Refund Policy

At SearchBoost Digital, we are committed to delivering exceptional SEO and digital marketing services that drive measurable results. This Refund Policy outlines the terms and conditions governing refunds, cancellations, and payment disputes for all services provided by SearchBoost Digital.

1. General Refund Policy

1.1 Service Categories

SearchBoost Digital offers services under three primary structures, each with distinct refund eligibility:

• Monthly Retainer Services: Ongoing SEO management, content creation, link building, and continuous optimization on a month-to-month basis
• Project-Based Services: One-time deliverables such as comprehensive SEO audits, website migrations, technical implementations, or defined content packages
• Hourly Consulting Services: Strategic consulting, advisory sessions, and specialized expertise billed by the hour

1.2 No Guaranteed Results

As outlined in our Terms of Service, SearchBoost Digital does not guarantee specific search engine rankings, traffic volumes, conversion rates, or revenue outcomes. SEO performance is influenced by numerous external factors including but not limited to:

• Search engine algorithm updates and policy changes
• Competitive landscape and market dynamics
• Website technical infrastructure and historical optimization
• Industry vertical, seasonality, and market conditions
• Client compliance with recommendations and implementation timelines

Refund requests based on unmet ranking expectations or traffic targets that were not explicitly guaranteed in a signed performance agreement will not be approved.

2. Monthly Retainer Services

2.1 Cancellation Policy

Monthly retainer services operate on a recurring basis and may be canceled with 30 days' written notice. Notice must be submitted in writing via email to info@searchboostdigital.com or through our client portal. Verbal cancellation requests are not accepted.

Cancellation becomes effective at the end of the current billing cycle following the 30-day notice period. Clients remain obligated to pay for all services rendered through the effective cancellation date.

2.2 Refund Eligibility for Monthly Retainers

Monthly retainer fees are generally non-refundable once the billing period has commenced, as work begins immediately upon the start of each month. However, refunds may be considered under the following exceptional circumstances:

• Service non-delivery: If SearchBoost Digital completely fails to deliver contracted services for a given month due to internal error or oversight, a pro-rata refund for the undelivered portion may be issued upon verification.
• Billing errors: If you were charged incorrectly due to a system error, duplicate charge, or administrative mistake, we will refund the erroneous amount within 7 business days of verification.
• Material breach by SearchBoost Digital: If we materially breach our service agreement and fail to cure the breach within 15 days of written notice, you may be eligible for a partial refund for the affected period.

2.3 First Month Guarantee (New Clients)

For new clients engaging monthly retainer services for the first time, SearchBoost Digital offers a First Month Satisfaction Review. If, at the end of your first full month of service, you are unsatisfied with the quality of deliverables or level of communication, you may request a review meeting.

Following the review, if we are unable to address your concerns and you choose to cancel, we will refund up to 50% of your first month's retainer fee, minus any hard costs incurred (such as paid tool subscriptions, purchased backlinks, or third-party content creation fees). This guarantee does not apply to subsequent months.

To qualify for the First Month Guarantee:

• You must request the review within 35 days of service commencement
• You must have provided timely access to necessary accounts, platforms, and information
• You must have participated in scheduled onboarding calls and strategy sessions
• Your concerns must relate to service quality or deliverables, not to search rankings or traffic (which require longer timeframes to influence)

3. Project-Based Services

3.1 Payment Structure

Project-based services typically follow a milestone-based payment structure:

• Deposit: 50% upfront deposit due upon signing the statement of work to initiate the project
• Milestone payments: Payments due at defined project milestones (if applicable)
• Final payment: Remaining balance due upon project completion and delivery of final deliverables

3.2 Refund Eligibility for Project-Based Services

Deposits: Initial deposits are non-refundable once work has commenced. The deposit secures your project slot, compensates for strategic planning and research, and covers initial setup costs. If you cancel a project before work begins, the deposit will be refunded minus a 15% administrative fee.

Work in Progress: If you cancel a project after work has begun but before completion, you will be charged for all work completed up to the cancellation date, calculated on a time-and-materials basis or according to completed milestones. Any payments exceeding the value of completed work will be refunded.

Completed Projects: Once a project is completed and final deliverables have been provided, all payments are final and non-refundable. "Completion" is defined as delivery of all agreed-upon deliverables as specified in the statement of work, regardless of whether you choose to implement recommendations.

3.3 Revision and Satisfaction

Project-based services include a defined number of revision rounds as specified in the statement of work (typically 2 rounds for audits and strategies, 1 round for technical implementations). Additional revisions beyond the agreed scope may be subject to additional fees.

If you are dissatisfied with deliverables, you must provide specific, actionable feedback within 14 days of delivery. We will work in good faith to address legitimate concerns within the revision allowance. Vague dissatisfaction without specific feedback does not qualify for refunds.

4. Hourly Consulting Services

4.1 Billing and Payment

Hourly consulting services are billed based on actual time spent on strategy sessions, advisory calls, audits, and specialized expertise. Hourly rates are specified in the engagement agreement and may require advance purchase of hour blocks or retainer deposits.

4.2 Refund Policy for Hourly Services

Time spent on hourly consulting is non-refundable once the session has occurred or work has been performed. If you purchase a block of prepaid hours and do not use them within the agreed timeframe (typically 90 days), unused hours may be forfeited or subject to expiration as specified in the agreement.

Refunds for unused prepaid hours may be granted if:

• You provide 30 days' notice of cancellation and have not yet used the hours
• SearchBoost Digital is unable to fulfill the consulting engagement due to scheduling conflicts or other internal constraints

Refunds for unused prepaid hours are subject to a 20% administrative fee and will be processed within 14 business days.

5. Add-On Services and Third-Party Costs

5.1 Non-Refundable Third-Party Expenses

Certain services involve third-party costs that SearchBoost Digital incurs on your behalf. These costs are non-refundable and include:

• Paid backlink placements and editorial outreach expenses
• Premium SEO tool subscriptions activated for your account
• Freelance content creation, graphic design, or specialized contractor fees
• Paid advertising spend for testing or traffic support
• Domain registrations, hosting setup fees, or technical platform costs

These costs will be itemized separately on invoices. If you request a refund, third-party costs already incurred will be deducted from any refund amount.

5.2 Upfront Hard Costs

For projects requiring significant third-party expenses (e.g., link building campaigns, large-scale content production), SearchBoost Digital may require advance payment for hard costs in addition to service fees. These advance payments are held in trust and used exclusively for the specified third-party services. Unused hard cost deposits may be refunded upon request if the services have not yet been purchased.

6. Refund Request Process

6.1 How to Request a Refund

To request a refund, you must submit a written refund request to info@searchboostdigital.com that includes:

• Your full name and company name
• Account or invoice number(s) associated with the payment
• Detailed explanation of the reason for the refund request
• Supporting documentation or evidence (if applicable)
• Requested refund amount and calculation basis

6.2 Review Timeline

SearchBoost Digital will acknowledge receipt of your refund request within 2 business days and conduct a thorough review. Most refund requests are resolved within 10 business days of submission. Complex cases involving disputed work or third-party verification may require up to 21 business days for resolution.

6.3 Refund Decision

Following our review, we will notify you in writing of our decision. If approved, refunds will be processed via the original payment method within 14 business days of approval. If your refund request is denied, we will provide a detailed explanation of the reasons for denial and, where appropriate, offer alternative resolutions such as service credits or additional deliverables.

6.4 Disputed Refunds

If you disagree with our refund decision, you may request escalation to senior management by emailing info@searchboostdigital.com with "REFUND DISPUTE" in the subject line. Disputed cases will be reviewed by a senior team member not involved in the original decision. Final determinations will be communicated within 14 business days of escalation.

7. Chargebacks and Payment Disputes

7.1 Chargeback Policy

Initiating a chargeback or payment dispute with your bank or credit card company without first attempting to resolve the issue directly with SearchBoost Digital may result in:

• Immediate suspension of all services
• Termination of your client account
• Legal action to recover owed amounts plus chargeback fees and legal costs
• Reporting to collections agencies for unpaid balances

We strongly encourage you to contact us directly to resolve any billing concerns before initiating a chargeback. Most billing issues can be resolved quickly through direct communication.

7.2 Fraudulent Chargebacks

If you initiate a chargeback for services that were legitimately provided and you received, SearchBoost Digital reserves the right to pursue full legal remedies, including recovery of the disputed amount, chargeback fees (typically $25-$100 per incident), legal fees, and damages.

7.3 Legitimate Billing Errors

If you identify a genuine billing error (duplicate charge, incorrect amount, unauthorized charge), please contact info@searchboostdigital.com immediately. We will investigate and, if verified, issue a refund or credit within 7 business days without requiring a chargeback.

8. Service Credits and Alternative Resolutions

8.1 Service Credits

In cases where a full refund is not warranted but you have experienced service issues, SearchBoost Digital may offer service credits as an alternative resolution. Service credits can be applied toward:

• Future monthly retainer fees
• Additional project-based services
• Extended service periods at no additional charge
• Complimentary add-on services or deliverables

Service credits are issued at SearchBoost Digital's discretion and are non-transferable, non-refundable, and must be used within 12 months of issuance.

8.2 Performance Remediation

If services did not meet agreed-upon standards, we may offer to re-perform the work at no additional charge, provide additional optimization efforts, or extend the service period to achieve desired outcomes. In many cases, continued optimization yields better long-term results than refunds.

9. Exceptions and Special Circumstances

9.1 Force Majeure and Service Interruptions

In the event of force majeure circumstances (natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, internet outages, or other events beyond our reasonable control) that prevent service delivery for an extended period, SearchBoost Digital may offer pro-rata refunds, service extensions, or credits for the affected period.

9.2 Mutual Termination Agreements

If both parties mutually agree that the engagement is not a good fit or that business circumstances have changed significantly, we may negotiate a custom termination and refund arrangement on a case-by-case basis. Such arrangements will be documented in writing and signed by both parties.

9.3 Non-Performance Due to Client Actions

If service performance is hindered by client actions or inactions—such as failure to provide necessary access, delayed approval of deliverables, failure to implement recommendations, or non-cooperation with strategy sessions—SearchBoost Digital is not obligated to provide refunds. Clients remain responsible for payment of all contracted services regardless of self-imposed delays.

10. Tax and Processing Fee Considerations

10.1 Sales Tax and VAT

Refunds will include any sales tax, VAT, or other taxes that were charged on the original transaction. However, if taxes have already been remitted to tax authorities, you may need to seek recovery directly through your tax filings or refund requests to the appropriate tax authority.

10.2 Payment Processing Fees

Payment processing fees charged by credit card processors, PayPal, Stripe, or other payment gateways (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) are non-refundable and may be deducted from refund amounts. Additionally, refund processing may incur fees, which will be deducted from the refund amount where permitted by law.

11. Refund Methods and Timing

11.1 Refund Methods

Approved refunds will be issued via the original payment method whenever possible:

• Credit card refunds: Credited back to the original card within 5-10 business days (timing depends on your card issuer)
• ACH/Bank transfer refunds: Deposited to the original account within 7-14 business days
• Check refunds: Mailed to the address on file within 14 business days (allow additional time for mail delivery)

If the original payment method is no longer available, alternative arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis.

11.2 Refund Timing

Once a refund is approved and processed by SearchBoost Digital, the time for funds to appear in your account depends on your financial institution. Most refunds are visible within 7-10 business days, but some banks may take up to 14 business days to post credits.

12. Changes to This Refund Policy

SearchBoost Digital reserves the right to modify this Refund Policy at any time. Changes will be posted on our website with an updated "Last Updated" date. Material changes affecting existing clients will be communicated via email.

Refund requests will be evaluated under the version of the Refund Policy in effect at the time the service agreement was executed, unless the updated policy is more favorable to the client.

13. Contact Information for Refund Requests

For refund requests, billing questions, or payment disputes, please contact: