Website Design and Development Agreement

Terms

1. ScopeThe Designer will deliver the plan and add-ons listed in Project details. Anything not listed is out of scope and is handled through a written change request with its own quote, approved by the Client before work starts.
2. TimelineThe delivery period starts when both the advance and all content in the client brief are received. Delays in content, feedback or payment from the Client extend the timeline by the same number of days.
3. ContentThe Client supplies text, photos, logo, menu, prices and business details, and confirms they own or have the right to use them. The Client is responsible for the accuracy of prices, offers and claims on the site.
4. RevisionsThe plan includes the number of revision rounds stated above, each sent as one consolidated list. A revision is a change to the agreed design or content within scope; new pages, new features or a change of direction are change requests. Additional rounds are billed at INR [rate] per round.
5. FeedbackThe Client responds to each review within 5 working days. If there is no response for 15 working days, the project is paused, and restarting is scheduled based on the Designer's availability.
6. Approval and launchThe site goes live after the Client approves the final preview and the launch payment is received. Written approval by WhatsApp or email counts as sign-off.
7. OwnershipOn full payment, the Client owns the website, its design as delivered, and its full source code, which the Designer hands over at launch. Until full payment, all work remains the Designer's property.
8. Third-party componentsFonts, open-source code, plugins and stock images used in the site remain under their own licences, which the Client agrees to follow. The Designer uses only components that allow commercial use.
9. PortfolioThe Designer will ask the Client's permission before showing the work in a portfolio or case study.
10. Accounts and handoverThe domain, hosting (Cloudflare), code repository (GitHub), Google Business Profile and, where used, Meta Business and WhatsApp accounts are opened with the Client's business email, and the Client holds the owner login and two-step verification. The Designer is added as a team member with the access the work needs. Domain, hosting and third-party fees are paid by the Client directly. Within 7 days of launch the Designer moves the code repository to the Client's account, removes any preview copies from the Designer's own accounts, and gives the Client a handover sheet listing each account, how to update the site, and how another developer can take over. When the Designer's work ends, or the care plan ends if chosen, the Designer removes their own access and confirms this in writing.
11. Third-party approvalsSome add-ons depend on approval by third parties such as Meta. If an approval is not given within 30 days of the documents being submitted, for reasons outside the Designer's control, the Client may drop that add-on. The site then launches without it, and the add-on fee is adjusted for work already done.
12. Bug fixesThe Designer fixes defects in the delivered work free of charge for 30 days after launch. This does not cover new features, content changes, or issues caused by changes made by others.
13. Care plan and add-onsThe monthly care plan is optional. If the Client chooses it, the Designer provides hosting checks, monitoring, backups and up to 1 hour of edits a month, paid in advance and cancellable by either party with 30 days' written notice. Without it, the Client maintains the site or appoints someone else, using the handover sheet. Each add-on's monthly fee covers running that add-on, is paid in advance, and is cancellable on the same notice. Third-party charges, such as Meta's WhatsApp message fees and domain renewals, are paid by the Client.
14. Late paymentWork pauses if any payment is more than 7 days overdue. Monthly services that are more than 30 days overdue may be paused with written notice. The website itself stays online, since it runs in the Client's own accounts.
15. CancellationEither party may end this agreement in writing. The advance is non-refundable once work has started, which means once the brief call has taken place or design work has begun. If the Designer ends the agreement without the Client being at fault, the Designer refunds any amount paid for work not yet delivered. Work completed beyond the payments received is billed pro rata, and on full settlement the Client receives all completed work.
16. No guaranteesThe Designer will set up search basics and the Google Business Profile with care, but search rankings, enquiries, orders and third-party approvals depend on factors outside the Designer's control and are not guaranteed.
17. LiabilityThe Designer is not liable for losses arising from third-party service outages, Client-supplied content, or changes made by others. The Designer's total liability is limited to the fees paid under this agreement.
18. ConfidentialityBoth parties keep each other's non-public business information confidential.
19. Customer dataCustomer names, phone numbers and messages collected through the site or dashboard belong to the Client. The Designer handles them only to provide the service, keeps access limited, and on the end of the care plan exports them to the Client and deletes the Designer's copies. The Client is responsible for telling its customers how their data is used, as required by India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
20. Entire agreementThis agreement and the accepted proposal are the full agreement between the parties. Any change must be in writing, including by email or WhatsApp. Electronic signatures and signed scanned copies are valid.
21. DisputesBoth parties will first try to resolve any issue through discussion. This agreement is governed by the laws of India, with courts in Chennai having jurisdiction.

Template prepared for convenience. Have a lawyer review it once before first use, including whether it should be printed on stamp paper or e-stamped to be admissible as evidence in your state.