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Statement of Work
Ref: 2026-001 • Standard Business Template
1. Non-Refundable Deposit
An upfront deposit of 50% of the total project fee is required prior to project kickoff, template configuration, visual staging, or automation setup. This deposit secures your project schedule and covers initial architectural and design setup.
2. Automation Scope & Integration Mapping
The designer will configure the Squarespace platform and mapped third-party automations explicitly listed in the scope of work. Covered deliverables may include:
- Squarespace page layout architecture and mobile responsiveness.
- Integration of native functionality including Squarespace Scheduling, Member Areas, or Commerce.
- Mapped third-party automations (e.g., Zapier or Make connections to CRMs or email marketing tools) explicitly defined prior to kickoff.
3. Client Testing Responsibilities
Upon notification of staging completion, the client receives a 5-business-day testing window to verify visual layouts, form submissions, mobile responsiveness, and automated workflow triggers. The client is responsible for verifying all third-party account credentials, merchant payment gateways, and content accuracy during this period.
4. Objective Approval Criteria
Approval is granted based on technical functionality and alignment with the agreed project scope. Deliverables are considered fully accepted upon:
- Written sign-off submitted by the client via email or the MicroFreelanceHub portal.
- The expiration of the 5-business-day testing window without written notice of reproducible functional defects.
5. Revision Limits & Scope Boundaries
This contract includes two rounds of structural and visual revisions during the staging phase. Requests for additional design variations, new automated workflows, or custom code additions outside the mapped scope require an executed change order and additional deposit prior to execution.
6. Final Payment & Automated Guardrails
The remaining 50% balance is due immediately upon deliverable approval. Final payment must be processed via the designated MicroFreelanceHub payment link prior to live deployment, custom domain connection, or permission escalation.
7. Handoff & Ownership Transfer
The designer maintains full primary administrative ownership of the Squarespace site and custom assets during production. Primary ownership transfer, administrator access escalation, and final domain pointing will occur exclusively after the final payment has successfully cleared.
Unvetted Third-Party Automations
Clients frequently request complex Zapier, Make, or webhooks integrations with Squarespace forms without understanding API limitations, leading to unpaid scope creep when connections require deep troubleshooting.
Delayed Client Testing & Content Delivery
Projects stall indefinitely when clients delay providing final copy or fail to test payment gateways, pushing back your final payment milestone while you remain on call.
Premature Ownership Transfer
Transferring primary Squarespace ownership or administrator rights before final funds settle leaves you with zero financial leverage if the client defaults on payment.
What is a Squarespace Designer Deposit and Approval Agreement?
A Squarespace Designer Deposit and Approval Agreement is a legally binding contract securing non-refundable upfront payment, defining mapped automation scope, setting client testing obligations, and requiring written approval before final site transfer. It protects freelancers from unpaid scope creep and delays by tying site handoff directly to payment settlement.
Built from real freelance projects
This template is based on real-world scenarios across freelance projects where unclear scope, missing payment terms, and revision creep led to lost revenue. It helps clarify your time, define expectations, and make payment steps easier to manage.
Why Squarespace Designers need a clear deposit and approval agreement
Squarespace designers often blur the line between visual design and technical execution. When you build custom styling, third-party form connections, e-commerce checkouts, and automated email workflows, scope creep and delayed client feedback can derail your entire business cash flow. Without a structured deposit and approval agreement, clients may stall on providing copy, fail to test payment gateways, or demand endless tweaks after site launch while holding back your remaining fee. Securing a non-refundable upfront deposit guarantees that your time and initial setup efforts are financially protected. Tying formal written approval milestones to staged functional deliverables ensures that design and automation mechanics are accepted in controlled phases. By establishing explicit checkpoints for client testing and requiring full payment before domain mapping or site transfer, you convert unpredictable design projects into a reliable, cash-protected workflow.
Real-world scenario
A freelance Squarespace designer agreed to build an e-commerce shop with automated lead flows for $4,500. The agreement lacked milestone gates and required payment upon project completion. The designer built the site, integrated automated email sequences via Zapier, and transferred primary site ownership to the client for domain connection. Once the client had admin rights, they requested additional custom CSS revisions and delayed testing the checkout process for three weeks. When the designer asked for the final $2,250 payment, the client claimed the site was unapproved because they hadn't finished reviewing their own store copy. Because the designer had already transferred ownership without an upfront deposit or formal testing sign-off, they lost leverage and waited 60 days to get paid. With MicroFreelanceHub’s Deposit and Approval Agreement, a 50% deposit and gated sign-off before site transfer would have protected the designer's revenue and timeline completely.
🛡️ What this deposit and approval agreement covers:
- ✓Customized Squarespace site layout, custom CSS styling, mobile responsiveness optimization, mapped third-party automations (e.g., Zapier form routing, Acuity Scheduling, email marketing sync), client testing framework, and primary site ownership transfer post-final payment.
Best practices for Squarespace Designers
Decouple Visual Staging from Automation Sign-Off
Require separate written approvals for page layout designs and functional integrations (such as Acuity or Klaviyo workflows) so automations are verified independently of client copy updates.
Lock Admin Privileges Until Settlement
Keep the client at the 'Contributor' permission level during production and transfer primary ownership only after the final milestone payment link clears.
Legal Disclaimer: MicroFreelanceHub is a software workflow tool, not a law firm. The templates and information provided on this website are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the client delays testing their automated Squarespace forms?
The agreement includes a standard 5-business-day testing window. If the client fails to test or provide written feedback within this window, the deliverable is deemed approved, unlocking the next milestone invoice.
How do I handle custom code and third-party automation failures outside my control?
Custom CSS, JavaScript, and Zapier/Make automations are scoped based on current platform APIs. The contract specifies that third-party platform updates or external service outages are exempt from approval criteria and require separate maintenance terms.