Terms of Service.

By submitting the contact form on atelierbooking.com, signing a written engagement proposal with SJD LABS LLC, or using any booking platform we build and operate, you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). 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 that entity. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not submit an inquiry, sign a proposal, or use our services.

Our engagement proposals may contain supplemental terms specific to your project (scope, fees, timeline, deliverables, service levels). Where a signed proposal conflicts with these Terms, the signed proposal controls for that engagement only.

Atelier Booking is a design-and-build studio. We scope, design, engineer, launch, and operate custom booking platforms for businesses that take reservations, appointments, or event bookings. We do not sell a SaaS product. Each platform we build is bespoke software, delivered under your brand and deployed on your domain.

Our typical engagement includes (a) a discovery call, (b) a written architecture proposal with a fixed scope and fixed project fee, (c) a build phase, (d) launch onto your domain, and (e) an ongoing operation phase in which we host, monitor, and iterate on the platform in exchange for a per-booking operation fee. The specifics of what's in scope for your engagement are captured in your signed proposal.

Engagements begin when both parties sign a written proposal (the "Proposal"). The Proposal identifies the scope, deliverables, milestones, project fee, operation fee, and any service commitments. Work outside the Proposal's stated scope is governed by a written change order signed by both parties before the work begins.

Timelines in the Proposal are good-faith estimates assuming your timely cooperation — feedback, asset delivery, account access, and review of deliverables within the turnaround windows we agree on. Delays attributable to your response time extend the timeline on a day-for-day basis without penalty to us.

Project fee. The fixed project fee is invoiced at kickoff or on the schedule set by the Proposal (commonly 50% at kickoff and 50% at launch, or as milestone-based draws). Invoices are due net 15 days unless the Proposal specifies otherwise. Late balances accrue interest at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the highest rate permitted by California law.

Operation fee. Once the platform is live, a per-booking operation fee is deducted automatically as a Stripe Connect Application Fee from each booking your platform processes. The operation fee covers hosting, monitoring, security updates, minor iterations, and ongoing support as described in the Proposal. The application fee rate is specified in the Proposal and cannot be changed retroactively.

Taxes. Fees are exclusive of any applicable sales, use, VAT, GST, or withholding taxes, which you are responsible for unless otherwise required by law. We will invoice for any taxes we are required to collect.

Refunds. Project fees paid for completed milestones are non-refundable. If you terminate an engagement mid-milestone under Section 12, we will refund any fees paid for work not yet commenced. Operation fees are per-transaction and are not refunded after a booking is processed.

Platforms we build integrate with Stripe, Inc. ("Stripe") using the Stripe Connect Express or Standard model. You (the client) are the merchant of record for all bookings processed through your platform. Your customers' funds settle to your Stripe account according to your Stripe payout schedule. Our operation fee is deducted from each transaction as an Application Fee and settles to our separate Stripe account. We do not hold, pool, or commingle your customer funds at any point.

You are responsible for (a) completing Stripe's onboarding and identity verification, (b) agreeing to Stripe's Connected Account Agreement, (c) your compliance with Stripe's Restricted Businesses list, and (d) all chargebacks, refunds, disputes, and regulatory obligations arising from your transactions. We will assist with integration and operational support, but we are not a party to the merchant relationship between you and Stripe.

Your deliverables.On payment in full of the project fee, you own the custom code, configurations, brand assets, content, and data specific to your platform ("Client Deliverables"). We assign you all rights in the Client Deliverables necessary for you to operate your platform indefinitely, and we will hand over source, credentials, and documentation on request.

Our underlying tools.The custom platform builds on general-purpose tooling we have developed, including our open-source booking engine and internal libraries, utilities, patterns, and accumulated know-how ("Studio Tooling"). Studio Tooling remains our property. We grant you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive license to use the Studio Tooling as embedded in your platform — use, host, modify, and operate — for the lifetime of your platform, including after any termination of our engagement.

Portfolio and case studies. Unless you request otherwise in writing, we may identify you as a client and describe the work we did in our portfolio, marketing, and case studies, subject to the Confidentiality section below.

Each of us may learn non-public information about the other ("Confidential Information") during an engagement — business plans, customer data, technical details, pricing, financials. We each agree (a) to use the other's Confidential Information only to perform under the Proposal, (b) to protect it with the same care we use for our own sensitive information (and not less than reasonable care), and (c) not to disclose it to third parties except to employees, contractors, and subprocessors under comparable confidentiality obligations. These obligations continue for three (3) years after the engagement ends, except for trade secrets, which remain protected for as long as they qualify as such under applicable law.

Confidential Information does not include information that is (i) publicly available through no fault of the receiving party, (ii) known to the receiving party before disclosure, (iii) independently developed without use of the other's Confidential Information, or (iv) required to be disclosed by law or court order, with prompt notice to the disclosing party where permitted.

Our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information is described in our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. As it relates to your platform's end users, you are the "controller" (or "business" under California law) of their personal data and we act as your "processor" (or "service provider"). We will process such data only on your documented instructions and will not use it for our own independent commercial purposes.

We warrant that (a) we will perform engagements in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with generally accepted industry standards, and (b) to our knowledge, the Client Deliverables we create will not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party. If we materially breach this warranty, your exclusive remedy is for us to re-perform the non-conforming work at no additional charge, or — at our option — to refund the fees paid for the non-conforming work.

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS SECTION, THE SITE, SERVICES, CLIENT DELIVERABLES, AND STUDIO TOOLING ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," AND WE DISCLAIM ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE AGAINST ALL UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NEITHER PARTY WILL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, LOST DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY.

OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO AN ENGAGEMENT IS CAPPED AT THE TOTAL FEES YOU PAID TO US UNDER THE APPLICABLE PROPOSAL IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM. THIS CAP DOES NOT APPLY TO (a) YOUR PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS, (b) EITHER PARTY'S INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS, OR (c) LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE LIMITED BY LAW (e.g., GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, FRAUD).

By us. We will defend you against any third-party claim that Client Deliverables we create infringe a valid U.S. copyright, trademark, or trade secret, and will pay settlements we approve and damages finally awarded, provided you promptly notify us, give us sole control of the defense, and reasonably cooperate. Our obligations do not apply to claims arising from (i) modifications you or a third party make to the Client Deliverables, (ii) combinations with materials not supplied by us, or (iii) your continued use of infringing material after we provide a non-infringing alternative.

By you. You will defend and indemnify us against third-party claims arising from (i) your use of the platform in violation of these Terms or applicable law, (ii) content, data, or instructions you provide to us, (iii) your relationship with your end users or your Stripe merchant account, and (iv) your tax, regulatory, or licensing obligations.

Either party may terminate an engagement for material breach that remains uncured thirty (30) days after written notice describing the breach. Either party may terminate an active engagement for convenience on thirty (30) days' written notice; in that case, you pay for all work performed and non-cancellable expenses incurred up to the effective date of termination, and we deliver the work-in-progress Client Deliverables.

Data portability.On termination, we will (a) provide a full export of your platform's data in a commonly used machine-readable format at no additional charge, (b) transfer or assist with the transfer of domain, DNS, email, and Stripe integrations, and (c) destroy copies of your Confidential Information remaining in our possession within sixty (60) days, except as required by law or legitimate backup retention. There is no lock-in — you can leave and operate or reassign your platform independently.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Sacramento County, California, for any dispute not subject to informal resolution or arbitration.

Informal resolution first. Before initiating formal proceedings, the parties will attempt to resolve disputes in good faith by escalating to the signatories of the Proposal. If the dispute cannot be resolved within thirty (30) days of written notice, either party may proceed to litigation or arbitration as mutually agreed.

Jury trial waiver. To the extent permitted by law, each party waives any right to a jury trial in any dispute arising from these Terms or an engagement. This waiver does not apply to disputes brought in small-claims court.

We may update these Terms as our business evolves. When we make a material change, we will update the "Effective" date above and, where we have your email, provide reasonable advance notice. Continued use of the site or services after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. The version of the Terms in effect on the date your Proposal was signed governs that engagement unless both parties agree to an update in writing.

For day-to-day communication and inquiries, use stephen@atelierbooking.com.

For formal legal notices, including service of process under California Corporations Code § 1505, write to:

Notices are effective on receipt (or, for mailed notices, three business days after posting via certified U.S. mail, return receipt requested).