Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using our website at seohermit.com, scheduling a consultation, or entering into a service agreement with us, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.

If you are entering into these Terms on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to these Terms. If you do not have such authority or do not agree with these Terms, you must not accept these Terms and may not use our services.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or notice on our website. Your continued use of our services after such modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. Description of Services

SEO Hermit provides professional search engine optimization consulting services, including but not limited to:

Service Limitations

Our services are advisory and consultative in nature. Unless explicitly agreed upon in a separate Statement of Work:

• We provide recommendations and strategic guidance, not implementation services
• We do not guarantee specific rankings, traffic levels, or revenue outcomes
• We do not provide legal, financial, or investment advice
• Results depend on numerous factors outside our control, including search engine algorithms, market conditions, and implementation quality

3. Client Obligations

As a client of SEO Hermit, you agree to:

Provide Accurate Information

• Supply truthful, complete, and current information about your business
• Provide timely access to necessary accounts, data, and resources
• Disclose any relevant past or current SEO activities, penalties, or issues
• Notify us promptly of any changes that may affect our services

Maintain Cooperation

• Respond to requests for information and feedback in a timely manner
• Attend scheduled meetings and consultations
• Implement recommendations as agreed or communicate reasons for deviation
• Designate a primary point of contact with decision-making authority

Comply with Laws and Guidelines

• Ensure your website and business comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Adhere to search engine terms of service and webmaster guidelines
• Not engage in or request practices that violate search engine policies
• Take responsibility for all content published on your website

Protect Credentials

• Maintain security of any shared accounts and credentials
• Revoke access promptly upon termination of services
• Not share login credentials provided for your use with unauthorized parties

4. Engagement & Payment Terms

Engagement Types

We offer services through various engagement models:

Proposals & Agreements

• All engagements require a signed Statement of Work (SOW) or Service Agreement
• Proposals are valid for 30 days unless otherwise specified
• Scope changes require written agreement and may affect pricing and timeline
• Work begins upon receipt of signed agreement and initial payment

Payment Terms

• Invoicing: Invoices are issued per the schedule defined in your SOW (typically monthly in advance for retainers, milestone-based for projects)
• Due Date: Payment is due within 15 days of invoice date unless otherwise agreed
• Methods: We accept ACH/bank transfer, credit cards, and checks
• Late Payments: Overdue balances accrue interest at 1.5% per month. We may suspend services for accounts more than 30 days past due
• Expenses: Pre-approved expenses are billed at cost plus 10% administrative fee

Refunds

Due to the nature of consulting services, fees for completed work are non-refundable. For retainer engagements terminated early, unused prepaid hours may be refunded at our discretion, less any early termination fees specified in your agreement.

5. Intellectual Property

Client Materials

You retain all rights to materials you provide to us, including your website content, branding, data, and proprietary information. You grant us a limited license to use these materials solely to perform our services.

Deliverables

Upon full payment, you receive ownership of custom deliverables created specifically for you, including:

• Custom SEO strategies and recommendations
• Audit reports and analysis documents
• Training materials developed for your team
• Custom templates and frameworks created for your use

SEO Hermit Property

We retain all rights to:

• Pre-existing methodologies, tools, frameworks, and processes
• General knowledge, skills, and experience gained during engagement
• Generic templates, tools, and materials not customized for you
• Aggregated, anonymized insights derived from our client work

We grant you a non-exclusive license to use any of our pre-existing materials incorporated into your deliverables.

Portfolio & Case Studies

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, we may reference our work with you in marketing materials, case studies, and portfolio presentations. We will not disclose confidential information or proprietary data without your prior written consent.

6. Confidentiality

Confidential Information

Both parties agree to maintain the confidentiality of non-public information disclosed during our engagement, including but not limited to:

• Business strategies, plans, and financial information
• Customer data, analytics, and performance metrics
• Technical systems, processes, and implementations
• Pending product launches, partnerships, or transactions
• Pricing, proposals, and contract terms

Obligations

Each party agrees to:

• Use confidential information only for purposes of the engagement
• Protect confidential information with reasonable security measures
• Limit disclosure to personnel who need to know
• Not disclose to third parties without prior written consent
• Return or destroy confidential information upon request

Exceptions

Confidentiality obligations do not apply to information that:

• Is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the receiving party
• Was known to the receiving party prior to disclosure
• Is independently developed without use of confidential information
• Is required to be disclosed by law or court order

Duration

Confidentiality obligations survive termination of services and continue for a period of three (3) years thereafter, or longer for trade secrets.

7. Disclaimers & Limitations

Services Provided "As Is"

Our services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
• Warranties of accuracy, reliability, or completeness of information
• Warranties that services will be uninterrupted or error-free
• Warranties regarding third-party services, tools, or platforms

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SEO HERMIT'S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR OUR SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY YOU TO US DURING THE SIX (6) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

IN NO EVENT SHALL SEO HERMIT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, OR GOODWILL, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Third-Party Services

We are not responsible for the actions, policies, or practices of third-party services, including search engines, analytics platforms, hosting providers, or tools we may recommend. Use of third-party services is subject to their respective terms and conditions.

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SEO Hermit, its principals, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

• Your breach of these Terms or any service agreement
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
• Content published on your website or platforms
• Your infringement of any third-party intellectual property rights
• Any misrepresentation made by you
• Actions taken based on our recommendations that exceed the scope of our advice

9. Termination

Termination by Client

You may terminate services in accordance with the notice provisions in your service agreement, typically with 30 days written notice. Early termination may be subject to termination fees as specified in your agreement.

Termination by SEO Hermit

We may terminate or suspend services immediately if:

• Payment is more than 30 days overdue
• You breach any material term of these Terms or your service agreement
• You engage in illegal activities or request us to do so
• You violate search engine terms of service or engage in prohibited practices
• Continuing the engagement would harm our reputation or other clients

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• All outstanding fees become immediately due and payable
• We will deliver any completed work for which payment has been received
• Both parties will return or destroy confidential information
• License grants specific to the engagement will terminate (except for fully paid deliverables)
• Sections regarding confidentiality, indemnification, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution survive termination

10. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal proceedings, both parties agree to attempt to resolve disputes through good-faith negotiation. Either party may initiate this process by sending written notice describing the dispute. The parties will have 30 days to reach a resolution.

Mediation

If informal resolution fails, the parties agree to submit the dispute to non-binding mediation before a mutually agreed-upon mediator. Mediation costs will be shared equally.

Arbitration

Any dispute not resolved through mediation shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. Arbitration shall take place in Maricopa County, Arizona. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding.

Exceptions

Either party may seek injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm related to confidentiality breaches or intellectual property infringement.

Class Action Waiver

Both parties agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not as a class, consolidated, or representative action.

11. General Provisions

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any signed service agreements, proposals, or statements of work, constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior agreements, representations, and understandings.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Waiver

Failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms to an affiliate or successor entity.

Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from circumstances beyond their reasonable control, including natural disasters, acts of government, pandemics, or infrastructure failures.

Independent Contractor

SEO Hermit is an independent contractor and not an employee, agent, partner, or joint venturer of the Client. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment or agency relationship.

Notices

All notices under these Terms shall be in writing and sent to the contact information on file. Notice is effective upon receipt.

12. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or to discuss service agreements, please contact us:

For general inquiries or to schedule a consultation, visit our consultation page.