Terms & Conditions

These terms cover the web design, app development, hosting, domain, graphic design, SEO, and content writing services ("Services") provided by Paragon Design (that's me, Mark Steven, trading as Paragon Design) to you, the client. They're written in plain English on purpose: if anything is unclear, ask me before we start.

Services and scope

I provide the Services described in your quote or proposal. Every project has a written scope agreed before work begins. If you ask for something beyond that scope, I'll quote it separately before doing the work, so the price never moves without you knowing.

Payment

Project work (websites, apps, design) is charged at the fixed price agreed up front, usually 50% to book the project in and 50% on launch. I don't bill project work by the hour. Ongoing services (hosting, care plans, SEO retainers, domain renewals) are invoiced as they fall due, with payment due by the 20th of the month following the invoice. All prices exclude GST unless stated otherwise. If an invoice goes unpaid well past its due date, I may pause the Services until it's settled.

Who owns what

Once your project is paid for in full, you own your website: the design, the content, and your domain name are yours. I retain ownership of any pre-existing tools, code libraries, and know-how I bring to the project, and of any open-source components used under their own licences. Unless you ask me not to, I may show completed work in my portfolio and marketing.

Your content

You're responsible for making sure any text, images, and other material you supply for your project is accurate and yours to use. I'll flag anything that looks like a copyright or licensing problem if I spot it.

Confidentiality

Anything you share with me about your business stays between us, and I'd expect the same in return. Neither of us will disclose the other's confidential information to a third party without written consent, except where the law requires it.

Liability

I take care to do good work, but websites depend on third parties (hosting platforms, domain registries, email providers, search engines) that neither of us controls. To the extent the law allows, my total liability for any claim connected with the Services is capped at the amount you paid me for the work the claim relates to, and I'm not liable for indirect or consequential loss such as lost profits. Where you acquire the Services for business purposes, the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 does not apply.

Ending the engagement

Either of us can end the engagement with written notice. If a project ends early, you pay for the work completed up to that point, and I'll hand over what's been done. Ongoing services like hosting and care plans are month-to-month with no lock-in.

Governing law

These terms are governed by New Zealand law, and any dispute will be handled in the New Zealand courts. That said, if something's wrong, talk to me first; after 25 years I've found almost everything can be sorted with a conversation.

By engaging Paragon Design, you agree to these terms. They may be updated from time to time; the version on this page is the current one.