Sample Contract
We encourage our clients to sign a contract with us when services are initiated. These do not bind the client to any obligations as such, but merely act as the "rules of engagement" while we do business together. A sample contract follows:
This contract binds undersigned, hereafter referred to as “Client”, and Stargazer Productions, Inc., hereafter referred to as “SPI”, for its duration, to the terms herein.
The primary duties of SPI are to design, create, and publish internet sites for clients in the Wabash Valley. SPI will also create logos, graphics, and identity packages for said clients. Other services may be added or agreed to between SPI and client at any time.
Termination: This contract may be terminated at any time, without any prior warning, by either party. No explanation is required. However, as long as the business relationship continues, these will be the standards with which it will be conducted. Downtime of up to or exceeding 3 months (no work or contact) will automatically void this contract. A new one must be drawn up before work shall resume. SPI reserves the right to assess a new startup fee at that time as well. (See Startup fee below)
Startup Fee (Startup Deposit): This will cost the equivalent of 5 hours basic work, and is due upon contract signing. Work will not commence without the Startup Deposit. The first 5 hours basic work will then be done with no additional charge. Basic work in this case is defined as non-logo design based work (i.e. the higher pay scale). Those desiring only logo design work are exempt from the Startup Deposit.
Rates: Rates are to be as noted at the end of this document. (On Website see "Rates" button) Rates guaranteed not to increase until 1/1/03. Once rates are set at that time, they are then guaranteed until 1/1 of the next year, and so on. This policy may be terminated by SPI for the following year, but not for the current year. In other words, in 2003, SPI may choose to suspend this policy, but all clients' rates will be guaranteed until 1/1/04. In case of dispute, determinations of exactly what sorts of work fall into each rate category are the final decision of SPI.
Late Charges: SPI may, at any time, institute modest late fees for delinquent payment should it become necessary. These are independent of the guaranteed rates, and may be added, altered, or terminated at any time at the sole discretion of SPI.
Web Hosting: SPI does NOT offer web hosting services at this time. We can recommend you to some very reasonable web hosting and domain registration services, but we are in no way connected with them, and as such, take no responsibility for their operations in any way.
In-House Client Interface: If scheduling permits, clients may sit in on web-design sessions and give hands-on assistance to the process. Many clients find this to be a very useful way of preventing communication errors that otherwise may arise, as well as having a more direct form of input into the process. This can be particularly true when dealing with items of a technical nature relating to their profession. Others find it to be tiresome and overly time-consuming. The choice is up to the client who needs simply to inform SPI of their wishes any time they wish to sit in. For the purposes of these sorts of sessions, the hours of SPI are 10am-5pm Monday-Friday. When phoning SPI, please note that outside of the previously mentioned hours, you will need to leave a message on our voice mail system. Work may be done at other times, but without visitors as this is a residential neighborhood, and a private residence!
As this is a residential neighborhood, we also ask that if you do visit,
please refrain from disturbing the neighbors. This includes honking the horn
of your car and similar noises.
SPI is not responsible for any items left here, intentionally or otherwise.
Also be warned that we have two indoor pets, a cat and a small dog. They will
be put away when there are visitors, but those with allergies should nonetheless
be aware.
All communications and instructions regarding work to be done should be in some sort of written format. The preferred format is through e-mail. These e-mails will be archived for at least three (3) months. This will hopefully prevent any disagreements over what was asked for. In the case of such a disagreement, if it is determined that the error was clearly on the side of SPI, any corrective work necessary will be done at no charge where applicable. Again, this only applies if there are written instructions.
Referrals: Any client who refers our services to another person, who then in turn becomes a client at some point in the future, will receive ten (10) free hours of basic work. These free hours are not retroactive. A client in this case is defined as someone who signs a contract and pays a startup deposit. This feature may become void at a later date if SPI should experience an unexpected overload of clients. Such voidance of this feature will be stated by email no less than two (2) weeks before it would take effect.
For those who wish to have a copy of their materials for their own personal storage, we will archive your work free of charge, provided you supply us with the storage device. Acceptable storage devices for this service include compact discs (CD’s), or Zip Disks (100 or 250Mb). Smaller sized files may also be put on 3.5” floppy disks, but this will not be done for archivals totaling more than 1.4 Mb without extra charge. We will also backup our work free of charge for in-house storage on a regular basis.
Site Ownership/Usage: Any website created by SPI will be property of the client, with all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges thereof. However, SPI reserves the right to show other prospective clients the website as an example of their work. If client does not wish this for whatever reason, they must submit a request to that effect by email. Additionally, a severe delinquency in payment of fees may result in SPI removing the site. Several very clear warnings of such intent will be made by SPI in advance of this occurrence.
Work will be charged on an hourly basis, with ½ hour being the minimum time charged. After ½ hour, the time will be rounded on a standard basis (i.e. 14 minutes past the ½ hour will be rounded down, 15 minutes past will be rounded up.)
This contract may be amended at any time, with the agreement of both parties,
at which time a new contract will be drawn up.
Signed:
(Date): ______________
Client SPI Representative
___________________________ ______________________________
