Terms & Conditions of Service

Clare Layton  |  Sole Trader  |  Last updated: March 2026

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions:

•      "Designer" refers to Clare Layton, a sole trader based in the United Kingdom.

•      "Client" refers to the individual, business, or organisation commissioning the work.

•      "Project" refers to the agreed scope of work as outlined in the written proposal.

•      "Deliverables" refers to all files, designs, and assets produced as part of the Project.

•      "Proposal" refers to the link with information confirming scope, inclusions, price, and timeline, sent before any deposit is requested.

2. Agreement

These Terms apply to all services provided by the Designer, including web design, brand identity, email marketing setup, social media, and lead magnet creation. By paying a deposit or providing written confirmation of acceptance (including via email or digital acceptance on a proposal), the Client agrees to be bound by these Terms.

A Proposal will accompany these Terms, confirming the exact scope, inclusions, timeline, and total investment for the Project. In the event of any conflict between documents, these Terms shall take precedence unless otherwise agreed in writing.

3. Payment Terms

3.1 Deposit

A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total project fee is required before any work commences. The deposit secures the Client's place in the Designer's schedule. The remaining 50% is due upon project completion, before the final site goes live or final files are transferred.

Important: The domain will not be connected and the website will not go live until the final balance has been received in full.

3.2 Invoices & Payment

Invoices are payable within 14 days of the invoice date unless otherwise stated. Payment is by bank transfer to the details shown on the invoice.

3.3 Late Payment

If payment is not received within 14 days of the due date, the Designer reserves the right to:

•      Pause or suspend work until payment is received.

•      Withhold final deliverables, login details, and domain connection until all sums are settled.

•      Charge interest on overdue amounts at 8% per annum above the Bank of England base rate, in line with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

•      Take legal action to recover outstanding fees and any associated costs.

3.4 Pricing

All prices are in GBP (£) and are exclusive of VAT. If the Designer becomes VAT registered during a project, the Client will be notified and VAT applied accordingly.

4. Project Scope & Revisions

4.1 Scope of Work

The scope of each project is agreed in writing in the Proposal prior to commencement. Any requests for work outside that scope will be treated as a separate project or subject to additional charges, agreed in writing before extra work begins.

4.2 Revisions

Each package includes a set number of revision rounds as specified in the Proposal. A revision round is defined as a single, consolidated set of feedback — not a sequence of individual requests. The Designer will not action feedback delivered piecemeal over multiple emails; all feedback for a revision round must be submitted together in one document.

Additional revision rounds beyond those included in the Proposal are charged at the Designer's standard hourly rate.

4.3 Changes to Scope

If the Client requests changes that substantially alter the original scope, nature or purpose of the Project, the Designer will provide a separate written quote. Scope changes may also result in revised timelines. The Designer reserves the right to decline additional work.

4.4 Client Responsibilities

The Client agrees to:

•      Provide all required content, copy, images, logos, and brand assets by the agreed content deadline.

•      Submit feedback in consolidated rounds as described in section 4.2.

•      Respond to questions and requests within 5 working days.

•      Proofread all copy before giving final sign-off — the Designer is not responsible for typographical errors in Client-supplied content.

•      Designate a single point of contact for all project communication.

5. Timelines & Delays

Project timelines are estimated in the Proposal and depend on timely provision of materials and feedback by the Client. The Designer will make every reasonable effort to meet agreed deadlines and will notify the Client at the earliest opportunity if a deadline cannot be met.

If the Client causes a delay of more than 4 weeks, the Designer reserves the right to move the project to the back of the schedule and charge a re-booking fee of up to 25% of the original project fee.

The Designer is not liable for delays caused by third-party platforms, DNS propagation times, or circumstances beyond reasonable control.

6. Communication

All project communication will be conducted via email. The Designer does not accept instructions via social media, text message, or personal phone calls.

The Designer aims to respond to Client emails within 2 working days during an active project. Standard working hours are Monday to Friday.

The Client is expected to respond within 5 working days. Failure to respond within this timeframe may result in project delays, but will not be treated as approval of any design decision.

Additional meetings beyond those included in the package, of more than 20 minutes, may be charged at the Designer's standard hourly rate.

7. Cancellation

Either party may cancel the project by providing written notice. The following terms apply:

•      If the Client cancels before work commences: the deposit is forfeited but no further fees are owed.

•      If the Client cancels after work has commenced: the deposit is forfeited and work completed beyond the deposit value will be invoiced.

•      If the Client postpones: the deposit may be applied to a rescheduled start within 3 months, subject to availability.

•      If the Designer cancels: all monies paid (excluding third-party costs already incurred) will be refunded in full.

8. Intellectual Property & Ownership

8.1 Ownership Before Full Payment

All Deliverables remain the intellectual property of the Designer until the final invoice has been paid in full. No rights are granted to use any Deliverables until full payment is received.

8.2 Ownership After Full Payment

Upon receipt of final payment, ownership of the agreed Deliverables transfers to the Client. The Designer retains the right to display the work in their portfolio unless the Client requests otherwise in writing prior to launch.

8.3 Working Files

Working files remain the property of the Designer unless otherwise agreed in writing. Only final Deliverables are included in the project fee.

8.4 Client-Supplied Materials

The Client confirms they own or have the right to use all materials provided, and indemnifies the Designer against any claims arising from their use.

8.5 Third-Party Assets

It is the Client's responsibility to ensure appropriate licences are in place for any third-party assets used. The Designer will flag licensing requirements at the point of use.

8.6 Discarded Concepts

Concepts, drafts, or designs not selected remain the property of the Designer and may not be used by the Client.

8.7 Non-Compete

This contract does not include a non-compete clause. The Designer may work with clients in similar fields. Common design elements, layouts, and colour systems cannot be owned by individual clients.

9. Squarespace & Third-Party Platforms

The Client is responsible for their own Squarespace subscription, domain registration, and all associated platform costs. The Designer is not liable for platform downtime, policy changes, or functionality changes made by Squarespace after project completion.

9.1 Third-Party Account Access

In order to complete the Project, the Client may be required to provide access to third-party accounts, including their domain registrar, Google account (for Search Console setup), and Squarespace account. The Client is responsible for providing this access in a timely manner. Delays caused by failure to provide access may result in revised timelines. The Designer will handle all login credentials with strict confidentiality.

10. Technical Support & Post-Launch

The duration and scope of post-launch support is specified in the Proposal for each project.

The site will be tested on at least one desktop and one mobile screen size, and on Google Chrome.

•      Ongoing maintenance, backups, and security monitoring are not included unless the Client has a Monthly Care Plan.

•      The Designer is not liable for issues arising from changes made after project completion by the Client or third parties.

11. Client's Legal Compliance

The Client is solely responsible for ensuring their website complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including:

•      Having a compliant Privacy Policy in place before the site goes live.

•      Displaying a cookie consent banner if the site uses non-essential cookies (including analytics).

•      Any sector-specific legal requirements relevant to their business.

The Designer does not provide legal advice. Any guidance offered is for general information only. The Client is encouraged to seek independent legal guidance where needed.

12. Data Protection

Both parties agree to comply with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

The Designer will process Client personal data only for the purposes of delivering the Project. Such data will be held securely, not shared with third parties without consent, and not retained beyond the period reasonably necessary.

The Client's use of their website and any personal data collected through it is the Client's own responsibility. The Designer's Privacy Policy is available at www.clarelayton.co.uk.

13. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to keep confidential any proprietary or sensitive information shared during the project. The Designer will not share Client information with third parties without consent, except where required by law or necessary to complete the Project.

14. Limitation of Liability

The Designer's total liability shall not exceed the total fees paid by the Client for that project. The Designer is not liable for indirect or consequential loss, platform outages, or issues arising from Client or third-party changes after completion.

15. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform due to events beyond their reasonable control, including natural disaster, war, government action, industrial action, or interruption of essential services.

16. Expenses

Costs incurred by the Designer on the Client's behalf (such as stock image or font licences) will be agreed in advance and invoiced separately.

17. Transfer of Contract

The Client may not transfer this contract to any third party without the Designer's prior written consent. The Designer may engage subcontractors subject to equivalent confidentiality obligations.

18. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.

A person who is not a party to this contract has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term.

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect.

19. Changes to These Terms

The Designer reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. The version in effect when a Proposal is accepted will apply to that project.

Acceptance of Terms

By paying the project deposit, clicking "Accept" on a digital proposal, or providing written confirmation, the Client agrees to these Terms in full.