Last Updated: July 5, 2026
Hosting & Billing Terms
These terms apply to all clients of AO Design receiving hosting, domain, email, or related web services. By using our services or paying an invoice, you agree to these terms.
AO Design offers the following standard hosting plans:
Essential Hosting
Includes website hosting, up to 10 GB of combined email storage across all mailboxes, and standard email support for active business communication.
Concierge Hosting
Includes website hosting, up to 50 GB of combined email storage across all mailboxes, monthly website reporting, and monthly plugin and software updates.
Plan features and pricing are subject to change with 30 days’ written notice to the client. Continued use of hosting services after the notice period constitutes acceptance of the updated pricing.
Email Hosting & Storage
Email storage limits apply to all hosted email accounts as follows:
- Essential Hosting: 10 GB combined across all mailboxes
- Concierge Hosting: 50 GB combined across all mailboxes
Hosted email is intended for active business communication, not long-term archival storage. AO Design reserves the right to enforce storage limits and to require clients to reduce usage or upgrade their plan if their combined mailbox usage exceeds the limit for their plan.
Client Responsibility for Email Data: Clients are solely responsible for archiving, backing up, and managing their own email data. AO Design is not liable for any loss of email data, regardless of cause.
Retention Policy: AO Design reserves the right to remove emails from mailboxes that have exceeded their plan’s storage limit, subject to the following notice procedure:
- A written notice will be sent to the client’s email address on file at least 60 days before any action is taken.
- A second reminder notice will be sent no later than 14 days before the action date.
- The client will have the full notice period to archive, download, or delete emails to bring usage within their plan’s limit.
- If the client has not resolved the overage by the action date, AO Design may remove emails beginning with the oldest messages until usage falls within the plan limit.
Written notice via email to the client’s address on file constitutes sufficient notice under this policy.
Security & Malware Remediation
Website hosting includes server-level security monitoring. If malicious code, malware, or a security compromise is detected on a hosted website, AO Design will notify the client and work to resolve the issue within the remediation window provided by our hosting infrastructure (typically 24–72 hours from detection). Failure to resolve within this window may result in the hosting provider suspending or disabling the website until the issue is cleared.
Because these remediation windows are time-sensitive, the client authorizes AO Design to begin cleanup immediately upon detection without waiting for prior approval, in order to protect the website from suspension. AO Design will notify the client of the issue and, where applicable, that billable work has begun.
As a courtesy, AO Design performs quick malware cleanups (30 minutes or less) at no charge for up to two (2) incidents per website in any rolling twelve (12) month period. Cleanups exceeding 30 minutes, and any cleanup beyond the second incident in a twelve-month period, are billed at AO Design’s standard hourly rate ($149/hr) in 15-minute increments. AO Design will report actual time spent following resolution.
Repeated infections are typically caused by underlying vulnerabilities such as outdated software, weak credentials, or insecure plugins or themes. AO Design may recommend paid hardening or maintenance services to prevent recurrence. AO Design is not liable for downtime, data loss, or suspension resulting from malicious code, third-party software vulnerabilities, or client actions.
Web Presence Package — Additional Terms
These terms apply specifically to clients on the Web Presence or Web Presence + Care subscription plans. In the event of any conflict between this section and the general hosting terms above, these Web Presence terms control.
Included Website AO Design will design, build, and deploy a custom website as part of your monthly Web Presence subscription at no upfront build fee. The absence of an upfront build fee does not constitute a transfer of ownership of the website design, codebase, or deployment infrastructure. The website is included in the plan — not provided as an unconditional gift or purchase.
Ownership The website design, codebase, and deployment infrastructure remain the property of AO Design for the duration of the subscription. The client is granted a license to use the website as part of their active subscription. This license terminates upon cancellation.
The client owns their domain name at all times. AO Design registers and manages the domain on the client’s behalf as a convenience service. Upon cancellation, the domain will be transferred to the client’s preferred registrar at no additional charge within 5 business days of the cancellation date.
All written content, images, and media provided by the client or created on the client’s behalf remain the property of the client at all times.
Minimum Term The Web Presence subscription requires a minimum commitment of three (3) consecutive months from the date of initial activation. Cancellation requests submitted before the end of the third billing month will not be processed. Service will continue and billing will continue through the end of the minimum term.
Cancellation — Months 4 Through 23 After the minimum term, the client may cancel at any time by providing written notice to AO Design. Cancellations processed during months 4 through 23 of continuous service are subject to a $500 early exit fee, payable at the time of cancellation. This fee applies regardless of whether the client elects to receive a transfer of any site assets.
Service remains active through the end of the current billing period following notice of cancellation.
Cancellation — Month 24 and Beyond After 24 consecutive months of active subscription, the client may cancel at any time with no cancellation fee and no early exit fee. Full rights to the website design and codebase will be transferred to the client at no charge. The domain will be transferred to the client’s preferred registrar at no charge within 5 business days.
AI Chatbot The AI lead capture chatbot is part of AO Design’s managed infrastructure and is not included in any site transfer. The chatbot will be deactivated upon cancellation of service, regardless of cancellation timing or reason. Lead inquiries previously delivered to the client’s email inbox are the client’s property and are not affected by cancellation.
The cancellation terms in this section apply to Web Presence clients only. General hosting cancellation terms below apply to Essential and Concierge Hosting clients.
Late Payments
Invoices not paid within 15 days of the due date will incur a 5% late fee. An additional 5% late fee will be assessed every 7 days thereafter until the account reaches 30 days past due.
Website Suspension
At 30 days past due, your website and associated services may be suspended. Late fee assessments will stop at the time of suspension. You will be notified that your files must be removed from the server if you do not intend to make payment.
A $150 reactivation fee is required to restore a suspended website in addition to any outstanding balance.
Website Removal
If an account becomes 90 days past due, AO Design reserves the right to permanently remove the website and all associated files, email data, and backups from our servers. AO Design is not liable for any loss of data resulting from non-payment. Clients may request a backup copy of their website files at any time prior to removal.
Project Files: Following project completion, any project files stored in AO Design’s Google Drive or servers will be available for client download for 30 days from the project delivery date. After this period, files may be deleted to free up storage space. It is the client’s responsibility to download and retain all necessary files within this timeframe. AO Design is not liable for file loss after this period.
Domain Name Renewals
Domain renewals are processed through third-party registrars. If payment for domain renewal is not received, your domain may be released back into the registrar’s pool at 30 days past due. YOU MAY PERMANENTLY LOSE YOUR DOMAIN NAME AS A RESULT. AO Design is not responsible for domains lost due to non-payment. Domain availability cannot be guaranteed once released.
Hosting Cancellation & Plan Changes
These terms apply to Essential and Concierge Hosting clients. Web Presence subscription cancellation terms are governed by the Web Presence Package section above.
Either party may cancel Essential or Concierge Hosting services with 15 days’ written notice. Hosting fees are billed monthly and are non-refundable once the billing period has begun.
If a client cancels hosting and requires assistance transitioning their domain or hosting to another provider, AO Design will provide transition assistance billed at the current hourly rate, with a minimum of one hour.
Clients wishing to upgrade or downgrade their hosting plan may do so at any time. Plan changes take effect at the start of the next billing cycle unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Refunds
Hosting and recurring service fees are non-refundable once a billing period has begun. For project-based work, refunds are unavailable if work has been started or purchases have been made on the client’s behalf. If work has begun, the client will be invoiced for all completed work and expenses up to the cancellation date.
Continued Use
Continued use of AO Design hosting services and/or payment of any invoice after 7/1/2026 constitutes acceptance of these terms. AO Design reserves the right to update these terms at any time with 30 days’ written notice to active clients. Continued use of hosting services after the notice period constitutes acceptance of any updated terms or pricing.
For purposes of these terms, written notice delivered to the client’s email address on file with AO Design constitutes valid and sufficient written notice.
Questions?
Contact us at ramon@aodesign.com or visit aodesign.com.