1. General billing terms
This Payment Policy applies to fees charged by Mindful Readers for content strategy, social media content, branded content, advertising creative, digital advertising management, and related approved services. The applicable proposal, statement of work, or invoice identifies the actual price, payment schedule, and included work.
2. Currency and stated prices
Prices are stated in United States dollars unless a written document expressly identifies another currency. Website prices are starting prices for the described standard scope. A final quote may change based on quantity, platforms, complexity, source-material quality, timing, revision requirements, account condition, licensing needs, and other project-specific factors.
3. Initial payments
A project may require an initial payment before scheduling, onboarding, research, production, or account work begins. The amount and due date will appear in the proposal or invoice. An initial payment reserves capacity and may also compensate for planning and setup. Mindful Readers is not required to begin work before cleared payment is received.
4. Project balances
Remaining balances may be divided by milestone or required before final high-resolution, editable, publication-ready, or transferable deliverables are released. Draft access does not mean the final payment obligation has been satisfied. When a client requests additional work, a supplemental invoice or change order may be issued.
5. Monthly services
Monthly social media and advertising management services are generally billed before the applicable service period unless the written agreement states otherwise. The fee reserves ongoing capacity and covers the work described for that period. A partial month, delayed approval, unused client allocation, or temporary client pause does not automatically reduce the monthly fee.
6. Advertising spend
Advertising spend is not included in the $1,650 monthly Digital Advertising Management starting price. Whenever practical, platform media charges should be billed directly to the client through the client's advertising account and payment method. The client is responsible for maintaining sufficient funds, valid billing information, spending limits, and authorization for platform charges.
Mindful Readers will not intentionally exceed an approved media budget but is not responsible for platform billing timing, taxes, currency conversion, delayed reporting, account credits, or platform-calculated overdelivery permitted under platform terms.
7. Third-party expenses
Stock photography, music, fonts, printing, postage, talent, production, premium software, data tools, domain or hosting charges, platform fees, and other third-party expenses are excluded unless expressly included. Material outside the original scope will be purchased only after reasonable client approval when approval is practicable. Third-party costs may be payable in advance and are nonrefundable after commitment.
8. Payment methods
Available payment methods and instructions will be stated on the invoice or provided through the approved billing process. The current website project form does not accept payments or payment-card information. The client should not send payment-card numbers, bank credentials, or other financial credentials through a general project form or ordinary email. A payment is complete only when funds have cleared and are available without restriction.
9. Taxes
Quoted fees exclude sales, use, value-added, withholding, or similar taxes unless expressly stated. The client is responsible for taxes imposed on the purchase or use of services, except taxes measured by Mindful Readers' net income. If withholding is legally required, the client must provide documentation and cooperate in determining the proper treatment.
10. Invoice review
A client should review an invoice promptly and raise a specific good-faith question within seven calendar days of receipt when practicable. The undisputed portion remains due. The parties should compare the invoice to the approved scope, change requests, third-party costs, and work record before escalating a billing concern.
11. Late or failed payment
If a payment is late, declined, reversed, disputed without basis, or otherwise unavailable, Mindful Readers may pause work, withhold deliverables, postpone publication, suspend campaign management, remove access granted solely for the engagement, or terminate the service after notice. A pause caused by nonpayment may change the schedule and does not require Mindful Readers to preserve the original production window.
The client remains responsible for earned fees and reasonable collection costs permitted by law and the applicable agreement. No late charge will be imposed unless it is stated in the applicable invoice or agreement and allowed by law.
12. Recurring authorization
If a client separately authorizes recurring billing, charges may be processed according to that authorization until cancellation takes effect. Cancellation of a recurring payment instruction does not erase amounts already earned or stop advertising spend charged directly by a third-party platform. The client should retain confirmation of any cancellation request.
13. Refunds and credits
Refund eligibility is governed by the Cancellation & Refund Policy and the applicable project agreement. Payments for completed work, approved milestones, active service periods, used licenses, and committed third-party costs are not refundable. A credit, if granted, is not transferable and must be used according to the written credit terms.
14. Chargebacks
Before initiating a chargeback, the client should contact Mindful Readers and provide the invoice number, disputed amount, and reason. Mindful Readers may submit the project agreement, approvals, delivery records, communications, and invoices to a payment provider in response to a chargeback. A chargeback does not automatically terminate an agreement or eliminate a valid payment obligation.
15. Records and receipts
Clients should retain invoices, receipts, proposals, approvals, and advertising-platform billing records. Mindful Readers may retain corresponding business records for accounting, tax, compliance, dispute, and service-administration purposes.
16. Changes
This Policy may be updated for future transactions. The payment terms included in an accepted project document remain controlling for that engagement unless the parties agree in writing or applicable law requires otherwise.