Refund Policy

1. Non-Refundable Retainer 

All projects require a non-refundable retainer equal to 50% of the total project fee before any strategic or creative work can commence. This retainer secures the project slot in our schedule and covers the essential, non-recoverable time spent on project planning, strategic discovery, and initial conceptualization. This retainer is not refundable under any circumstances, including client cancellation.

2. Compensation Based on Milestone Completion

Refunds, beyond the initial retainer, are determined strictly by the strategic milestones achieved in the project, not by client satisfaction with preliminary concepts. Once a project phase or milestone is delivered, the payment corresponding to that phase is considered fully earned.

3. Client Cancellation and Payment for Work Completed

If the client cancels the project at any point, they are immediately obligated to pay for all work completed up to the date of cancellation. The client agrees to pay whichever amount is greater:

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• The total cost of all milestone phases completed to date, OR

• Payment for the number of hours worked up to the date of cancellation at our standard hourly rate.

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All work product remains the exclusive intellectual property of Design by Lerma until all outstanding balances are paid in full.

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4. Policy on Unauthorized Modifications 

The final design files are warranted to be correct and consistent as delivered by Design by Lerma.

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Any unauthorized modification, alteration, or editing of the final files or master templates by the client or any third party will immediately void all liability and warranty from Design by Lerma. We can no longer guarantee the visual structure, consistency, or technical quality of the altered design.

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Future Assistance Requirement: If the client requires professional assistance to correct errors or further develop a design that has been modified without authorization, a new project brief and contract will be required, treated as a separate and new service engagement.