thinkingSage provides marketing, technology, publishing, coaching, and information-related services. Clients are asked to read and agree to all terms and conditions outlined herein before signing a work agreement or accepting a quote for services.
Rates and Fees
The final cost of each project may include additional charges for outsourced vendors (printing, shipping, etc.), travel, expedition, and surcharges, as well as other related products, services, and work-related activities. All expected fees will be included in the quote and work agreement contract and identified as separate line items.
If unexpected fees arise during the course of a project, client will be consulted and asked to approve any charges that exceed the quoted price. In some cases, such additional charges may require a signature for approval or advance payment.
Deadlines and Due Dates
Clients of thinkingSage understand and acknowledge that their input may be required for various aspects of a project; or they may be asked to provide information relevant to the timely completion of the project. Inquiries to the client will be answered within a reasonable amount of time.
Client acknowledges that a failure to respond or cooperate in a timely manner could result in an extension to the project deadline.
Sudden or Unforeseen Termination
If some mishap, illness, or accident occurs that makes it impossible for thinkingSage to continue a project in progress, we will make every effort to notify the client as soon as possible. thinkingSage may request a project extension or suggest an alternate service provider who is both part of our network and a trusted resource. thinkingSage may choose to outsource the work directly. In such cases where thinkingSage is unable to meet the deadline or complete a project and the client refuses to grant an extension, a refund will be issued and will be based on the amount of work completed. If the project is half completed, the client can expect a 50% refund (of project total, not deposit).
Should the client terminate a project for any reason, thinkingSage will retain the deposit. thinkingSage will always grant clients project extensions if they are needed at any time or for any reason. However, such extensions may not affect the original payment due date for either the deposit or the final payment.
thinkingSage retains the right to assess and handle project interferences on a case-by-case basis. The terms outlined herein provide a general guide as to what clients may expect in the case of unforeseen events.
Payment Policies
Preferred method of payment is PayPal. However, money orders and cashiers’ checks are also acceptable. In some cases, personal or business checks may be approved.
A deposit is required in advance in the amount of 50% of the total project cost estimate. Minor requests that fall under $100 require full payment in advance.
The Client will be billed directly for any significant initial expense related to the project.
Expedited projects or those with a turnaround of less than one week will require full payment in advance.
Projects do not commence until the full contract has been signed and the deposit received.
Deposits are refundable within two days (48 hours) of receipt.
All quotes, contracts, and invoices are sent and processed electronically (via e-mail). Printed copies may be sent at client’s request.
Final payment is due within two weeks of project completion. Project is complete when first final draft is sent to client. Revision occurs after project completion and therefore requests for revisions do not alter the payment due date.
Late payments are subject to penalty fees of $25 per month, or 10% of project cost, whichever is greater.
Late payments and non-payments will be pursued through a collections agency.
Project Specifics
- A project commences upon quote and contract acceptance. The agreed-upon Deadline is based upon project commencement.
- Quote acceptance: thinkingSage receives deposit along with any and all documents or materials that are necessary to the project(s).
- Unless otherwise established prior to start of project, all documents are written, edited, or otherwise processed in Microsoft Word. This includes web site copy and other written material destined for electronic or online publication. Other file formats (PDF, HTML, etc.) are available upon request and may incur additional fees.
- Work is sent and received electronically, via the web, e-mail, or online file sharing application. Requests for hard copies, and/or courier services will incur additional fees.
- Superlative clients will not send updated or revised copies of the project once work has started.
- Each project includes one revision. Revision requests must be received within ten days from client’s receipt of deliverables.
- A revision is not a rewrite; a minor modification is not a complete overhaul.
- The timeline for revisions vary depending on the scope and nature of the project.
- thinkingSage may at any time hire additional service providers or team members to assist with various parts of a project, including but not limited to research, paperwork, writing, editing, proofreading, fact checking, marketing, design, programming, etc.
Intellectual Property and Copyright
- thinkingSage waives all responsibility for materials which are provided by the client including registered trademarks, copyrights, or additional intellectual properties. Work is accepted in good faith based on the understanding that client has obtained or owns all necessary rights to such properties.
- All material created by thinkingSage is owned and copyrighted by thinkingSage unless and until final payment for work as outlined in work agreement is received. When all payments are received in full, copyright automatically transfers to the client.
- thinkingSage may use selected work as part of its own portfolio. Excerpts will not include any client contact information, nor will it contain the client's logo,company name, or any other unique identifying information, unless expressly permitted by the client, in writing.
Privacy
- thinkingSage is committed to protecting clients’ privacy and operates in full confidentiality.
- Information and documentation provided by the client will not be distributed, published, or otherwise shared in any way without the express consent and permission of the client.
- thinkingSage reserves the right to create, publish, and distribute its list of clients as part of a portfolio or resume. The client list will not include any client contact information or project details. This list may include the use of a client’s logo and company name.
