Terms of Service — Cape Fear Sites

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern the website design and related services provided by Cape Fear Sites ("Cape Fear Sites," "we," "us," or "I"), a sole proprietorship based in Wilmington, North Carolina, to you ("Client," "you"). By engaging our services or paying an invoice, you agree to these Terms.

1. Services

Cape Fear Sites provides website design, development, hosting setup, and ongoing maintenance services for small businesses. The specific deliverables, scope, and price for your project will be described in a written proposal, invoice, or message agreed between us before work begins or payment is made.

2. The Free Demo

We may build a preliminary demonstration version of a website ("Demo") at no cost and with no obligation. A Demo is provided for your evaluation only. Until you accept a proposal and pay the agreed build fee, no ownership of the Demo or any work product transfers to you, and we may remove or repurpose the Demo at any time.

3. Pricing & Payment

Build fee. Website builds are billed as a one-time fee, as quoted (for example, "The Launch" or "The Local" packages). Payment is typically due before the site is launched to your live domain unless otherwise agreed.
Care Plan. The optional Care Plan is billed monthly in advance for hosting, maintenance, and edits. It is month-to-month and may be cancelled by either party at any time, effective at the end of the current billing period.
Third-party costs. Domain registration, premium fonts, stock imagery, or paid third-party services are passed through at cost or billed separately, and will be disclosed before purchase.
All prices are in U.S. dollars. Payments are processed through a third-party payment processor (such as Stripe); your use of that processor is subject to its own terms.

4. Client Responsibilities

You agree to provide accurate business information, content, and any photos or materials needed to complete your site, and to review work promptly. You represent that you have the right to use all content you provide and that it does not infringe any third party's rights.

5. Revisions & Project Completion

Each package includes a reasonable number of revisions to refine your site before launch. Once you approve the site and it goes live, the project is considered complete. Further changes are handled under a Care Plan or quoted separately.

6. Ownership & License

Upon full payment of the build fee, you own the final website content and design produced for your business. Cape Fear Sites retains the right to display the completed website in our portfolio and marketing. Any third-party components, fonts, libraries, or platforms remain subject to their own licenses.

7. Cancellations & Refunds

Our refund policy is described in full on our Refund Policy page, which forms part of these Terms. In short: because the Demo is free and you only pay once you are satisfied, build fees are generally non-refundable once a site has been launched. Care Plan subscriptions can be cancelled anytime and are not pro-rated for the current month.

8. Hosting & Availability

Websites are typically hosted on reputable third-party platforms. We aim for high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free service, as hosting and the internet are outside our sole control.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Cape Fear Sites' total liability arising from the services is limited to the amount you paid us for the project giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including lost profits or business interruption.

10. Termination

Either party may end an ongoing engagement (such as a Care Plan) with reasonable notice. Fees already paid for completed work or the current billing period are non-refundable except as stated in our Refund Policy.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version posted on this page is the current version, and continued use of our services after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes will be handled in the state or federal courts located in New Hanover County, North Carolina.

13. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Reach out anytime at hello@capefearsites.com.