Client Terms and Conditions

Last updated: September 2026
 

These Terms & Conditions set out how we’ll work together when you engage SMTHN Studio for services.

Nobody enjoys the small print, so the aim here is simple: to make sure we both know what to expect, what we’re responsible for and what happens if plans change.
 

1. About SMTHN

SMTHN Studio (“SMTHN”, “I”, “me” or “my”) is a sole trader business based in the Isle of Man, providing brand, content, copywriting, social media and related creative and strategic services.

You (“the Client”, “you” or “your”) are engaging SMTHN for business purposes.

You can contact me at hello@smthn.co.uk.
 

2. Our agreement

The specific services, deliverables, fees and anticipated timings for your project or ongoing work will normally be set out in a proposal, quotation, scope of work or other written agreement between us.

By accepting a proposal, instructing me to begin work, paying a deposit or otherwise confirming that you wish to proceed, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.

Together, these terms and the agreed project scope form our agreement.

If something changes along the way, we can agree amendments in writing by email or WhatsApp.
 

3. Scope of work

I’ll provide the services and deliverables we’ve agreed.

I know projects sometimes evolve once we get into them, so I’m happy to have sensible conversations about changes.

However, work that falls outside the agreed scope may be quoted and charged separately. I’ll let you know before carrying out additional chargeable work so there are no surprise invoices appearing in your inbox.

Significant changes to the original brief, direction or deliverables may also affect the agreed timeline.
 

4. Project fees & deposits

For one-off projects, a 50% deposit will normally be required to secure the project and begin work, unless we agree otherwise in writing.

The remaining balance will be invoiced in accordance with the payment schedule agreed for the project.

Unless otherwise agreed, invoices are payable within 7 days of the invoice date.

Project dates are not considered secured until any required deposit has been received.
 

5. Ongoing retainers

Ongoing retainer services have a minimum initial term of three months, unless we agree something different in writing.

Retainer work is invoiced monthly after the work has been provided, with invoices payable within 7 days.

After the initial three-month period, the arrangement will continue on a rolling monthly basis unless either of us gives 30 days’ written notice to end it.

If you decide during the initial minimum term that you no longer want to continue, please speak to me as soon as possible. Any change or early termination will need to be agreed between us in writing.
 

6. Payment

Invoices are payable within 7 days unless otherwise stated on the invoice or agreed between us.

If a payment becomes overdue, I’ll usually contact you first because admin happens and invoices occasionally get missed.

However, I reserve the right to pause current or upcoming work where invoices remain unpaid. Whether work is paused will depend on the circumstances, and I’ll communicate with you before doing so wherever reasonably possible.

Pausing work because of overdue payment may affect previously discussed deadlines or publishing schedules.
 

7. Timelines & client delays

Any timelines I provide are based on both of us doing our bit.

I’ll make reasonable efforts to meet agreed deadlines, but I’ll also need information, assets, access, feedback and approvals from you at the appropriate points.

If these are delayed, the project or content schedule may need to move too.

Where a client-side delay affects my availability or other booked work, I may need to reschedule the affected work to my next reasonable availability rather than immediately picking up where we left off.

I’ll always try to communicate this clearly and find a practical way forward.
 

8. Feedback & revisions

Creative work is collaborative, and reasonable amendments are part of the process.

Unless a specific number of revisions is stated in your proposal, I’ll make reasonable revisions that remain consistent with the original agreed brief and scope.

If feedback substantially changes the original direction, introduces new requirements, involves repeated changes beyond what could reasonably be considered part of the original work, or effectively creates a new piece of work, I may treat this as additional work.

If that happens, I’ll let you know and agree any additional cost with you before continuing.

Clear, consolidated feedback is always appreciated and helps keep projects moving smoothly.
 

9. Content approval

Where content requires your approval, I’ll send it to you before publication.

Once you approve content, you are confirming that you are happy for it to be used or published and, where relevant, that information you have supplied — including facts, claims, prices, offers, dates and other business information — is accurate and authorised for use.

SMTHN is not responsible for inaccuracies in information supplied or approved by the Client.

If approval is not received by the required time, I will normally hold the content rather than publish it without your approval.

This may mean the planned publishing schedule changes, and I cannot guarantee that missed posts or deadlines can always be rearranged within the same timeframe.
 

10. Your responsibilities

To help me do my job properly, you agree to provide any information, materials, access, feedback and approvals reasonably required to deliver the work.

You are responsible for ensuring that materials you supply to me can legally be used for the project, including photographs, video, logos, music, copy, trademarks and other third-party material.

You are also responsible for the accuracy of factual information, claims, offers, prices and other business-specific information you provide.
 

11. Social media & third-party platforms

Where my services involve social media management or other third-party platforms, you authorise me to access and use the relevant accounts to the extent necessary to provide the agreed services.

Social platforms and other third-party services can change their algorithms, functionality, policies, availability and performance without warning.

I’m therefore not responsible for outages, platform errors, account restrictions, algorithm changes or other matters outside my reasonable control.
 

12. Results

I care about producing thoughtful, strategic work designed to support your business goals.

However, marketing is influenced by a lot of things neither of us can completely control.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, I cannot guarantee specific levels of:

• reach or impressions

• followers or engagement

• enquiries or leads

• sales or revenue

• website traffic

• search rankings

• media coverage

• or any other particular commercial result.

Previous results, case studies or examples of client work should not be taken as a guarantee that the same outcome will be achieved for another client.
 

13. Intellectual property

Unless otherwise agreed, once all invoices relating to the relevant work have been paid in full, you will own the final bespoke deliverables created specifically for you as part of the agreed scope.

Until payment has been received in full, ownership of those deliverables remains with SMTHN.

SMTHN retains ownership of its existing intellectual property, working methods, processes, templates, frameworks, systems, know-how and other materials used to create or support the work.

Drafts, unused concepts, rejected ideas, working files and materials that are not part of the final agreed deliverables also remain the property of SMTHN unless we agree otherwise.

Where third-party materials are incorporated into the work, such as fonts, stock imagery, software assets or licensed content, those materials remain subject to their respective licence terms.
 

14. Portfolio & promotion

Unless confidentiality has been agreed in advance, you give SMTHN permission to display and refer to completed or publicly released work for promotional purposes.

This may include sharing the work on the SMTHN website, social media, portfolio, case studies, proposals or other marketing materials.

Where appropriate, I may identify your business as the client.

If a project is confidential or subject to an embargo, please let me know before work begins so we can agree how it should be handled.
 

15. Confidentiality

We may both have access to information that isn’t intended for public consumption.

I’ll treat confidential information you share with me appropriately and won’t knowingly disclose it to third parties except where this is necessary to provide the services, you have authorised me to do so, or disclosure is required by law.

You agree to treat any confidential SMTHN information you receive in the same way.

This does not apply to information that is already publicly available through no breach of this agreement.
 

16. Third-party costs

Some projects may require third-party products or services, such as photography, videography, printing, advertising spend, stock assets, specialist software or other external suppliers.

I will not knowingly incur a material additional third-party cost on your behalf without discussing it with you first.

Once approved, these costs may be payable directly to the supplier or invoiced to you by SMTHN, depending on the arrangement.

SMTHN is not responsible for the acts, omissions or performance of independent third-party suppliers, although I will always aim to work with reputable providers.
 

17. Content shoots, meetings & booked sessions

If we have arranged a content shoot, workshop, strategy session or other dedicated appointment, please give me as much notice as possible if you need to move it.

Where a session is cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours’ notice, I reserve the right to charge for some or all of the booked time where I cannot reasonably reallocate it.

I understand that genuine emergencies happen, so this will always be handled reasonably and according to the circumstances.

Repeated cancellations or rescheduling may affect the wider project timeline.
 

18. Tools, software & AI

To run SMTHN and provide my services efficiently, I may use third-party tools and platforms such as Google Drive, Canva, Notion, Metricool and other appropriate software.

I may also use artificial intelligence tools as part of my internal creative, research, administrative or production workflow.

These tools support my work rather than replacing my professional judgement. I remain responsible for reviewing and delivering the work provided to you by SMTHN.

Where your personal information is processed, it will be handled in accordance with the SMTHN Privacy Policy and applicable data protection requirements.
 

19. Cancellation of projects

If you need to cancel or pause a project after work has begun, please contact me as soon as possible.

We’ll deal with cancellations reasonably based on the circumstances, including the work already completed, time already reserved, costs already incurred and any upcoming commitments made specifically for the project.

Any work already completed and reasonable costs already incurred will remain payable.

Where a deposit has been paid, whether any portion is refundable will depend on the work completed, time reserved and costs incurred up to the point of cancellation.

If I need to cancel a project in circumstances where I am unable to provide the agreed services, I’ll communicate with you as soon as reasonably possible and we’ll agree an appropriate way forward, including any refund due for services that have not been provided.
 

20. Ending our working relationship

Either of us may end the working relationship if the other commits a serious breach of our agreement and, where that breach can reasonably be corrected, does not correct it after being given a reasonable opportunity to do so.

I also reserve the right to stop providing services where continuing the relationship would require me to act unlawfully, unethically or in a way that could reasonably damage SMTHN or another person.

Any fees due for work properly completed up to the end of the agreement will remain payable.

For ongoing retainers, the minimum term and notice arrangements in section 5 also apply.
 

21. Communication & working hours

Day-to-day communication can take place by email or WhatsApp, depending on what works best for the project.

My usual working and communication hours are Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.

You’re welcome to send messages outside those hours — inspiration and admin rarely respect office hours — but I don’t guarantee a response until my normal working hours.

Response times may also vary depending on workload, holidays, content shoots and other client commitments.
 

22. Liability

I’ll provide the agreed services with reasonable care and skill.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Subject to that, SMTHN will not be responsible for indirect or consequential losses, loss of anticipated profits or opportunities, or losses caused by circumstances outside my reasonable control.

SMTHN will also not be responsible for losses resulting from inaccurate information supplied by the Client, Client-approved content, Client delays, third-party platform failures or a Client’s failure to follow advice or provide information reasonably required to perform the services.
 

23. Events outside our control

Neither of us will be responsible for delays or failure to perform obligations caused by circumstances genuinely outside our reasonable control.

This could include significant technology or platform failures, internet outages, illness, emergencies, extreme weather or other events that make the agreed work temporarily impossible or impractical.

If something like this happens, we’ll communicate and make reasonable efforts to rearrange affected work.
 

24. Data protection

Any personal information processed in connection with our work will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and the SMTHN Privacy Policy.

Where the nature of a project requires additional data-processing arrangements, these can be agreed separately.
 

25. Changes to our agreement

Sometimes projects evolve.

Any significant change to the agreed scope, fees or arrangement should be confirmed in writing by email, WhatsApp, an updated proposal or another written agreement.

Changes to these standard Terms & Conditions will not retrospectively change work already agreed unless we both agree to the change.
 

26. If part of these terms doesn't work

If any provision of these terms is found to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply as far as legally possible.
 

27. Governing law

These Terms & Conditions and our working relationship are governed by the laws of the Isle of Man.

Any dispute relating to our agreement will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Isle of Man courts, unless we agree another appropriate method of resolving the dispute.

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28. Questions

Hopefully we never need to dust off the T&Cs once we've started working together.

But if you have a question about anything in here, just ask.

SMTHN Studio
Isle of Man
hello@smthn.co.uk
smthn.co.uk