Terms of Service

1. Services

Crabwire Creative provides website design, development, branding, local SEO, and related digital services to small businesses, primarily in the Greater Baltimore area. The specific scope of services, deliverables, timeline, and pricing for each project will be outlined in a separate written Project Agreement provided to the Client prior to commencement of work.

These Terms apply to all services provided by Crabwire Creative unless otherwise expressly modified in a signed written Project Agreement. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and a Project Agreement, the Project Agreement shall govern.

2. Payment Terms

Deposit Requirement

All projects require a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total project fee before work begins. The remaining balance is due upon project completion and prior to the transfer of final files or website launch.

Payment Schedule

For larger projects, a payment schedule may be established in the Project Agreement. All invoices are due within 14 days of the invoice date unless otherwise specified.

Late Payments

Invoices not paid within 14 days of the due date may be subject to a late fee of 1.5% per month (18% per annum) on the outstanding balance. Crabwire Creative reserves the right to suspend work on any project with outstanding unpaid invoices until payment is received in full.

Accepted Payment Methods

We accept payment via credit card, ACH bank transfer, check, and other methods specified in the Project Agreement. All fees are stated in U.S. dollars.

3. Project Process and Client Responsibilities

A successful project requires active participation from the Client. The Client agrees to:

• Provide all necessary content, images, logos, and materials in a timely manner as requested
• Respond to review requests, proofs, and questions within 5 business days
• Designate a single point of contact with authority to approve project decisions
• Provide accurate and complete information about the business and its requirements
• Review and approve or request revisions on deliverables within agreed timelines

Delays caused by the Client's failure to provide materials, approvals, or responses may result in project timeline adjustments and may incur additional fees.

4. Revisions and Changes

Each project package includes a defined number of revision rounds as specified in the Project Agreement. Revisions are defined as minor changes to existing design elements, copy updates, or layout adjustments within the originally agreed scope.

Requests that fall outside the original project scope — including additional pages, new features, or significant redesigns — will be quoted and billed separately at our standard hourly rate of $95/hour, or as a fixed-price change order requiring written approval before work begins.

5. Intellectual Property and Ownership

Client Content

The Client warrants that all content, images, logos, and materials provided to Crabwire Creative are owned by the Client or that the Client has full rights to use them. The Client agrees to indemnify and hold Crabwire Creative harmless from any claims arising from the Client's content.

Final Deliverables

Upon receipt of full payment, Crabwire Creative assigns to the Client ownership of the final custom design elements and code created specifically for the Client's project. This transfer does not include third-party assets, stock photography, licensed fonts, plugins, or frameworks, which remain subject to their respective licenses.

Portfolio Rights

Crabwire Creative reserves the right to display completed work in its portfolio and marketing materials unless the Client requests in writing that the project remain confidential.

Pre-Launch Rights

Until full payment is received, all work product remains the property of Crabwire Creative. We reserve the right to withhold delivery of final files or take down work published on the Client's behalf in the event of non-payment.

6. Cancellation and Refund Policy

Client Cancellation

If the Client cancels a project after work has begun, the initial deposit is non-refundable. If work has progressed beyond the deposit amount, the Client will be invoiced for all work completed to date at our standard hourly rate. Any amounts paid in excess of work completed will be refunded within 30 days.

Company Cancellation

Crabwire Creative reserves the right to terminate a project if the Client acts abusively toward our team, fails to make payment, or requests content that is illegal, deceptive, or violates applicable law. In such cases, the Client will be invoiced for work completed, and any remaining prepaid amounts will be refunded.

Project Abandonment

If a project is placed on hold by the Client for more than 60 days without communication, Crabwire Creative may consider the project abandoned. Any amounts paid will be forfeited, and restarting the project will require a new proposal and deposit.

7. Warranties and Representations

Crabwire Creative warrants that services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards. We will use reasonable efforts to ensure websites are compatible with current major browsers and devices at the time of launch.

Crabwire Creative does not guarantee specific search engine rankings, traffic levels, leads generated, or business outcomes from our services. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, CRABWIRE CREATIVE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION.

In no event shall Crabwire Creative's total liability to the Client exceed the total amount paid by the Client for the specific project giving rise to the claim, regardless of the theory of liability.

9. Third-Party Services

Many websites require third-party services such as hosting providers, domain registrars, payment processors, or software subscriptions. Unless expressly included in the Project Agreement, the Client is responsible for obtaining, paying for, and maintaining any required third-party accounts. Crabwire Creative is not responsible for the availability, performance, or terms of third-party services.

10. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to keep confidential any proprietary or sensitive business information shared during the project that is designated as confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential. This obligation does not apply to information that is publicly known, independently developed, or required to be disclosed by law.

11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising out of or related to these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Baltimore City, Maryland.

Before initiating any legal action, both parties agree to attempt to resolve any dispute in good faith through direct negotiation for a period of at least 30 days.

12. Indemnification

The Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Crabwire Creative, its owners, employees, and contractors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses — including reasonable attorneys' fees — arising out of or related to: (a) the Client's content or materials; (b) the Client's use or misuse of the completed website; (c) violation of any third-party rights; or (d) violation of applicable law.

13. Modifications to These Terms

Crabwire Creative reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. For existing projects under a signed Project Agreement, the Terms in effect at the time of signing shall govern that project.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any signed Project Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between the Client and Crabwire Creative and supersede all prior communications, negotiations, and understandings, whether oral or written. If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: