Freelancer Terms

1) Roles, Platform & Status

• Platform role. CLIMB provides marketplace and communication tools; you run your freelance business.
• Merchant of record. Freelancers are the merchant of record for their projects—responsible for quotes, deliverables, timelines, taxes, and support on their engagements.
• Independent contractor. You act as an independent contractor (not employee/agent). You handle your taxes, insurance, permits, and compliance.
• Subcontractors. You may use qualified subcontractors/assistants, but remain fully responsible for quality, timelines, confidentiality, safety, and IP compliance. Disclose subcontractors on request.
• Eligibility. 18+ (or local age of majority). Provide accurate account details and required tax forms (W-9/W-8BEN) before payouts.

2) Engagement Flow

1. Inquiry → Scope. Define the project in writing: objectives, deliverables, milestones, timeline, responsibilities, assumptions.
2. Quote → Approval. Provide a fixed fee or hourly estimate with caps. Include revision policy and out-of-scope rate.
3. Deposit → Kickoff. Standard deposit is [25–50%] to start (non-refundable once work begins). Remaining per milestone or on completion.
4. Delivery → Acceptance. Submit deliverables via CLIMB tools or agreed link. Client has 5 business days to request fixes aligned with the revision policy; otherwise deliverables are deemed accepted.

3) Scope, Revisions & Hourly Guardrails

• Scope baseline. Only the items listed in the approved quote/SOW are included.
• Revisions. Includes up to [2] rounds of reasonable revisions within [10 business days] of delivery, unless otherwise stated.
• Out-of-scope work. Additional rounds, new features, or changes are billed at $[X]/hour or a separate fixed fee with an updated timeline.
• Hourly cap. Track time transparently and obtain written approval before exceeding the quoted hourly cap; unapproved overages may be rejected.
• Pauses. If the project stalls due to missing Client feedback/assets for [14] days, Freelancer may pause and re-estimate on resume.

4) Timelines, Communication & Meetings

• Timeline. Dates are good-faith targets and assume timely Client feedback.
• Communication SLA. Respond within 2 business days (both sides). Use BuddyBoss messages or the agreed channel.
• Meetings. Use Zoom/meeting tools. Share agenda and outcomes in writing for accountability.
• Credentials & access. Store client credentials securely, use unique passwords, and remove access within 3 business days after completion or on request.

5) Payments, Payouts, Taxes & Chargebacks

• Payments. Process via WooCommerce/Dokan (orders/invoices). Avoid off-platform payments unless explicitly approved by CLIMB.
• Payouts to Freelancer. Released to your connected Stripe/PayPal account on [choose: rolling 7–10 days / bi-weekly / monthly] after order completion, subject to dispute/fraud holds and tax documentation.
• Minimum payout. $[X]. Negative balances (refunds/chargebacks/fees) are netted from future payouts.
• Taxes. You are responsible for applicable taxes. Where marketplace-facilitator rules require CLIMB to collect/remit certain taxes, statements will reflect this.
• Late payment. Amounts overdue by 10 business days may incur 1.5% monthly (or legal max). Final source files transfer upon receipt of full payment.
• Chargebacks. Provide timely evidence (approved scope, messages, proofs, delivery logs). Losses/fees attributable to your engagement may be deducted from payouts.

6) Cancellations, Kill Fees & Refunds

• Client cancellation. Before work begins: refund minus non-recoverable fees. After kickoff: deposit is non-refundable; bill pro-rata for completed work/milestones.
• Freelancer cancellation. Provide prompt notice, deliver work-to-date, and refund any unearned amounts.
• Kill fee. For fixed-fee projects, if cancelled after significant progress, a [20–50%] kill fee (or % of remaining fee) may apply if stated in your quote.
• Digital deliverables. Non-refundable once delivered/accessible, except failed delivery or duplicate purchase.

7) Intellectual Property, Files & Confidentiality

• Ownership transfer. Unless otherwise stated, final IP transfers on receipt of full payment. Freelancer retains rights in underlying tools/processes.
• File handover. Final deliverables include [list formats: e.g., PDF/PNG/MP4 + editable source file when specified]; unlisted working files remain Freelancer tools unless agreed in writing.
• Portfolio/NDA toggle. Freelancer may display non-confidential work after public launch, unless the quote states “Private/Under NDA.” If under NDA, obtain written permission before any showcase.
• Confidentiality. Both sides keep non-public information confidential and use it only for the project.
• Photo & Content Rights: Images and descriptions belong to their makers. Reuse without permission is not allowed. Upload resized images only (1500–2000 px wide).

8) Accessibility, Safety & On-Site Work

• Accessibility baseline. Provide clear written specs, alt text on images you deliver, and readable formats. If you create content for CLIMB shops/events, follow our Accessibility Tips.
• Safety. For on-site or physical work, identify risks and PPE. Remote work should avoid flashing effects/auto-play audio without notice.
• Insurance (recommended). For higher-risk services, carry appropriate liability coverage. CLIMB is not your insurer.

9) Non-Diversion, Price Parity, Referrals & Reviews

• On-platform first engagement. For introductions made on CLIMB, the first paid engagement must transact on CLIMB. Subsequent engagements may move off-platform with mutual consent.
• Price parity. Your public price on CLIMB should be no higher than your lowest public price for the same service elsewhere.
• Affiliate links. Disclose affiliate links clearly (“This is an affiliate link”). CLIMB does not endorse third-party vendors.
• Reviews. CLIMB may host project reviews. Honest, respectful feedback is encouraged; abusive/doxxing content may be moderated per Community Guidelines.
• Badges. GamiPress badges are visual recognition only and have no cash value.

10) Disputes, Outages & Force Majeure

• Support SLA. Respond to counterpart messages within 2 business days. Unresolved cases may be escalated via /general-support.
• Evidence. Keep scope approvals, milestone sign-offs, and delivery logs. These support fair resolutions.
• Outages/force majeure. Neither party is liable for delays from events beyond reasonable control (e.g., platform outages, disasters). Reschedule or credit as appropriate.
• Sanctions/export compliance. You warrant you are not subject to trade sanctions and will comply with applicable export/trade laws.

11) Data, Privacy & Security

• Use of Client data. Use data only to perform the contracted work. No off-platform marketing unless the Client explicitly opted-in.
• Data retention. Keep only what’s needed for invoicing/compliance; delete client assets within 180 days of completion unless ongoing maintenance is agreed.
• WP Fusion/AC. Project status tags may trigger transactional emails per our Privacy Policy.

12) Order of Precedence, Governing Law & Liability

• Order of precedence. If these Terms conflict with a mutually accepted quote/SOW, the quote/SOW controls for that project.
• Governing law/venue. These terms are governed by the laws of [Your State/Country]; exclusive venue in [Your County/City].
• Limitation of liability. To the maximum extent permitted, no indirect/special/consequential damages. CLIMB’s total liability to you is limited to the greater of (a) fees paid by you to CLIMB in the 3 months before the claim, or (b) $100.
• Indemnity. You’ll indemnify CLIMB for claims arising from your services, deliverables, or misuse of the platform.
• IP takedowns & counter-notice. Report alleged infringement via /ip-takedown. Counter-notices may be submitted; we may keep content offline during review.