Terms of business

1. About these terms

These terms apply to all work Steadward does for you. Steadward is a trading name of Paul Hickey, a sole trader based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire ("we", "us"). By accepting a proposal or quote from us, you agree to these terms. If a proposal says something different, the proposal wins.

2. What we offer

• Free consultation: a 20-30 minute conversation with no obligation.
• Website Growth Review: a written report with prioritised recommendations, plus a 30-minute call, delivered within 10 working days of receiving the access we need.
• Website design and development: new websites and rebuilds, scoped in a written proposal.
• Care and Care + Growth: monthly plans for looking after an existing website.
• Website Growth Partnership: ongoing improvement work, scoped in a written proposal.
• Extra work: charged at £95 an hour in 15-minute blocks, agreed with you before we start.

3. Prices and payment

• Steadward isn't VAT registered, so the prices we quote are what you pay.
• Website Growth Review: paid in full before work starts. If you book a new website with us within 3 months of the Review, the Review fee is credited against the build.
• Websites: 20% deposit to book the work. The balance is due once you're happy with the finished site, before it goes live.
• Monthly plans: paid monthly in advance.
• Invoices are due within 14 days. For business clients, we may charge interest on late payments under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, and may pause work until overdue invoices are paid.
• Third-party costs you ask for, such as premium plugins, paid tools or domain renewals, are charged at cost or paid by you directly. Hosting is included in the Care plans.

4. What we need from you

To keep to timescales, we need timely access to your website and accounts, the content and information we ask for, and feedback within the agreed rounds. Delays on your side may move delivery dates. You confirm you have the right to use any words, images and logos you give us.

5. Changes and revisions

Each website package includes the rounds of changes stated in your proposal. Further changes, or changes to the agreed scope, are charged at the hourly rate or re-quoted, and we'll always agree this with you first.

6. Monthly plans

There's no minimum term. You can end a monthly plan by giving three months' notice in writing, and so can we. Care includes up to 15 minutes of small edits a month; unused time doesn't carry over. We aim to respond within 24 hours on working days and to start work on a site that's down the same working day. We keep daily backups for 30 days.

7. Ownership

Your domain is registered in your name. Once you've paid in full, you own your website's design, content and files, and we'll hand everything over if you move elsewhere, with no exit fees. We may show your website in our portfolio and case studies unless you ask us not to.

8. Results

We'll always work to improve how your website performs, but search engines, AI tools and customer behaviour are outside our control. We don't guarantee specific rankings, traffic, AI mentions or enquiry numbers.

9. Confidentiality and data

We keep your business information and any access you give us confidential, and only use it to do the work. Where we handle personal data on your behalf, such as enquiries through your website, we do so only on your instructions and in line with UK data protection law. See our privacy notice.

10. Liability

We're not responsible for indirect losses, such as lost profits or lost business, or for problems caused by third-party services (hosting providers, plugins, platforms) outside our control. Our total liability to you is limited to the fees you've paid us in the 12 months before the claim. Nothing in these terms limits liability that can't legally be limited, such as for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or fraud.

11. Cancelling and ending work

Either of us can end a project by written notice. You'll pay for work done up to that point, and deposits cover work already carried out. If you're buying as a consumer rather than a business, you have the right to cancel within 14 days of agreeing to the work; if you ask us to start within that period, you'll pay for work done before you cancel.

12. Complaints

If you're unhappy with anything, email paul@steadward.co.uk and we'll do our best to put it right quickly.

13. Law

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction.