Terms of Service

AUSTIN_SPACE provides web design, development, SEO, and ongoing digital support services, primarily on the Squarespace platform. The exact scope of any engagement will be agreed in writing prior to work commencing, typically via a project proposal or scoping document.

All services are provided by Charles Austin as a sole trader. AUSTIN_SPACE does not subcontract work to third parties without prior written agreement with the client.

A project begins when a written proposal has been accepted by the client and the agreed deposit has been received. Verbal agreements, informal emails, or social media messages do not constitute a project agreement unless confirmed in a formal proposal.

Proposals are valid for 30 days from the date of issue. AUSTIN_SPACE reserves the right to withdraw or revise a proposal if it has not been accepted within that period.

All project work requires a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the agreed project fee before work commences. The remaining balance is due upon completion, prior to the site going live or final files being delivered.

Invoices are payable within 14 days of issue unless otherwise agreed in writing. Late payments beyond 14 days may incur a late payment charge in line with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

For ongoing support and retainer arrangements, payment is due at the start of each monthly period. Failure to pay within 14 days may result in work being paused until the account is brought up to date.

All prices are quoted inclusive of VAT where applicable. AUSTIN_SPACE will confirm VAT status at the time of quoting.

The agreed proposal defines the scope of work. Any requests that fall outside that scope — additional pages, new features, significant design changes, additional rounds of revisions — will be treated as change requests and quoted separately.

AUSTIN_SPACE will notify the client as soon as a request is identified as out of scope. Work on the change will not begin until a revised quote has been agreed in writing.

Significant changes to the project brief mid-build — such as a change of brand direction, platform, or core functionality — may require the project to be re-scoped and re-quoted in full.

The client is responsible for providing all required content — copy, images, logos, brand assets — in a timely manner. Delays caused by late content provision may affect the agreed project timeline, and AUSTIN_SPACE cannot be held responsible for deadline slippage in these circumstances.

• All content supplied by the client must be owned by, or properly licensed to, the client. AUSTIN_SPACE accepts no liability for content that infringes third-party intellectual property rights.
• The client is responsible for reviewing and approving all work at each agreed stage. Sign-off at each stage is taken as acceptance that the work meets the brief.
• The client is responsible for maintaining their Squarespace subscription and any associated third-party services after launch.

If a project stalls due to lack of client response for more than 30 days, AUSTIN_SPACE reserves the right to invoice for work completed to date and close the project. The project can be restarted subject to availability and a new agreement.

All design work, custom code, and creative assets produced by AUSTIN_SPACE remain the intellectual property of AUSTIN_SPACE until full and final payment has been received.

If a project is cancelled by the client after work has commenced, the deposit is forfeited and any work produced to that point remains the property of AUSTIN_SPACE. Partial payment for work completed beyond the deposit may be required depending on the stage reached.

AUSTIN_SPACE retains the right to use any general skills, knowledge, and techniques acquired during the project in future work for other clients.

AUSTIN_SPACE reserves the right to display completed work in its portfolio and case studies, including screenshots, performance data (in aggregate or anonymised form where appropriate), and a description of the project and services provided.

This right applies unless the client explicitly requests confidentiality in writing prior to the project commencing. Where confidentiality is agreed, AUSTIN_SPACE may still reference the project in general terms (e.g., "a London-based music retailler") without identifying the client.

AUSTIN_SPACE will not publish sensitive commercial information, unreleased products, or content the client has specifically flagged as confidential.

AUSTIN_SPACE warrants that all work will be carried out with reasonable skill and care. All sites are tested across common browsers and devices prior to launch.

AUSTIN_SPACE does not guarantee specific outcomes such as search engine rankings, conversion rates, or revenue figures. These are influenced by many factors outside our control.

• AUSTIN_SPACE is not liable for any loss of business, revenue, data, or goodwill arising from use of a delivered website.
• AUSTIN_SPACE is not liable for issues arising from third-party platforms (including Squarespace), plugins, or integrations after handover.
• AUSTIN_SPACE is not responsible for security vulnerabilities introduced after handover, including those resulting from client-added plugins or content.
• Our total liability in connection with any project will not exceed the total fees paid by the client for that project.

Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

Either party may terminate an ongoing retainer arrangement by giving 30 days written notice. Any work completed within the notice period will be invoiced at the agreed rate.

AUSTIN_SPACE reserves the right to terminate an engagement immediately if a client acts in an abusive, threatening, or unlawful manner. In such cases, payment for all work completed to date will remain due.

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these terms or services provided by AUSTIN_SPACE will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

AUSTIN_SPACE may update these terms from time to time. The current version will always be available at austinspace.co.uk/terms-of-service. Continued use of services after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.