small custom websites lLC – Terms & conditions
Last Updated: September 4, 2025
1) Overview
These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the services provided by Small Custom Websites LLC (“Small Custom Websites,” “SCW,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), including website builds and hosting plans available via smallcustomwebsites.com (the “Site”). By creating an account, paying a deposit, or otherwise engaging our services, you agree to these Terms.
2) Services & Platform
(a) Scope. We build simple, informational WordPress® websites and provide optional month‑to‑month hosting and maintenance plans.
(b) Third Parties. We use trusted third‑party providers, including: Calendly (scheduling), Google Meet (meetings), Fluent Forms Pro (intake and checkout forms), Stripe (payments), and Bluehost (hosting infrastructure). You acknowledge those providers have their own terms and privacy practices, which you should review separately.
(c) No Server Ownership. We do not own physical servers. Our hosting capacity is space we rent from Bluehost and allocate for client sites.
3) Accounts
(a) Required for Projects. Creating an SCW account is required to start any paid project (deposits, builds, subscriptions). Creating an account is free and does not obligate you to purchase.
(b) Unique Email & ID. Your account is tied to a unique email address and receives a unique internal account ID. You are responsible for the accuracy of your contact details and for keeping your credentials secure.
(c) Access to Client Tools. Only active hosting clients can submit revision or support requests through their profile. Accounts without an active hosted website cannot access those functions.
4) Free Consultation
(a) No Obligation. Free consultations are optional and do not create any obligation for either party to proceed.
(b) Limited Data. When booking, we collect basic personal information (e.g., name, email, phone) to schedule and correspond. We do not use that for marketing emails initiated from the consultation alone.
5) Deposits, Project Start & Intake
(a) Deposit Amounts (Non‑Refundable). A deposit is required to open a website build:
• Basic Website: $50
• Full‑Stack Website: $75
All deposits are non‑refundable.
(b) What the Deposit Does. Paying a deposit creates your website entry in our system and unlocks the next required intake steps; it does not start development.
(c) Required Intake Steps. To begin development, you must (1) schedule the 60‑minute intake meeting (via Calendly; conducted on Google Meet), and (2) complete the online intake form (Fluent Forms Pro). Both must be completed before the intake meeting occurs.
(d) Payments via Stripe. Deposits and subsequent balances are processed through Stripe. We do not store or have access to your full card details. Stripe will issue your payment receipt.
6) Intake Policies (No‑Shows, Reschedules, and Non‑Compliance)
(a) Intake Form Not Completed. If your intake form is not completed by the scheduled intake meeting, we will reschedule. This can happen at most twice. If by the third scheduled meeting the form is still incomplete, your project is canceled. The deposit remains non‑refundable; a new deposit is required to restart.
(b) No‑Shows. One no‑show may be rescheduled. A second no‑show cancels the project. The deposit remains non‑refundable; a new deposit is required to restart.
(c) Rescheduling Window. Rescheduling at least 24 hours before the appointment is penalty‑free. Rescheduling within 24 hours counts as a “strike” equivalent to a no‑show for purposes of the two‑strike limit.
7) Development Timeline & Client Responsiveness
(a) Timeline Start. Our advertised build window is 7–10 business days. That clock starts only after (i) the intake meeting is completed, (ii) we confirm we have everything needed to begin, and (iii) we notify you that “Development has begun.”
(b) Pauses for Missing Information. If we need clarifications or assets mid‑build, we will reach out via email and/or phone. If we receive no response within 72 hours (three full days), we will pause the project. When you respond, the 7–10 business‑day clock restarts from that point forward.
(c) Extended Non‑Response. If, after the 72‑hour pause begins, five additional business days pass with no response, we will cancel the project. The deposit remains non‑refundable; a new deposit is required to restart.
8) Review, Revisions & Scope Limits
(a) Review Meetings. When a draft site is ready, we will email you a temporary domain and provide WordPress credentials for the review meeting (booked via Calendly; on Google Meet). You may explore the backend during the meeting.
(b) Revisions – Basic Website. Up to two (2) rounds of revisions are included. After the second round and a third review meeting, if you are still not satisfied, the project is canceled (no further revisions). To continue, you must begin a new project with a new deposit.
(c) Revisions – Full‑Stack Website. Up to three (3) rounds of revisions are included. (Full‑Stack also includes two embedded videos, two popups rather than one, and optional light copywriting based on your direction.)
(d) What Counts as a Revision. Revisions cover reasonable changes to existing pages/sections. A request to discard the finished site and “start over from scratch” is a new build, not a revision.
(e) Scheduling Further Reviews. After each revision pass is completed, you’ll receive an email to book the next review meeting.
9) Balances, Non‑Refundability & Go‑Live
(a) Balance Payment. Once you approve the site in a review meeting, the project status updates and you can pay the remaining balance. Your initial deposit is applied toward the total project cost.
(b) Non‑Refundable Balance. Once the balance is paid, it is non‑refundable.
(c) Hosting Subscription Required to Launch. After the balance is paid, you must start a hosting subscription (see Section 11) before we can take the site live.
(d) DNS Cooperation. Launch requires DNS updates. You may make those changes yourself, or you may provide registrar login credentials so we can make them for you.
10) Ownership & Portability of Files
(a) SCW File Ownership. We retain ownership of the website files, themes, and configurations we build while your site is hosted with us. If you cancel hosting, we do not provide a file handoff for migration to another host. A third party wishing to host your site must rebuild it.
(b) Client Content. You should maintain your own copies of any original content you supplied (e.g., text, images, logos).
11) Hosting Plans (Month‑to‑Month; No Contracts; No Refunds)
(a) Plan Options.
• Essential Plan – $29/month: hosting on our Bluehost capacity, SSL, monthly site backup, core/plugin/theme updates, security/maintenance, plus up to three (3) site revisions per month.
• Pro Plan – $59/month: everything in Essential, plus unlimited monthly revisions, booking software (Fluent Bookings with Stripe payments), monthly site analytics report, priority support, and optional domain management assistance (if you share registrar access).
(b) Month‑to‑Month. Plans are billed monthly with no long‑term contract. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time. Plan changes are processed on our end via Stripe after you submit a request.
(c) No Mid‑Cycle Refunds. If you cancel mid‑cycle, your plan remains active through the end of the current billing period; no prorated refunds are issued.
(d) Post‑Cancellation File Retention. After you cancel hosting, we retain your site files for six (6) months. You may restart your subscription at any time during that period, with no reactivation fee. After six months, we permanently delete the files; returning later requires a new website build and a new deposit.
(e) Essential Plan Overage Billing. Essential includes three (3) revisions per month. Additional revision work is billed at $100/hour in 15‑minute increments ($25 per increment). Invoices are due within 30 days. Non‑payment after 30 days pauses your subscription and benefits; the six‑month retention window in 11(d) begins.
(f) Revisions/Support Access. Only current hosting clients may submit revision and support requests. Our response time is typically 24–48 hours.
12) Discounts & Referrals
(a) Multi‑Site Discounts (Build Fees). Starting with your third website build with SCW, your base build price is discounted by $50 on that and all subsequent builds:
• Basic: $249 → $200 (from the third build onward)
• Full‑Stack: $399 → $350 (from the third build onward)
(b) Pro Plan Quantity Discount (Hosting). Starting with your third Pro Plan subscription, the monthly rate drops from $59 to $49 for that subscription and all subsequent Pro Plan subscriptions you maintain. Essential Plan has no quantity discount. Discounts are counted per category. Example: If you have five websites on Essential and add your first Pro Plan later, that first Pro Plan is billed at $59 (not discounted).
(c) Referral Program (Points). A “successful referral” occurs when the referred client completes a new website build with SCW and pays their first month of hosting (site is live). Each successful referral earns one (1) point. Points have no expiration, are stackable, and have no quantity limit.
(d) Redemption Options.
• 1 point = 1 free month of Essential hosting
• 2 points = 1 free month of Pro hosting
• 7 points = 1 free Basic website build
• 14 points = 1 free Full‑Stack website build
You may allocate points however you like (e.g., multiple months of hosting, multiple Basic builds, or one Full‑Stack build).
13) Booking Software (Pro Plan)
Pro Plan clients receive access to Fluent Bookings with Stripe payments and integrations (e.g., Google and Outlook calendar). Email notifications are configurable within that system.
14) Privacy & Data Handling
(a) Minimal Personal Data. We collect basic personal information (e.g., name, email, phone) to schedule meetings, manage accounts, and operate projects. We do not collect “sensitive” categories for these purposes.
(b) Payments. Stripe processes all card payments. We do not store complete card details.
(c) Communication. We use your contact details to send service‑related updates (appointments, intake, review notices, invoices). Consultation bookings alone do not enroll you in marketing emails.
(d) Third‑Party Policies. Calendly, Stripe, Bluehost, Google, and others maintain their own privacy and security terms, which apply to their services.
15) Changes to Services or Terms
We may update services, features, and these Terms at any time. Material changes will be posted on the Site with an updated “Last updated” date.
16) Disclaimers & Limits (Service Nature)
(a) Website Scope. Our builds are informational marketing sites, not complex web applications or custom software platforms.
(b) Third‑Party Dependencies. We are not responsible for outages or changes attributable to third‑party providers (e.g., registrar downtime, hosting provider incidents, Stripe service interruptions).
17) No Guarantees or Performance Promises
We make no guarantees or claims regarding how your website will perform in connection with your business. This includes, but is not limited to:
Traffic volume or number of visitors
Number of leads or conversions
Revenue, sales, or bookings
Customer reviews, feedback, or reputation outcomes
Our responsibility is to build and deliver your website and provide ongoing hosting. We are not responsible for your business’s success or performance related to the website.
18) Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from the use of our services, websites, or hosting.
19) Contact
Small Custom Websites LLC
Website: smallcustomwebsites.com
Support: info@smallcustomwebsites.com
By proceeding with an account, deposit, or subscription, you acknowledge you have read and agree to these Terms & Conditions.