Refund Policy

Onnis Writing Services is a small, attentive practice that takes on a limited number of clients each season. Each engagement is a meaningful commitment of time and craft. The following policy sets out how refunds are considered, in plain language and in good faith.

1. Deposits & Retainers

Most engagements begin with a deposit or retainer payment, the amount of which is specified in your signed agreement. Deposits secure your place on the calendar and cover the initial research, planning, and discovery work that begins immediately upon contract signing.

• Deposits are non-refundable once work has commenced, as they compensate for time, calendar reservation, and preparatory labor that cannot be recovered.
• If you cancel before any work has begun (typically within 48 hours of signing), the deposit may be refunded in full at our discretion.

2. Cancellation by the Client

You may cancel an engagement at any time by providing written notice. The financial implications depend on the stage of the work:

• Before work begins — full refund of any payments made (less any processing fees).
• After work has begun, before delivery of first draft or milestone — refund of unspent funds, minus a fair fee for time invested up to the point of cancellation, calculated at the engagement's stated rate.
• After delivery of first draft or milestone — no refund will be issued for completed work, though any prepaid amounts for future, unstarted phases will be refunded.

3. Cancellation by Us

In the rare event we must terminate an engagement — for example, due to scope drift, unworkable conditions, or a fundamental misalignment — you will be refunded for any work paid for but not yet delivered. We will provide reasonable notice and, where possible, a recommendation of another professional who may be a better fit.

4. Grant Writing & Funding Outcomes

It is essential that clients understand: we are paid for the craft of preparing your proposal — not for the funding decision itself. No reputable grant writer guarantees a funding outcome, and any practitioner who does should be approached with caution. Funding decisions rest entirely with the funder and are influenced by many factors outside our control, including funder priorities, budget cycles, and the broader pool of applicants.

Refunds are not issued on the basis of an unfunded proposal. We commit to delivering high-quality, thoroughly researched, and competitively positioned work — and our 86% award rate reflects that — but the final decision belongs to the funder.

5. Web Design & Build Refunds

Web design engagements proceed in defined phases, each with deliverables and a sign-off step. Refund policy by phase:

• Discovery & design phase — refund of unspent funds if cancelled before design approval.
• Build phase — once development has begun, fees for completed work are non-refundable. Unstarted future phases may be refunded.
• After site launch — final delivery is non-refundable. Defects or issues will be addressed under the warranty period stated in your contract (typically 30 days post-launch).

6. Digital Marketing & Ad Spend

For paid media engagements, please note the distinction between service fees (paid to us for management) and ad spend (paid to platforms such as Meta or Google):

• Service fees for completed work are non-refundable.
• Unspent ad budget remains yours and is fully refundable upon engagement termination.
• Ad spend that has already been deployed cannot be recovered, as it has been paid to the advertising platform.

7. How to Request a Refund

Refund requests should be made in writing to areyes@onniswritingservices.net, with reference to your engagement and the reason for the request. We will respond within five (5) business days.

Approved refunds are processed within ten (10) business days of approval, returned via the original method of payment where possible.

8. Disputes

We will always seek to resolve any dispute fairly and conversationally first. If a dispute cannot be resolved through direct correspondence, the resolution mechanisms outlined in your signed contract — typically mediation prior to formal proceedings — will apply.

9. Changes to This Policy

This policy may be revised periodically. The terms in effect at the time you sign your engagement contract are the terms that govern your refund eligibility, regardless of subsequent changes published here.

10. Contact

For any questions regarding this Refund Policy, please write to areyes@onniswritingservices.net.