Terms
TERMS OF SERVICE
The Ghostwriting Lab, LLC
Effective Date: October 9, 2026
1. Parties
These Terms of Service ("Agreement") govern the relationship between The Ghostwriting Lab, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company ("Company," "we," "us"), and the client ("Client," "you") for the services described below.
2. Services
Google Business Profile Management. Company manages Client's Google Business Profile for each location Client enrolls. Services may include:
Profile optimization: categories, services, business description, hours, attributes and photos
Regular Google posts based on an approved monthly content plan
Replies to customer reviews, as described in Section 6
Monitoring of competing businesses in Client's area
A monthly report on Client's visibility in local search and the work completed
The specific services, number of locations and monthly fee are set out in Client's proposal or order form, which forms part of this Agreement.
Not included. Unless agreed in writing, the services do not include website design, website search engine optimization, paid advertising or social media management.
Add-on services. Company also offers newsletters and other written content. Add-on services are quoted separately, with their own scope and fee, and are governed by this Agreement once agreed in writing.
3. Free Audit
Company may provide a free audit of a business's Google Business Profile, usually as a short recorded video. The audit is based only on publicly available information, is provided for informational purposes, and creates no obligation for either party.
4. Fees and Payment
Setup Fee. There is no setup fee.
Monthly Fees. Fees are charged per location and billed monthly in advance. The first payment is due before services begin, and later payments are due on the same date each month.
Late Payments. Payments not received within 10 days of the due date incur a late fee of $25 or 5% of the overdue amount, whichever is greater. Company may pause services after 15 days of non-payment.
Accepted Payment Methods. All major credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Afterpay and PayPal.
No Refunds. All payments are non-refundable. If Client cancels, no refund is given for the unused part of a paid month.
5. Google Profile Access and Ownership
Client remains the owner of its Google Business Profile at all times. Client will add Company as a manager of the profile. Company will not request ownership, remove other users or change ownership settings.
When this Agreement ends, Company will remove itself as a manager within 10 business days. All posts, replies, photos and profile content created during the engagement remain on Client's profile and belong to Client.
6. Approvals and Review Replies
Monthly Content Plan. Before each month, Company sends Client a content plan covering planned posts and any profile updates. Client agrees to approve the plan or request changes within 2 business days. If Client does not respond within that time, Company may proceed with the plan as sent.
Positive Reviews. Company may reply to 4- and 5-star reviews on Client's behalf without prior approval, in the voice and style agreed with Client.
Critical Reviews. Company will send proposed replies to 1-, 2- and 3-star reviews to Client for approval. If Client does not respond within 2 business days, Company may post a brief, neutral and professional reply. Client may ask Company in writing not to reply to a particular review.
Revisions. Company provides one round of revisions on each monthly content plan. Further revisions may be provided at Company's discretion or quoted as additional work.
7. Client Responsibilities
Information and Access. Client agrees to provide accurate business information, photos, access and materials needed to deliver the services, and to tell Company promptly about changes to hours, services, location or contact details.
Profile Activity. Client agrees to tell Company about changes Client or anyone else makes to the profile during the engagement. Company is not responsible for problems caused by changes it did not make.
Approved Content. Client is responsible for reviewing content it approves. Company is not liable for the consequences of published content that Client approved, or that Client provided.
Content Restrictions. Company may decline to write content that is political in nature, touches on cultural flashpoints, or that Company believes is misleading or violates Google's policies. Company does not provide rush jobs or emergency requests outside normal business operations.
8. Health and Regulated Businesses
If Client provides medical, aesthetic, dental, wellness or other regulated services:
Client is solely responsible for the accuracy and legality of its service descriptions, claims, pricing, offers and credentials, including any rules set by licensing boards or regulators. Company will rely on information Client provides and may decline to publish claims it believes are unsupported.
Company will never include patient or customer health information in review replies or other content, and will not confirm that a reviewer is or was a patient or customer.
Client will not send Company protected health information. If Client needs to share such information, the parties must first agree in writing on how it will be handled.
9. No Guarantee of Results
Google decides how businesses rank in search and on Google Maps, using factors Company does not control, including the searcher's location, competitors' activity and changes to Google's systems. Company does not guarantee any ranking, position, number of calls, reviews or customers, or any appearance in AI-generated answers.
Google may suspend, restrict or change a profile, remove content or change its features and policies at any time. Company will follow Google's published guidelines but is not responsible for actions Google takes. If a suspension occurs, Company will make reasonable efforts to help Client request reinstatement during the engagement. Fees remain due during any suspension that was not caused by Company.
10. Use of AI Tools
Company may use artificial intelligence tools to help research, draft and monitor content. All content is reviewed by Company before it is sent to Client or published. Company will not enter Client's confidential information into AI tools that use it to train their models.
11. Intellectual Property and Portfolio Use
Content Ownership. Upon full payment, Client owns all rights to the content Company creates for Client's profile.
Company Materials. Company retains ownership of its own templates, methods, checklists and know-how used to deliver the services.
Portfolio Use. Company may describe its work for Client, including before-and-after results, in portfolios, case studies and marketing materials in anonymized form that does not identify Client. Company will name Client or show identifying details only with Client's written permission.
12. Confidentiality
Both parties acknowledge that confidential information may be shared during this engagement. Each party agrees to:
Keep all proprietary and sensitive information confidential
Not disclose confidential information to third parties without written consent
Use confidential information only for the purposes of this engagement
Return or destroy confidential information when this Agreement ends
Company will keep its role in writing Client's content confidential, except as Client permits under Section 11.
13. Warranties and Limitation of Liability
Service Warranty. Company warrants that the services will be performed with professional skill and care consistent with industry standards.
Limitation of Liability. Company's total liability for any claims arising from this Agreement shall not exceed the total amount paid by Client in the 3 months before the claim. Company shall not be liable for indirect, incidental or consequential damages, including lost profits or lost business.
Indemnity. Client agrees to indemnify Company against claims arising from information or materials Client provides, content Client approves, or Client's own services and claims.
14. Term and Termination
Minimum Term. The initial term is 3 months from the start date. After that, this Agreement continues month to month.
Termination. After the minimum term, either party may end this Agreement with 30 days' written notice. Client may not end the Agreement during the minimum term except under the next paragraph. Client remains responsible for all fees through the end of the notice period.
Termination for Cause. Either party may end this Agreement immediately by written notice if the other party materially breaches it and does not fix the breach within 10 days of being notified. Company may also end it if Client asks Company to act in a way that violates the law or Google's policies.
Survival. Sections 4 (fees owed), 5 (removal of access), 11, 12, 13 and 15 survive termination.
15. Dispute Resolution
Negotiation and Arbitration. Any dispute arising from this Agreement shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved, disputes shall be settled through binding arbitration in North Carolina under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by North Carolina law.
16. General Provisions
Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with Client's proposal or order form, is the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements.
Modifications. Changes to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties.
Independent Contractor. Company is an independent contractor, not an employee, partner or agent of Client.
Severability. If any provision is found unenforceable, the rest of the Agreement remains in effect.
Force Majeure. Neither party is liable for delays or failures caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including outages or changes to Google's services.
17. Acceptance
By signing below or beginning services, Client acknowledges reading, understanding and agreeing to this Agreement.
The Ghostwriting Lab, LLC
Signature: ___________________________ Date: ___________ Elizabeth Baier, Member
Client
Signature: ________________________ Date: ____________________________
Print Name: ________________________ Company: ___________________________
Locations covered: ___________________________