Refund Policy

1. Overview

At SharpCut Studios, we are committed to delivering exceptional post-production and editing services that meet and exceed our clients' expectations. We understand that circumstances may arise where a refund or adjustment is warranted, and this Refund Policy outlines the terms and conditions under which refunds may be issued.

This policy applies to all services offered by SharpCut Studios, including our Starter (Quick Cut), Professional (Studio Edit), Premium (Full Production), and Enterprise (Custom Suite) service tiers. By engaging our Services, you agree to the terms of this Refund Policy in conjunction with our Terms of Service.

We encourage all clients to carefully review their project briefs and proposals before confirming their projects to ensure alignment on scope, deliverables, and expectations. Clear communication at the outset helps us deliver the best possible results and minimizes the need for refund requests.

2. Deposit and Payment Structure

Our standard payment structure is designed to protect both the Client and SharpCut Studios:

• Initial Deposit: A 50% deposit of the total quoted project cost is required before work commences. This deposit secures your place in our production schedule and covers initial setup, resource allocation, and preliminary review of your materials.
• Final Payment: The remaining 50% is due upon delivery of the final approved files. Final payment must be received before unwatermarked, full-resolution files are released.
• Enterprise Clients: Monthly retainer fees are billed on the 1st of each month and are due within 15 days. Enterprise billing is handled separately as outlined in individual enterprise agreements.

All prices are quoted in United States Dollars (USD). Applicable taxes, if any, will be itemized separately on your invoice.

3. Refund Eligibility

3.1 Full Refund Scenarios

A full refund (including the initial deposit) may be issued under the following circumstances:

• SharpCut Studios is unable to commence work on your project within the agreed-upon timeline due to reasons solely attributable to us, and you choose to cancel the project
• A critical technical failure on our part results in irreversible loss or corruption of your original files that were entrusted to us, and no backup exists
• SharpCut Studios cancels the project for any reason before any work has been performed

3.2 Partial Refund Scenarios

A partial refund may be issued under the following circumstances:

• You cancel your project after work has commenced but before the first preview is delivered. In this case, the deposit is non-refundable, but any additional payments made beyond the deposit will be refunded.
• The final deliverables contain material defects that cannot be corrected through the revision process, as determined by mutual agreement. A partial refund proportional to the deficient portion of the deliverables may be issued.
• Significant delays caused solely by SharpCut Studios exceed twice the originally agreed-upon delivery timeline. A discount of up to 25% of the total project cost may be applied as a credit or partial refund.
• You downgrade your service tier before work has progressed beyond the scope of the lower tier. The difference in cost between tiers will be refunded.

3.3 Non-Refundable Situations

Refunds will not be issued in the following situations:

• The initial 50% deposit after work has commenced, except in full refund scenarios described in Section 3.1
• Subjective dissatisfaction with creative choices when the deliverables meet the specifications outlined in the approved project brief. We encourage clients to provide clear creative direction and to utilize their included revision rounds to ensure satisfaction.
• Projects completed and delivered in accordance with the approved project brief and accepted by the Client (acceptance is implied if no revision request is submitted within 7 days of delivery)
• Delays caused by the Client, including late file submissions, delayed feedback, unresponsive communication, or incomplete project briefs
• Changes to project scope requested by the Client after work has begun that were not part of the original proposal
• Additional revision rounds or services added beyond the original scope (these are billed separately and are non-refundable)
• Rush delivery fees, as these reflect prioritized scheduling and resource allocation
• Third-party licensing fees for stock footage, music, fonts, or other assets procured on the Client's behalf

4. Refund Request Process

To request a refund, please follow these steps:

• Step 1: Submit a written refund request via email to billing@sharpcutstudios.com or support@sharpcutstudios.com. Your request must include your project name or reference number, the reason for the refund request, and any supporting documentation or screenshots.
• Step 2: Our team will acknowledge receipt of your request within 2 business days and assign a case manager to review your claim.
• Step 3: The review process will be completed within 10 business days of receipt. During this period, we may contact you for additional information or to discuss resolution options.
• Step 4: You will receive a written determination of your refund request, including the amount approved (if applicable) and the method and timeline for refund processing.
• Step 5: Approved refunds will be processed within 14 business days of the determination. Refunds will be issued to the original payment method used for the transaction.

All refund requests must be submitted within 30 days of the final project delivery date. Requests submitted after this period will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis but are not guaranteed to be honored.

5. Revision Policy and Satisfaction Guarantee

We believe the best way to avoid refund situations is through a robust revision process. Our revision policies by service tier are as follows:

• Starter (Quick Cut): 2 revision rounds included. Additional revisions are available at $95 per hour.
• Professional (Studio Edit): Unlimited revisions within the project scope.
• Premium (Full Production): Unlimited revisions within the project scope, with priority turnaround on revision requests.
• Enterprise (Custom Suite): Unlimited revisions with dedicated editor assignments and same-day revision processing.

We strongly encourage clients to utilize their included revision rounds before requesting a refund. Our production team is committed to working with you until the deliverables meet your vision and requirements. Revision requests must be specific and actionable — we cannot process vague feedback such as "make it better." Clear, detailed feedback ensures efficient and effective revisions.

A revision is defined as a set of changes requested in a single communication. Submitting changes in multiple separate communications may be counted as multiple revision rounds. We recommend consolidating all feedback into a single document for each revision round.

6. Enterprise and Monthly Retainer Refunds

Enterprise and monthly retainer clients are subject to the following refund terms:

• Monthly retainer fees are non-refundable once the billing period has commenced
• Clients may cancel their monthly retainer with 30 days written notice. Cancellation will be effective at the end of the current billing cycle
• If no projects are submitted during a billing period, the retainer fee is still due as it reserves dedicated team resources and scheduling priority
• Unused project credits or hours within a billing period do not roll over to subsequent periods unless otherwise specified in the enterprise agreement
• Early termination of annual enterprise agreements may be subject to an early termination fee as outlined in the individual agreement

7. Chargebacks and Disputes

We ask that you contact us directly to resolve any payment concerns before initiating a chargeback or payment dispute with your financial institution. Unauthorized chargebacks — those initiated without first attempting to resolve the issue with SharpCut Studios — may result in:

• Immediate suspension of all active projects and services
• Revocation of access to delivered files and project materials
• Collection actions for any outstanding balances
• Permanent termination of the Client relationship
• Reporting to credit agencies and industry fraud prevention databases where permitted by law

We are committed to resolving disputes fairly and promptly. In our experience, direct communication yields faster and more satisfactory outcomes than the chargeback process.

8. Force Majeure

SharpCut Studios shall not be held liable for delays or failure to deliver services due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of war, government restrictions, pandemics, widespread internet outages, or other force majeure events. In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to resume services as soon as practicable. Refund eligibility during force majeure events will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

9. Credit and Future Project Adjustments

In lieu of a monetary refund, SharpCut Studios may offer project credits that can be applied to future services. Credits may be offered in the following situations:

• Minor delivery delays that do not significantly impact the Client's business operations
• Situations where a refund is not warranted but the Client's experience did not meet our internal quality standards
• Goodwill gestures for long-term clients experiencing exceptional circumstances

Project credits are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, are non-transferable, and cannot be redeemed for cash. Credits may be applied to any service tier and will be clearly documented in writing.

10. Amendments to This Policy

SharpCut Studios reserves the right to modify this Refund Policy at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on our website. The version of the Refund Policy in effect at the time of your project engagement will govern that specific project. We encourage all clients to review this policy before commencing new projects.

If we make material changes to this policy, we will make reasonable efforts to notify existing clients via email. However, it is ultimately the Client's responsibility to stay informed of current policies.