Terms of engagement.
These are the default terms that apply to Discovery Sprints, scoped builds, and retainers. Anything stated in a signed engagement letter or SOW overrides these defaults. The goal here is plain-language clarity, not legalese armor — if something feels off, we change it before we start working.
What counts as an engagement
An engagement is formed when both parties sign an SOW (or equivalent countersigned scoping email) and the Discovery Sprint / scoped-build / retainer terms below attach automatically. A booked discovery call is not an engagement. A sent brief is not an engagement. The first invoice and a written yes are.
Engagement formats + pricing
Three tiers across the four service disciplines (Design & Branding · Web Platforms · AI & Automation · E-commerce). Anchors current at the date below; see /services for per-discipline tier tables.
- Discovery sprint — fixed fee, 1–2 weeks, ends with a written proposal. Credited toward a subsequent scoped build where applicable.
- Scoped build — fixed scope, fixed price, milestone-based. Change requests go through a written mini-SOW.
- Retainer — monthly fee, reserved capacity, three-month minimum. Rolls month-to-month after the minimum.
Payment
- Default split for scoped builds: 50% on kickoff, 50% on milestone / sign-off. Larger scopes can split to milestones (e.g. 30/30/40).
- Retainers: invoiced monthly in advance, net-14.
- Currency: EUR by default. USD / GBP / CZK negotiable with a margin for FX on cross-border wires.
- Overdue invoices (net-14 + 7 days grace): work pauses until settled, no late-fee penalty at first breach.
Scope & revisions
- Scope lives in the SOW. Two rounds of revisions per deliverable are included; further rounds billed hourly at the retainer day-rate × 1/8.
- Out-of-scope requests mid-build are documented, quoted, and written into a mini-SOW before work starts. No surprise invoices.
IP & ownership
Full transfer of the delivered work to the client on final payment. This includes source code, design files, brand assets, and domain / hosting credentials.
I retain the right to (a) describe the engagement publicly with factually correct, non-confidential details — showcased on /work under your explicit approval, and (b) reuse generic, non-client-specific infrastructure patterns (component primitives, design tokens, boilerplate) across future client work.
Pre-existing OSS libraries I maintain (see /work Tier 4) retain their original license and are never work-for-hire inside a client engagement.
Confidentiality
Default NDA implied between signing the SOW and project handoff. A written mutual NDA can attach at no extra cost before discovery for higher-sensitivity engagements (regulated verticals, pre-launch product work).
Cancellation
- Discovery sprints are non-refundable once kicked off. The delivered proposal is yours regardless of whether we continue.
- Scoped builds cancellable at any milestone. Work-to-date billed to the cancellation date + a 15% reserved-capacity fee on the remaining scope (covers slots I'd already blocked for you).
- Retainers cancellable with 30 days notice after the 3-month minimum. During notice, work continues at the retainer level.
Liability
Total liability for any claim is capped at the fees paid under the relevant engagement in the 12 months preceding the claim. Consequential, indirect, or speculative damages are excluded to the extent allowed by Czech & Slovak law. This clause does not limit liability for gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Governing law
Czech Republic. Any disputes first go through 30 days of good-faith direct discussion between both parties; only after that does either side escalate.