Payment, Billing & Professional Services Policy

1. Purpose and Acceptance of This Policy

I AM CYN SMITH provides professional business consulting, strategic advisory, business development, administrative support, mentorship, operational consulting, educational resources, workshops, and related professional services.

This Payment, Billing & Professional Services Policy establishes the financial terms, payment expectations, cancellation procedures, refund conditions, and service limitations applicable to purchases made through I AM CYN SMITH.

By purchasing a service, submitting payment, booking a consultation, enrolling in a mentorship program, or entering into a service agreement, the client acknowledges that they have reviewed and agreed to the applicable payment terms and service conditions.

This policy should be read together with any individual proposal, invoice, service agreement, or written scope of work provided to the client. Where an individually signed agreement contains specific terms that differ from this general policy, the signed agreement will control for that engagement to the extent permitted by law.

2. Payment Does Not Guarantee Business Success or a Particular Outcome

IMPORTANT: Payment for professional services is payment for professional time, expertise, guidance, administrative assistance, research, strategic recommendations, and/or agreed-upon deliverables. Payment is not a purchase of guaranteed business success.

I AM CYN SMITH does not guarantee that a client will achieve a particular financial, operational, organizational, legal, regulatory, or commercial result as a consequence of purchasing services.

This includes, but is not limited to, any guarantee of:

Business profitability, revenue growth, increased sales, or financial stability.
Business approval, registration, licensing, certification, or regulatory acceptance.
Nonprofit recognition, tax-exempt status, grant awards, donations, or funding.
Government contracts, procurement opportunities, vendor approvals, or contract awards.
Loan approvals, business credit, financing, or investment.
Increased enrollment, customer acquisition, market share, or business expansion.
Successful implementation of a recommended business strategy.
A specific timeline for achieving business milestones.
Any other financial, operational, or organizational result.

Clients expressly acknowledge that business outcomes are influenced by factors outside the control of I AM CYN SMITH, including market conditions, financial circumstances, client decisions, execution, regulatory requirements, third-party decisions, and other external variables.

The purchase of a service does not establish a partnership, joint venture, employment relationship, financial investment arrangement, or guarantee of future earnings.

No payment should be interpreted as a promise that a client's business will become profitable, successful, approved, funded, operational, or otherwise achieve a particular result.

Our responsibility is to provide the services and deliverables agreed upon within the established scope of work. The client remains responsible for business decisions, implementation, compliance, and execution.

3. Service Pricing and Payment Requirements

All published prices are subject to the service descriptions, limitations, and conditions displayed at the time of purchase.

Prices may be updated periodically. A price quoted in an approved proposal or signed service agreement will remain valid for the period specified in that document.

Unless otherwise stated in writing, the following payment requirements apply:

A. Individual Consultations

Private Business Strategy Consultation: $175.
Extended Business Strategy Session: $275.

Individual consultations must be paid in full at the time of booking. A consultation is not confirmed until payment has been successfully processed and the booking has been accepted.

B. Mentorship Programs

Monthly Private Mentorship: $600.
90-Day Mentorship: $1,650.
Six-Month Mentorship: $3,000.

Mentorship enrollment must be paid in accordance with the selected program's payment terms. Monthly programs are billed in advance. Multi-month programs must be paid according to the agreed enrollment terms.

Mentorship payments secure access to the specified sessions and services, not a guaranteed business result.

C. Project-Based Services

Project-based engagements may include business formation guidance, administrative registration support, nonprofit development, operational assessments, SOP development, business infrastructure audits, and customized consulting projects.

Payment terms are generally structured as follows:

Projects priced below $500 require full payment before work begins.
Projects priced at $500 or more generally require a 50% deposit before work begins.
The remaining balance is due before final deliverables are released, unless an alternative written payment schedule has been approved.
Custom payment arrangements must be documented in writing.

A deposit reserves the agreed project capacity and initiates the engagement according to the signed agreement. It does not guarantee approval, funding, registration, or any other external outcome.

D. Monthly Advisory Services

Monthly advisory engagements are billed in advance according to the selected service level and its defined monthly scope.

Any included hours, meetings, deliverables, or communication limits will be specified in the applicable agreement.

Unused advisory hours do not automatically roll over into subsequent months. Additional work outside the agreed scope may require a separate fee or written amendment.

E. Speaking, Workshops, and Training

Speaking engagements, workshops, and training services may require a 50% deposit to secure the scheduled date, with the remaining balance due before the event unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Travel, lodging, venue expenses, materials, and other approved event-related expenses may be billed separately.

4. Deposits, Reservations, and Project Commencement

Deposits are required to reserve professional capacity, allocate resources, and initiate approved project work.

Unless otherwise stated in a signed agreement, deposits are applied toward the total project fee and are not additional charges.

Once work has commenced, fees attributable to services performed, time reserved, research completed, materials developed, administrative work undertaken, and other authorized project expenses may be earned and nonrefundable, subject to applicable law and the terms of the agreement.

If a client cancels an engagement after work has started, the client may remain responsible for payment for completed work and any applicable contractual cancellation charges.

Any unused portion of a payment will be handled according to the applicable agreement and refund provisions.

5. Refund Policy

All refund requests are evaluated according to the type of service purchased, the amount of work completed, the applicable service agreement, and applicable law.

Because many professional services involve reserved time, customized research, strategic planning, administrative work, and individualized deliverables, refunds are not automatically available simply because a client changes their mind or does not achieve the outcome they anticipated.

The following general conditions apply:

A. Consultations

Payments for completed consultations are nonrefundable.

If a consultation is canceled or rescheduled within the permitted notice period, the applicable rescheduling provisions will apply.

B. Project-Based Services

Refund eligibility depends on the stage of the project and the services already performed.

Work completed, research conducted, administrative processing, and customized materials delivered may be charged against the amount paid.

If a project is canceled before work begins, any refund will be determined by the applicable agreement, including any disclosed reservation or administrative charges.

C. Mentorship and Advisory Services

Fees for sessions already conducted and services already provided are nonrefundable.

Future unused services will be handled according to the enrollment agreement and any applicable cancellation provisions.

D. Digital Products and Downloadable Materials

Digital products, templates, workbooks, guides, and downloadable educational materials are generally nonrefundable once access has been provided or the product has been downloaded, except where required by law or where a refund is otherwise expressly approved.

E. Speaking and Training Engagements

Refunds and cancellation charges for speaking engagements and training services will be governed by the applicable event agreement, including any expenses already incurred and dates or resources reserved.

Important: A client is not automatically entitled to a refund because a business idea did not work, a funding application was denied, a registration was delayed, a strategy was not implemented, or a desired business outcome was not achieved.

Nothing in this policy limits any refund rights or other remedies that cannot legally be waived.

6. Cancellation and Rescheduling

For individual consultations, clients must provide at least 48 hours' notice to request a reschedule.

Requests made at least 48 hours before the appointment may be rescheduled, subject to availability.
Requests made with less than 48 hours' notice may result in forfeiture of the session fee.
Failure to attend a scheduled appointment without notice may be treated as a no-show.
A no-show does not automatically qualify for a refund or replacement session.

For mentorship, advisory, project-based services, speaking engagements, and workshops, cancellation and rescheduling terms may be established separately in the applicable service agreement.

I AM CYN SMITH reserves the right to reschedule an appointment or engagement when necessary. In such cases, reasonable efforts will be made to arrange an alternative date or provide another appropriate resolution.

7. Client Responsibilities and Cooperation

The quality, accuracy, and timeliness of professional services may depend on the client's participation and cooperation.

Clients are responsible for:

Providing complete, accurate, and truthful information.
Submitting requested documents and information within established deadlines.
Reviewing deliverables and providing feedback when requested.
Making timely decisions and approvals.
Maintaining their own business records and documentation.
Completing required applications, filings, signatures, and submissions unless expressly included in the purchased service.
Paying applicable government, licensing, registration, filing, third-party, and processing fees.
Implementing recommendations and completing assigned responsibilities.

Delays caused by missing information, inaccurate documentation, client inactivity, or failure to meet agreed responsibilities may affect project timelines.

I AM CYN SMITH is not responsible for delays or unfavorable outcomes resulting from incomplete, inaccurate, misleading, or untimely information supplied by the client.

Additional work required because of inaccurate information, material changes in project direction, or requests outside the original scope may require an additional fee.

8. Scope of Services and Additional Work

Every service is limited to the scope, deliverables, time allocation, and responsibilities described in its published service description, proposal, or signed agreement.

Payment for one service does not automatically include additional consultations, revisions, document preparation, administrative submissions, implementation assistance, ongoing support, or unrelated services.

Requests outside the original scope may require:

A revised proposal.
An additional service agreement.
An additional invoice.
An approved change order.

No additional work is considered included unless it has been expressly agreed upon in writing.

9. Business Formation, Registration, and Nonprofit Services

Business formation guidance, registration assistance, and nonprofit development services are provided for educational, strategic, and administrative support purposes.

Unless expressly stated in a written agreement, these services do not constitute legal, tax, accounting, investment, or other licensed professional services.

I AM CYN SMITH does not act as a law firm, attorney, certified public accountant, tax professional, government agency, grant-making organization, or regulatory authority.

Clients remain responsible for obtaining independent legal, tax, accounting, and other professional advice when appropriate.

Payment for these services does not guarantee:

Acceptance of a business or nonprofit registration.
Approval of tax-exempt status.
Issuance of licenses, permits, or certifications.
Acceptance of government filings.
Grant eligibility or grant awards.
Government contracts or procurement opportunities.
Financing or credit approvals.

Government agencies and other third parties retain sole authority over their respective approval and decision-making processes.

Government filing fees, third-party service fees, registered agent fees, licensing charges, and other external costs are separate unless expressly included in the written service agreement.

10. Grant Funding, Government Contracts, and Financial Opportunities

Any discussion of grants, funding, business credit, financing, government contracts, or other financial opportunities is educational and advisory in nature.

I AM CYN SMITH does not guarantee that a client will qualify for, receive, secure, or be awarded any grant, loan, investment, contract, or funding opportunity.

Clients are responsible for reviewing eligibility requirements, submitting accurate applications, meeting deadlines, maintaining required documentation, and complying with applicable program rules.

Payment for research, application preparation support, readiness assessments, or strategic guidance does not purchase an award or approval.

No service fee should be interpreted as a percentage-based guarantee of funding unless a separate lawful written agreement expressly provides otherwise.

11. Payment Processing and Failed Transactions

Payments may be processed through Square or another authorized payment provider identified during checkout.

Clients are responsible for ensuring that their payment information is accurate and that sufficient funds are available.

I AM CYN SMITH does not control the independent policies, processing decisions, service interruptions, or technical limitations of third-party payment providers.

A transaction is not considered successfully paid until payment confirmation has been received.

Failed, declined, reversed, or incomplete transactions may result in a delayed booking, suspended project commencement, or interruption of services until the outstanding balance is resolved.

Clients will be responsible for any applicable payment processing or transaction-related charges only where such charges are disclosed and legally permitted.

12. Outstanding Balances and Late Payments

All invoices must be paid according to the stated due dates.

If a client fails to make a required payment:

Work may be paused until the account is brought current.
Scheduled sessions may be suspended.
Final deliverables may be withheld until the outstanding balance is paid, subject to applicable law and the service agreement.
Future bookings may be restricted.
Any applicable late fees or collection costs may be assessed only when authorized by the written agreement and permitted by law.

A delay in payment does not eliminate the client's responsibility for services already performed or other amounts properly owed under the agreement.

13. Chargebacks and Payment Disputes

Clients are encouraged to contact I AM CYN SMITH directly to discuss billing concerns, payment errors, service questions, or disputes before initiating a payment dispute with their financial institution.

A payment dispute should not be initiated solely because a client did not achieve an anticipated business outcome, disagrees with professional recommendations, changes their mind, or chooses not to implement the agreed strategy.

Clients should retain copies of invoices, agreements, receipts, correspondence, and deliverables for their records.

I AM CYN SMITH reserves the right to provide relevant transaction records, service agreements, appointment records, communications, and proof of service delivery when responding to a payment dispute.

Nothing in this section restricts a client's legal rights to dispute an unauthorized or erroneous transaction.

14. Intellectual Property and Use of Deliverables

Unless otherwise stated in a written agreement, original customized materials created specifically for a client are provided for that client's internal business use upon satisfaction of the applicable payment obligations.

Templates, proprietary frameworks, educational materials, methodologies, processes, and pre-existing intellectual property owned or licensed by I AM CYN SMITH remain the property of their respective owners.

Clients may not reproduce, resell, distribute, publish, sublicense, or commercially exploit proprietary materials without prior written authorization.

Payment for a service does not automatically transfer ownership of underlying intellectual property, proprietary systems, or business methodologies.

15. Confidentiality and Client Information

Client information submitted during consultations, mentorship, advisory services, and project engagements will be handled with reasonable care and used for purposes related to delivering the requested services, administering the business relationship, and meeting applicable legal obligations.

Clients should not submit passwords, payment card details outside authorized checkout systems, or unnecessary sensitive personal information through general inquiry forms.

Confidentiality obligations, permitted disclosures, and any additional data handling requirements may be established in a separate agreement where appropriate.

16. Service Modifications and Discontinuation

I AM CYN SMITH reserves the right to update service descriptions, pricing, availability, and offerings as business needs evolve.

Changes to publicly listed services do not automatically alter an existing signed agreement.

I AM CYN SMITH also reserves the right to decline, discontinue, or terminate an engagement when necessary due to nonpayment, misrepresentation, inappropriate conduct, repeated failure to cooperate, conflicts of interest, or circumstances that make continued service impractical or inappropriate.

If an engagement is terminated, outstanding payment obligations and any applicable refund or reconciliation will be determined according to the agreement, services performed, and applicable law.

17. No Professional or Financial Advice Beyond the Agreed Scope

Information provided through consultations, workshops, mentorship, business planning, and advisory services is limited to the professional scope of the engagement.

Clients should not treat general educational information or strategic recommendations as a substitute for individualized legal, tax, accounting, investment, financial, or regulatory advice from an appropriately licensed professional.

Clients are solely responsible for evaluating the recommendations provided and deciding whether, when, and how to implement them.

18. Policy Updates

I AM CYN SMITH may revise this policy periodically to reflect changes in services, payment procedures, business operations, and applicable requirements.

The version in effect at the time of purchase will generally govern the transaction, subject to any applicable signed agreement and legal requirements.

Material changes will be reflected on the website with an updated effective date.

19. Contact and Payment Questions

Clients with questions regarding invoices, payment arrangements, service terms, cancellations, or refund requests should contact I AM CYN SMITH through the official website contact channels.

All payment inquiries should include the client's name, purchased service, and invoice or transaction reference when available.

CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By purchasing or enrolling in a service offered by I AM CYN SMITH, I acknowledge that I have reviewed and understand the applicable service description, pricing, payment requirements, cancellation terms, and refund conditions.

I understand that payment secures the professional services and deliverables described in the applicable agreement and does not guarantee business success, profitability, funding, approval, registration, licensing, contracts, or any other particular outcome.

I understand that business results depend on multiple factors, including my own decisions, participation, implementation, and circumstances beyond the service provider's control.

I agree to the applicable terms and conditions governing my purchase.