with no annual lock-in.
• Additional work. Hours or pages beyond the agreed scope are quoted separately. Ad hoc development and maintenance beyond included hours is billed at 150 USD per hour or in agreed hour blocks.
• Invoicing. Invoices are payable by the method shown on the invoice (bank transfer, ACH, or card) and are due on receipt unless the invoice states otherwise.

4. Refunds and cancellation

Because services are professional and digital and work begins promptly, fees for work already performed are non-refundable. Specifically:

• Website builds. If a project is cancelled after kickoff, completed and delivered work is billable and non-refundable. The deposit covers work performed up to the point of cancellation.
• SEO growth partnerships. There is no annual lock-in. The Client may pause, downgrade, or cancel at any time with 7 days written notice, effective for future quarters. A quarter already in progress is non-refundable. A minimum downgrade plan equivalent to 1,000 USD per month applies where a reduced tier is selected.

5. Deliverables, not rankings

Social Animal guarantees the agreed deliverables, such as content, links, audits, and completed builds. Search rankings are influenced by search engine algorithms outside the Provider's control and are not guaranteed. For standard page templates, the Provider guarantees a 95 or higher PageSpeed score on mobile and desktop at launch.

6. Intellectual property and ownership

Upon final payment for an engagement, the Client owns all deliverables produced for that engagement, including the codebase, written content, design assets, and structured data markup. The site and accounts run on the Client's own infrastructure where applicable, and the Client retains full control and may engage any developer in future. Until final payment is received, all deliverables remain the property of the Provider.

7. Client responsibilities

Timely delivery depends on timely Client feedback, content, and access to required tools and accounts. Delays in providing these may shift agreed timelines proportionally.

8. Confidentiality

Both parties keep each other's project information, business data, analytics, and strategy confidential and use it only to deliver the engagement.

9. Independent contractor

Social Animal acts as an independent contractor and is responsible for its own taxes, insurance, and business expenses.

10. Limitation of liability

The Provider's total liability under any engagement is limited to the fees paid by the Client for the affected engagement, quarter, or project phase.

11. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, USA. The parties agree to resolve any dispute in good faith before pursuing other remedies.

12. Changes to these terms

Social Animal may update these terms from time to time. The current version is always published on this page with the date it was last updated. Continued use of our services after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

13. Contact

Questions about these terms can be sent through our contact page.