Fair Build Terms

1. The popup gives a starting estimate, not a quote

The "Got An Idea" popup asks four questions to give you a rough sense of where projects like yours typically begin. This is a starting estimate, not a binding quote.

Reasons your real project may price higher (or lower) than the popup figure:

• Specific features we couldn't capture in four questions
• Scale: 10 users vs 10,000 users is a different build
• Integrations beyond the standard set (uncommon APIs, legacy systems)
• Performance, uptime, or compliance requirements
• Design fidelity (a polished consumer product takes more time than an internal tool)

A real quote follows a 15-minute scoping call where we listen to the actual idea. We send the real numbers in writing within 24 hours of that call.

2. We can say no

If your idea doesn't fit our capacity, expertise, or risk appetite, we'll say so. We'd rather pass than take on something we can't deliver well.

Things we routinely decline or refer elsewhere:

• Projects requiring banking-grade security or financial regulator approval beyond our standard hardening
• Anything that processes children's personal data (special POPIA category)
• Healthcare records subject to HPCSA or international health regulations
• Projects with timelines that compromise quality (e.g. a banking app in two weeks)
• Cryptocurrency, gambling, or other regulated industries we don't have track record in

3. Regulated industries need a discovery phase

Some projects need a paid discovery phase before we can quote. Discovery covers regulatory mapping, security review, data residency, and architecture decisions that have to be made before a build estimate is meaningful.

Discovery typically applies to:

• Banking, payments, fintech, lending
• Medical records, telehealth, patient data
• Legal evidence handling, court-admissible records
• POPIA-sensitive use cases beyond standard contact data
• Government, public sector, or large enterprise procurement

If your project sits here, the popup estimate is for orientation only. The real conversation starts on the call.

4. Quote validity

A real quote (sent in writing after the scoping call) is valid for 30 days from the date we send it. After 30 days, we may revise based on changes to scope, our capacity, or third-party costs.

5. Launch offer rules

The popup may show a "20% off setup" launch banner with a spots-remaining counter. The fairness terms:

• The discount applies to setup fees only, not monthly retainers or once-off handover prices unless explicitly stated.
• A spot is "claimed" when a project is confirmed (signed quote + deposit), not when the popup form is submitted.
• Submitting the popup form does not reserve a spot.
• If the spots-remaining counter is at zero or the launch banner has been turned off, the discount no longer applies, even if you submitted earlier.
• We honour the discount price quoted to you for 30 days from the date of the written quote, regardless of how the counter changes after.

6. The two delivery options

The popup shows two ways to make a custom build happen. Each has its own rules:

6.1 We build it, you run it (handover)

• Once-off price covers design, build, and handover.
• You arrange your own hosting, monitoring, and ongoing maintenance.
• On final payment, you own the application code outright.
• We don't continue to maintain or update the build unless you separately engage us.
• The price excludes third-party costs (domain registration, paid APIs, hosting fees on your provider).

6.2 We build & manage

• Setup fee plus a monthly retainer.
• Minimum term scales with build cost: 6 months for builds under R15,000, 12 months for builds R15,000–R50,000, and 18 months for builds above R50,000.
• The minimum term starts on go-live (when the build is in production for your use), not on contract signing. Cancel before go-live: no minimum applies and you pay only for work done.
• After the minimum term, the engagement is month-to-month with 30-days notice on either side.
• The monthly retainer covers hosting, monitoring, fixes, and minor improvements. Major new features are scoped and quoted separately.
• Application code is yours. The hosting setup (server config, deployment scripts, monitoring) is ours until handover.
• If you cancel under managed and want to take the build elsewhere, we'll do a clean handover for a fixed transition fee.

7. Scope changes mid-build

Major changes to the agreed scope after the build has started get re-quoted. Minor adjustments and clarifications are part of any healthy build.

What counts as a major change:

• Adding features beyond the agreed feature list
• Switching technology stacks after build has begun
• Changing core integrations or data models
• Significantly raising the user-count or performance bar

We won't surprise you with a bigger bill. We will pause work and send a revised quote so you can decide.

8. Payment terms (overview)

Specific terms appear in the written quote. As a default:

• Handover projects: 50% deposit on contract sign, 50% on final delivery.
• Build & manage: Setup fee invoiced on contract sign and payable before build begins. Monthly retainer invoiced in advance.
• Late payment may pause work until the account is current.
• All amounts are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR) and exclude VAT unless explicitly stated.

9. Confidentiality

Anything you tell us in the popup, on the scoping call, or during a build is confidential. We don't share project details with third parties without your written consent. We may reference completed work in our portfolio in general terms (e.g. "we built a booking system for a Cape Town hospitality business") unless you ask us not to.

10. Liability

To the extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim arising from a project is limited to the fees you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim. We are not liable for indirect, consequential, or special damages (lost revenue, lost data, business interruption) beyond what's required by South African consumer protection law.

This limitation does not apply to gross negligence, wilful misconduct, or breach of POPIA on our part.

11. POPIA compliance

Personal data submitted via the popup is handled per our Privacy Policy. For projects that involve processing your customers' personal data, we sign a separate Data Processing Agreement before any data flows.

12. Disputes

If something goes sideways, talk to us first. hello@digitaloperations.co.za. We will respond within five working days. If a dispute can't be resolved that way, it falls under the law of the Republic of South Africa, with the courts of the Western Cape as the venue.

13. Changes to these terms

These terms apply at the time the popup estimate is generated. If we change them, the new version applies to estimates and quotes generated after the change. Quotes already issued are governed by the terms in force when the quote was sent.

14. Relationship to our other terms

These build terms apply specifically to custom builds initiated through the "Got An Idea" popup. Our standard automation retainer plans (Solo, Team, Business, Enterprise) are governed by the broader Terms and Conditions. Where the two overlap, the more specific terms apply to that engagement.

15. Contact

Questions about these terms or about a quote we sent you?

• Email: hello@digitaloperations.co.za
• Phone / WhatsApp: +27 61 514 8375
• Postal: Cape Town, South Africa

Registered entity: Digital Operations and Technology (Pty) Ltd, trading as Do.Qix.