Narrative North Terms and Conditions

1. How We Work With You

We work with clients through ongoing partnerships and custom projects. All work is scoped and quoted in advance. If a project is close to going out of scope or a change is needed, we will communicate with you before moving forward.
 

1.1 Ongoing Partnerships (Monthly Retainers)

Retainers provide consistent monthly support. Retainers are billed at the end of each month based on the agreed hours or deliverables.

Retainer hours can be increased or reduced with 30 days written notice. Changes take effect from the next billing cycle.
 

Social Media Management

Content for social media retainers is created and delivered the month before it is scheduled to go live. You must review and approve this content before publishing. Delays in approval may affect posting schedules.
 

Retainer Terms

• Billed monthly at the end of the month

• Hours can be scaled up or down with 30 days written notice

• Work is delivered the month prior to publishing

• Two rounds of revisions per monthly content batch

• Additional work outside the retainer scope will be quoted separately

• Minimum term of three months unless otherwise agreed
   

1.2 Custom Projects

Custom projects are quoted individually based on your goals, scope and timeline. This includes website builds, brand development, campaigns, strategy work and one-off deliverables.
 

Custom Project Terms

• All custom projects are scoped and quoted before work begins

• Changes to scope will be discussed and quoted separately

• Work will not begin until the deposit invoice has been paid

• Custom projects cannot be cancelled once work has commenced without forfeiting the deposit and paying for all work completed to date
   

2. Deposits

Deposits secure your project in our schedule.

2.1 Website Builds: A 50 percent deposit is required before work begins. The remaining balance is due on delivery of the final site or before launch.

2.2 Other Project Work: Branding, strategy, campaigns and other project-based work may require a 30 to 50 percent deposit depending on scope.

Deposits are non-refundable once work has commenced.
 

3. Payment Terms

Payment terms are stated on each invoice. Retainers are billed monthly at the end of the month. Where no due date is listed, payment is due within 14 business days.

Work on custom projects will not begin until the deposit or initial invoice has been paid.
 

4. Changes to Scope

If you request changes or additions outside the agreed scope, we will provide a revised quote. Urgent changes can be approved verbally and followed by written confirmation.
 

5. Project Delays

If a project is delayed due to late feedback, approvals or content, we may pause the work. If the delay exceeds 30 days, the project may need to be re-scoped or re-quoted, at the discretion of Narrative North. When work resumes, it will be scheduled based on our current workload. Urgent turnaround requests may incur additional fees.
 

6. Expenses and Third-Party Services

You will reimburse any costs we incur to complete your project. Where we set up or manage third-party services on your behalf, these will be purchased in your name where possible and on-charged to you. You are responsible for keeping these subscriptions active. An administration fee of 20 percent may be applied to cover processing and account management.
 

7. Advertising Costs and Ad Spend

Advertising campaigns and ongoing ad management involve two separate costs:

• Narrative North’s service fee

• Your advertising spend, paid directly to the platform

Ad Spend

All advertising spend (for example Meta Ads, Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, TikTok Ads) is paid directly by you using your own credit card or payment method. Ad spend is not included in our service fees.

You are responsible for maintaining an active payment method, ensuring your card has sufficient funds and complying with platform billing requirements.

We are not responsible for delays or lost performance caused by declined payments or account restrictions.

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Service Fees: Our fees cover strategy, setup, management, optimisation, reporting and creative support. These fees are invoiced separately.

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Transparency: You will have full visibility of your advertising accounts and billing dashboards.
 

8. Website Hosting

Website builds do not include hosting. Hosting must be set up directly in your name with the platform provider. This ensures you retain full ownership and control of your website, billing, security settings and account access.

We recommend this approach because it is the easiest and most reliable way for you to maintain ownership of your important digital assets.

You are responsible for maintaining your hosting subscription and complying with the provider’s terms.
 

9. Non-Payment

If an invoice is not paid by the due date, we may charge a late fee as stated on the invoice or 5 percent of the outstanding balance for every seven days it remains unpaid.

If payment is not received, we may pause or cancel the project, suspend all ongoing work, remove unpaid material or take down a website, and take legal action to recover fees and costs.
 

10. Cancellation

Either party may cancel this agreement with 30 days written notice, subject to any minimum term.

• Retainers and quarterly partnerships have a minimum term of three months

• Changes to retainer hours require 30 days written notice

• Custom projects cannot be cancelled once work has commenced without forfeiting the deposit and paying for all work completed

Cancellation does not remove your responsibility to pay outstanding invoices.
 

11. Ownership and Licensing

All deliverables remain the property of Narrative North until the final invoice is paid.

If the project is cancelled before completion, you may not use draft or final work.

Materials you provide remain yours. You confirm you have the rights to use them and indemnify us against any claims arising from their use.
 

12. Account Access

Business accounts will be set up in your name wherever possible. We may request access to deliver your project, but you remain responsible for maintaining subscriptions, permissions and compliance with each platform’s terms.
 

13. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Narrative North uses artificial intelligence tools to support efficiency, research, drafting, editing and content development. These tools assist our process but do not replace professional judgement. All client-facing work is reviewed by our team.

We use AI platforms with respect for data privacy and comply with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020. We take reasonable steps to protect your information and will not knowingly enter sensitive business information into general-purpose AI tools.
 

If your organisation has policies or restrictions relating to AI, you must tell us before work begins.
 

14. Content Approval and Client Responsibility

You are responsible for reviewing and approving all content before it is published. Your approval confirms that the content is accurate, lawful and compliant with the Advertising Standards Authority and the Fair Trading Act.

Narrative North is not liable for any claims or losses arising from content you approved or supplied.
 

15. Platform Risk and Third-Party Changes

Digital platforms may change their features, algorithms, policies or performance without notice. These changes are outside our control. We are not responsible for any impact these changes may have on your results, accounts, integrations or website.
 

16. File Storage and Archiving

We keep project files for 12 months after completion. After this period, files may be archived or deleted. We are not responsible for long-term storage or backups.
 

17. Email Marketing Compliance

If we assist with email marketing, you confirm that all email recipients have provided valid consent under the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007.
 

18. Photography, Video and Creative Usage Rights

Usage rights for photography, video or creative assets will be outlined in your proposal. Stock imagery and licensed materials may have restrictions. You are responsible for complying with any licence terms.
 

19. Training and Handover

Training or handover covers the agreed scope only. We are not responsible for ongoing platform management unless included in your retainer or quoted separately.
 

20. Security and Password Handling

You are responsible for maintaining secure passwords and access to your accounts. We do not store or manage passwords beyond what is required for project delivery.
 

21. Fair Use of Retainer Hours

Retainer hours are allocated to planned monthly work. Large or complex tasks may require additional hours or a separate quote.
 

22. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify Narrative North against any claims, losses or expenses arising from your use of our services or deliverables, third-party claims relating to advertising or content created on your behalf, or materials you supply without proper permissions.
 

23. Marketing Outcomes Disclaimer

Marketing performance is influenced by factors outside our control. We do not guarantee specific results such as traffic, engagement, customer growth or revenue.
 

24. Errors and Omissions

We will make reasonable efforts to correct errors if notified within seven business days. We are not responsible for costs arising from errors once you have approved the work.
 

25. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to treat confidential information with care and comply with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020.
 

26. Limits on Liability

Our services are provided as-is. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses. Our total liability is capped at the fees you have paid us.
 

27. Subcontractors

We may engage subcontractors or freelancers to support your project. They work under the Narrative North brand and we remain responsible for their work.
 

28. Force Majeure

Neither party is liable for failure to perform due to events outside reasonable control.
 

29. Updates to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The most current version will always be published on our website and will apply to all new work and ongoing engagements.
 

31. General Legal Terms

• We are an independent contractor

• This contract is governed by New Zealand law

• If any part of these terms is found invalid, the rest remains enforceable

• Failure to enforce a right is not a waiver

• No third party has rights under this agreement unless stated otherwise