Terms of Service

1. Agreement

These terms govern the working relationship between Obsoletist [ATTORNEY REVIEW: insert full legal entity name once NC LLC is filed, e.g., "Obsoletist, LLC"] ("I," "me," "my"), operated by Bernard Roels, and you, the client, when you engage me to build, configure, or maintain automation systems. By texting the number on this site with a project request, replying to a proposal, or paying an invoice, you agree to these terms. If we sign a separate written engagement agreement, that agreement controls where it conflicts with these terms.

2. What I do

I design and build automations that connect tools you already use, such as CRMs, email, calendars, accounting software, and document storage. The specific scope of any project is defined in a written proposal or message thread agreed to before work begins.

3. What I don't do

• I don't sell software subscriptions. Any third-party tools you need (Zapier, Make, a CRM, and so on) are billed to you directly by those vendors.
• I don't handle your money, sign contracts on your behalf, or make business decisions for you.
• I don't guarantee specific business outcomes. I build systems that do what they're designed to do; what you do with the time back is up to you.

4. Independent contractor

I work with you as an independent contractor, not as an employee, partner, or joint venturer. I am responsible for my own taxes, insurance, and business expenses. Nothing in our working relationship creates an employment relationship or gives either of us authority to bind the other.

5. Payment

Projects are typically quoted as a fixed price or a monthly retainer, depending on scope. Invoices are due within 30 days of receipt unless otherwise agreed in writing. I reserve the right to pause work on projects with outstanding invoices more than 30 days past due. Late payments may accrue interest at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by law.

6. Ownership and intellectual property

Automations I build specifically for you in the course of an engagement are yours. The configuration lives in accounts you own (your Zapier, your Make, your Google Drive). On project completion and payment in full, I hand over full admin access and documentation.

I retain ownership of any pre-existing tools, templates, code libraries, or generic patterns I bring to the work. You receive a perpetual, non-exclusive license to use these as part of the automations I build for you. I may reuse generic, non-identifying patterns and approaches in future work for other clients.

7. Confidentiality

Anything you share with me about your business, including customer lists, financials, and internal processes, stays between us. I don't share client work, identities, or data with anyone else without explicit written permission. This obligation continues after our engagement ends.

8. Warranty and liability

I build things carefully and test them before handing them over. That said, automations depend on third-party services (Google, Stripe, your CRM, and so on) that can and do change without notice.

[ATTORNEY REVIEW: disclaimer language below is standard but should be reviewed for enforceability under NC law and any applicable UCC provisions.]

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." I DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. I AM NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS OR LOST DATA, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICES. MY TOTAL LIABILITY ON ANY ENGAGEMENT IS CAPPED AT THE AMOUNT YOU PAID ME FOR THAT ENGAGEMENT IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

9. Termination

Either of us can end a project at any time with written notice (text counts). If you end it, you pay for work completed up to that point. If I end it, I'll refund any unearned portion of a fixed-price project within 14 days. Sections on confidentiality, ownership, warranty disclaimers, liability, and governing law survive the end of our engagement.

10. Force majeure

Neither of us is liable for delays or failures caused by events outside reasonable control, including natural disasters, extended outages of third-party services, illness, and acts of government.

11. Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute that can't be resolved by a phone call will be handled in the state or federal courts located in New Hanover County, North Carolina, and both of us consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts.

12. Entire agreement and changes

These terms, together with any written engagement agreement or proposal we both agree to, are the entire agreement between us on this subject. Changes must be in writing (email or text thread counts) and agreed to by both of us. If any part of these terms is unenforceable, the rest still applies.

13. Contact

Questions about these terms? Text me: (910) 996-3764.