Between me, McKenzie Sue Rucker, and you,

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Summary:

I’ll always do my best to fulfill your needs and meet your expectations, but it’s important to have things written down so that we both know what’s what, who should do what and when, and what will happen if something goes wrong. In this contract you won’t find any complicated legal terms or long passages of unreadable text. I have no desire to trick you into signing something that you might later regret. What I do want is what’s best for both parties, now and in the future.

So in short;

You, located at are hiring me, McKenzie Sue Rucker, to do your Custom Website DesignBrand IdentityBothOther for the estimated total price as outlined in previous or future correspondence. Of course it’s a little more complicated, but we’ll get to that.

What do both parties agree to do?

You: You have the authority to enter into this contract on behalf of yourself, your company or your organization. You’ll give me everything I need to complete the project as and when and in the format we need it. You’ll review my work, provide feedback and approval in a timely manner too. Deadlines work two ways, so you’ll also be bound by dates we set together. You also agree to stick to the payment schedule set out at the end of this contract.

Me: I have the experience and ability to do everything I’ve agreed with you and I’ll do it all in a professional and timely manner. I’ll endeavor to meet every deadline that’s set and on top of that I'll maintain the confidentiality of everything you give me.

Getting down to the nitty gritty

Design

I create look-and-feel designs, and flexible layouts that adapt to the capabilities of many devices and screen sizes. I create designs iteratively and use predominantly HTML and CSS so we won’t waste time mocking up every template as a static visual. We may use static visuals to indicate a look-and-feel direction (color, texture and typography.) Obviously this does not include business cards or letterheads.
You’ll have two or more weekly opportunities to review my work and provide feedback. If, at any stage, you’re not happy with the direction our work is taking, you’ll pay me in full for everything I’ve produced until that point and cancel this contract.

Text Content

I am not responsible for writing or inputting any text copy. There is a reason I am a designer and not a copywriter.

Photographs

You should supply graphic files in an editable, vector digital format, unless told otherwise. You should supply photographs in a high-resolution digital format. If you choose to buy stock photographs, I can suggest stock libraries. I will not search for photographs for you.

Browser testing

Browser testing no longer means attempting to make a website look the same in browsers of different capabilities or on devices with different size screens. It does mean ensuring that a person’s experience of a design should be appropriate to the capabilities of a browser or device.

Desktop browser testing

I test my work in current versions of major desktop browsers including those made by Apple (Safari) and Google (Chrome). I will not test for Microsoft (Internet Explorer) or Mozilla (Firefox) unless you specify otherwise. If you need an enhanced design for an older browser, let me know and I can provide a separate estimate for that.

*For the record: on blogs, I will not accept designing for Blogspot, Blogger, or Weebly. If you want tutorials on how to use these other platforms, I can direct you to plenty of tutorials online.

Changes and revisions

I know from experience that fixed-price contracts are rarely beneficial to you, as they often limit you to your earliest ideas. I don’t want to limit your ability to change your mind. The ranged price I gave or will give is based on the scope of the project and time we’ll need to accomplish everything you’ve told me you want to achieve, but I’m happy to be flexible. If you want to change your mind or add anything new, that won’t be a problem as I’ll provide a separate estimate for that.
After the deadline we agree(d) upon, I will make changes, revisions, and updates for you. If your site needs emergency help, I will do my best to respond and fix in timely fashion, but cannot promise I will be able to fix all problems.

Due to an emergency situation from either party, the deadline still has the opportunity to change, as long as both parties agree upon a comfortable alternative date.

Legal Stuff

I can’t guarantee that my work will be error-free and so I can’t be liable to you or any third-party for damages, including lost profits, lost savings or other incidental, consequential or special damages, even if you’ve advised me of them. Finally, if any provision of this contract shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this contract and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

Phew.

Disclosure

I make sure you have the best products to help your biz so I create relationships with third-party companies and websites. My site or emails may contain affiliate links which I will receive compensation when a product is bought.

When signing this contract, you give permission for me to email you through my Client Newsletter when I find appropriate to be able to contact multiple people. I will respect your inbox and my emails usually have important information that you will need or want to know.

Copyrights

First, you guarantee that all elements of text, images or other artwork you provide are either owned by your good selves, or that you have permission to use them.

Then, when your final payment has cleared, copyright will be automatically assigned as follows:

You’ll own the visual elements that I create for this project. I’ll give you source files and finished files and you should keep them somewhere safe as I’m not required to keep a copy. You own all elements of text, images and data you provided, unless someone else owns them.

I love to show off my work and share what I’ve learned with other people, so I reserve the right, with your permission, to display and link to your project as part of my portfolio and to write about it on social media and websites.

Payments

I’m sure you understand how important it is as a small business that you pay the invoices that I send you promptly. As I’m also sure you’ll want to stay friends, you agree to stick tight to the following payment schedule.

The non-refundable deposit should be paid within the following 10 days from signed date. I require a non-refundable deposit in order to give you my best work — I schedule my time to make sure you are my first priority!

Website package scope limits to 80 hours. If I exceed the 80 hours, I will notify you and will start a per-hour fee for any additional work.

I will send an invoice document after the branding project has finished (if applicable) and after the website/blog is finished and live, I will send another invoice document that will include the ending total — with the deposit deducted. There is a possibility smaller invoices will be sent throughout the design process which you will be notified, and if both agreed upon, can be postponed and added to the ending total.

After I have sent an invoice document, you have 10 days to finish payments. I will accept splitting the payment as long as it is within an agreed upon payment period and sums to the total price.

You can send payments through the following options:

Venmo—@mckenziesuemakes or [email protected] **Recommended

Check to McKenzie Rucker—43066 Camino Casillas Temecula, CA 92592
PayPal—[email protected].
Cash—In Person

For invoices over $50 paid through PayPal, you will have to pay an additional 3% of the total for their fees so I would suggest a check or Venmo.

But where's all the horrible small print?

Just like a parking ticket, you can’t transfer this contract to anyone else without our permission. This contract stays in place and need not be renewed. If for some reason one part of this contract becomes invalid or unenforceable, the remaining parts of it remain in place.
Although the language is simple, the intentions are serious and this contract is a legal document under exclusive jurisdiction of English courts.
Thank you for hiring me to help you build your brand/company. I will do my best to show the world what you’ve got!

Signed by and on behalf of McKenzie Sue Rucker

Signed by and on behalf of
Date
I will email a copy of the signed contract for your records.

I am excited to start working with you!

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