1. Overview
These Terms of Service ("Terms") form the basis of the agreement between Studio Utexo ("we", "us", "the studio") and the client ("you") for all web design, development, and related services. By proceeding with a project, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms in full.
Studio Utexo is a sole trader web design studio operated by Steven Hampson, based in the United Kingdom.
2. Project Agreements
All projects begin with a written proposal or statement of work outlining the scope, deliverables, timeline, and price. No work begins until the proposal is accepted in writing (including by email) and the initial deposit has been received.
Any work that falls outside the agreed scope ("out of scope") will be quoted separately. We will not undertake additional work without your written approval of the associated cost and timeline.
3. Pricing and Payment
All prices are quoted in British Pounds (GBP) and are exclusive of VAT where applicable. Studio Utexo is currently not VAT registered. If this changes, you will be notified prior to any invoice being issued.
The standard payment structure is:
- 50% deposit due before work begins
- 50% final payment due on project completion, prior to handover of files or site launch
For larger projects, a milestone-based payment schedule may be agreed in writing. Payment terms are net 7 days from invoice date unless otherwise stated. Late payments (beyond 14 days of the due date) may incur a late payment fee of 5% per month on the outstanding amount, in accordance with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
We reserve the right to pause or suspend work if payment is overdue. Files, code, and access will not be transferred until all outstanding invoices are settled in full.
4. Revisions and Amendments
Each project plan includes a specified number of revision rounds as detailed in the proposal. A revision round covers a consolidated set of changes submitted at one time. Revisions are not unlimited — they apply to the agreed deliverables and scope.
Changes that represent a material shift in direction (such as a rebrand, significant structural changes, or new requirements not included in the original brief) are considered new work and will be quoted accordingly.
Revisions must be submitted in writing. Verbal feedback is noted for reference but does not formally initiate a revision round.
5. Client Responsibilities
Timely delivery of projects depends on your participation. You agree to:
- Provide all required content (text, images, logos, assets) by agreed dates
- Review and respond to design or development queries within 5 working days
- Ensure that all content and materials you provide are owned by you or properly licensed for use
- Nominate a single point of contact to avoid conflicting feedback
If a project is delayed due to lack of client response or missing assets for more than 4 weeks, Studio Utexo reserves the right to invoice for work completed to date and, if necessary, to close the project. Restarting a paused project may incur an admin fee.
6. Intellectual Property and Ownership
Upon receipt of all outstanding payments, full ownership of the final website code, design assets, and associated files transfers to you. You will own 100% of the deliverables outlined in the project agreement.
Studio Utexo retains the right to:
- Display the completed work in our portfolio and marketing materials
- Reference the project for promotional purposes (e.g. case studies, social media)
- Retain copies of the work for our records
If you wish to keep the project confidential, this must be agreed in writing before the project begins.
We retain ownership of any proprietary tools, frameworks, templates, or internal systems used in the development process that are not specific to your project. General methodologies, reusable code libraries, and development techniques remain the property of Studio Utexo.
7. Third-Party Services and Licences
Some projects may incorporate third-party tools, fonts, stock imagery, plugins, or services. Where applicable:
- We will advise on any third-party licences required
- Licences for third-party resources are the client's responsibility to maintain beyond the project handover
- We are not responsible for changes, discontinuation, or cost increases in third-party services
8. Hosting and Domain
Studio Utexo does not provide hosting or domain registration as a default service. You are responsible for arranging your own hosting and domain. We are happy to advise on suitable options.
If we are providing deployment or migration services as part of a project, this will be specified in the proposal. Any ongoing hosting costs or platform subscriptions are your responsibility.
9. Ongoing Retainer Services
If you subscribe to a recurring retainer plan (Maintenance, Growth, or Partnership), the following applies:
- Retainer fees are billed monthly in advance
- Payment is due on the 1st of each billing month
- Unused retainer hours do not carry over beyond one calendar month (unless stated otherwise in your plan)
- You may cancel with 30 days' written notice. No refunds are issued for the current billing period
- Studio Utexo may terminate a retainer with 30 days' notice if there are outstanding invoices or if the relationship is no longer viable
10. Confidentiality
Both parties agree to keep confidential any sensitive information shared during the project. This includes business strategies, client data, pricing, and internal processes. Neither party will disclose this information to third parties without written consent, except where required by law.
11. Liability
Studio Utexo's liability in connection with any project is limited to the total fees paid for that specific project. We are not liable for:
- Loss of revenue, profit, or data arising from your use of the website
- Indirect, consequential, or incidental damages
- Issues arising from third-party services, hosting providers, or tools outside our control
- Any content provided by you that infringes a third party's rights
You are responsible for ensuring that all content you provide (text, images, logos, data) does not infringe copyright, trademark, or any other legal rights. Any legal claims arising from client-supplied content are your sole responsibility.
12. Warranties
We warrant that all work produced is original, created by us, and to the best of our ability at the time of delivery. We do not warrant that the website will be free from all errors at all times, or that it will function perfectly with every possible future browser update or device.
We are happy to correct any bugs or issues arising from our own code within the agreed support period.
13. Cancellation
Either party may cancel a project with written notice. If you cancel:
- All work completed to date is billable at a pro-rata rate based on the agreed project price
- The deposit is non-refundable in all cases
- Any outstanding balance above the deposit, based on work completed, will be invoiced
If Studio Utexo cancels due to circumstances on our side, we will refund any deposit for work not yet started.
14. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
15. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The current version will always be available at studioutexo.com/pages/legal-terms.html. Continued use of our services after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
16. Contact
For any questions about these Terms, contact us at hello@studioutexo.com.