Refund And Cancellation Policy

Last Updated: July 27, 2026

1. Scope Of This Policy

This section outlines what this refund and cancellation policy covers.

This policy outlines the specific terms, conditions, and procedures that govern refunds and cancellations for all project-based development work engaged through LiFet, providing a clear framework for how financial commitments are handled.
This comprehensive policy applies universally across every real service category we offer, including AI Development, App Development, Software Development, Product Design, and all associated Solutions packages.
Please note that this is strictly a services-based policy designed for custom development engagements, and it is entirely distinct from a traditional retail or physical product refund policy, as our deliverables are custom-built digital assets.

2. The Real Payment Structure

This section explains LiFet's actual payment structure.

To ensure fairness and alignment of incentives throughout the development lifecycle, our standard payment structure is divided into three distinct phases: 40% collected at the project's start, 30% at a defined mid-build checkpoint, and the final 30% at final delivery.
Crucially, each of these payment milestones is tied to a real, tangible, and defined deliverable or phase of completed work, rather than being triggered by an arbitrary calendar date or passage of time.
This entire milestone structure, including the specific deliverables that trigger each payment, is thoroughly documented and confirmed in writing with the client before the first dollar is ever collected.

3. What Each Milestone Represents

This section details what each milestone corresponds to.

The first milestone, representing 40% of the total cost, corresponds to the project's start; this covers the critical foundational work including discovery, architecture planning, locking the exact scope, and the official commencement of real development work.
The second milestone, representing 30%, is a real, defined mid-build checkpoint; this payment is only triggered when actual, demonstrable progress has been made and specific features or structural elements have been successfully completed according to the project plan.
The third and final milestone, representing the remaining 30%, corresponds to final delivery; this payment is due only once the product has been fully built, thoroughly tested against agreed-upon scenarios, and is officially ready to launch.

4. Before Work Begins

This section explains what happens before any payment is collected.

We believe in complete transparency before any financial commitment is made; therefore, the full project scope, all expected deliverables, and the exact acceptance criteria are locked in writing before any payment is collected.
The client must explicitly review and approve this comprehensive scope document, ensuring both parties have a shared understanding of what will be built, before the first milestone invoice is issued or paid.
Absolutely no development work, coding, or technical architecture building begins before this formal sign-off occurs, protecting both the client and our team from misaligned expectations.

5. Cancellation Before Any Payment

This section explains cancelling before any payment has been made.

We understand that business priorities can shift rapidly; if a client decides to withdraw from a proposed engagement before any payment has been made and before the scope is formally signed, the process is simple and penalty-free.
In such an event, because no financial transaction has occurred and no development work has commenced, there is nothing to refund, and absolutely no ongoing obligation or penalty exists on either side.

6. Cancellation After The First Milestone Payment

This section explains what happens if a client cancels after the first payment.

If a client chooses to cancel a project after the first milestone payment has been processed, it is important to understand that this initial 40% payment is strictly non-refundable once real work has begun against it.
This non-refundable status exists because the first payment corresponds directly to genuine, already-completed work, including the intensive discovery phase, the formalization of the scope lock, and the allocation of resources to start development.
While the payment cannot be refunded, the client rightfully retains full access to and ownership of any work product, documentation, or assets that were actually completed and delivered up to the point of cancellation.

7. Cancellation After The Second Milestone Payment

This section explains what happens if a client cancels after the second payment.

The same fundamental non-refundable principle applies to the second milestone payment of 30%, as this payment is intrinsically tied to real, completed mid-build work that our developers have already executed.
In the event of a cancellation at this mid-build stage, the client retains all completed work product, code, and assets generated up to that point, ensuring they receive the value of the work they have paid for.
Because the project is halting before completion, the third and final delivery milestone is simply never billed, ensuring the client is not charged for the final phase of work that will not occur.

8. General Non-Refund Principle

This is a clear, standalone statement of LiFet's general refund position.

As a definitive and standalone statement of LiFet's general position on refunds: we do not issue refunds for any milestone payments that correspond to already-completed, delivered, or actively executed development work.
This firm policy is entirely consistent with standard, recognized industry practices for custom, project-based professional service engagements, where time, expertise, and resources cannot be recovered once they have been expended.

9. The Real Change Order Process

This section references LiFet's real change order process.

We recognize that project needs can evolve, which is why any work requested that falls outside the originally locked and signed scope is handled through a formal, real change order process with a defined trigger, and is scoped and billed entirely separately from the original milestone structure.
It is crucial to note that the initiation of a change order does not retroactively alter, invalidate, or affect the non-refundable status of any project milestones that have already been completed and paid for.

10. Client-Caused Delays

This section explains delays caused by the client.

The momentum of a custom software build relies heavily on collaboration; therefore, any delays directly caused by the client—including late feedback, delayed delivery of required assets, or mid-build requests for scope changes—do not entitle the client to a refund or financial compensation.
In cases where client-driven delays occur, the overall project timeline and subsequent delivery dates may naturally extend accordingly to accommodate the pause in development, without altering the underlying payment obligations for work performed.

11. LiFet-Caused Delays

This section details LiFet's own commitment to its timeline.

LiFet maintains a real, standard commitment to our 21-day build process for typical projects, striving to deliver high-quality software efficiently and predictably. However, individual projects can vary in complexity, and some projects may genuinely require longer than 21 days to deliver; the client will always be informed of this in advance if it applies to their specific engagement. Furthermore, this 21-day standard assumes the client is responsive throughout the project, providing requested information, feedback, and assets promptly; any delay caused by the client's own responsiveness is not attributable to LiFet.
If LiFet is found to be materially responsible for a significant, unjustified delay in delivering a specific milestone, the due date for the client's next milestone payment will automatically shift outward by the exact same number of days that LiFet was late.
This ensures that no payment for that next, delayed milestone is owed or collected until the corresponding work is actually finished and delivered to the client for review.
We want to make clear that this is a practical timing adjustment designed to protect the client, not a cash refund or a financial penalty against the total project cost, ensuring the client is never billed ahead of real, delivered work.

12. Ownership During An Active, Uncancelled Project

This section outlines ownership during an active project.

To protect the integrity of the development process, the real, existing rule is applied directly: full intellectual property ownership of the codebase and final deliverables transfers to the client only upon the successful clearance of the final milestone payment.
Any work in progress, draft code, or incomplete assets generated before that final payment is received remain the exclusive property of LiFet until the financial terms of the engagement are fully satisfied.

13. Ownership If A Project Is Cancelled Mid-Build

This section explains ownership if a project is cancelled before completion.

If a client makes the decision to cancel a project before the final payment milestone is reached, they are presented with an option: they may choose to pay the equivalent value of the remaining milestone(s) still owed in order to receive full, unencumbered ownership of the work exactly as it currently stands.
This option serves as a practical alternative for clients who wish to take possession of the incomplete codebase to finish internally or elsewhere, rather than continuing the build with LiFet all the way to completion.
If the client does not choose to pay the balance for the remaining milestone(s), full intellectual property ownership of the incomplete codebase and all associated unreleased assets remains strictly with LiFet.
Regardless of which ownership option the client chooses upon cancellation, the client always retains full rights to any individual files, designs, or assets that were already directly delivered and signed off on during earlier, fully paid phases of the project.

14. What Is Never Refundable

This section lists what is never refundable.

To provide absolute clarity on exclusions, we explicitly state that any milestone work that has been completed and delivered to the client is never eligible for a refund under any circumstances.
Furthermore, any real third-party costs or hard expenses already incurred by LiFet on the client's behalf during the project—such as purchasing a specific domain name, paying for premium third-party API access, or securing specialized hosting infrastructure—are never refundable.

15. What May Be Refundable

This section lists what may be refundable.

While our general policy restricts refunds on completed work, we acknowledge exceptions where a refund may be appropriate; specifically, any payment collected in error, resulting from a technical glitch, or processed as an accidental duplicate charge will be promptly refunded in full.
Additionally, if a client cancels a project and it is determined that a portion of a milestone payment was collected but genuinely not yet worked against by our development team at the exact time of cancellation, that specific unutilized portion may be eligible for a refund.

16. Dispute Resolution

This section outlines how disputes are handled.

We value our client relationships and believe in direct communication; therefore, any disagreement, concern, or dispute regarding a payment or deliverable should be raised directly with the LiFet team first, allowing us the opportunity to resolve the issue amicably before any formal dispute process is initiated.
For a comprehensive understanding of how disputes are governed legally, please reference the broader dispute resolution mechanisms, limitations of liability, and governing law terms which are fully detailed in the site's existing Terms of Service page.

17. How To Request A Cancellation

This section explains the cancellation request process.

If a client determines they must halt a project, all formal cancellation requests must be submitted clearly and in writing via email to the official contact address listed at the bottom of this page, ensuring there is a documented record of the request.

18. Processing Time For Approved Refunds

This section outlines refund processing time.

Once a refund request has been formally reviewed and approved by our team, the actual transfer of funds is processed within a reasonable timeframe, acknowledging that exact processing speeds may vary depending on the financial institutions involved.

19. Method Of Refund

This section explains how refunds are issued.

To ensure security and proper accounting, all approved refunds are issued directly back to the original payment method used by the client for the transaction, wherever technically and practically possible.

20. Currency

This is a standalone statement about currency.

To maintain consistency and avoid exchange rate discrepancies, all payments and any approved refunds are processed in the exact currency in which the original invoice or transaction was generated, and are not restricted to any single currency.

21. Taxes

This section explains how taxes are handled in refunds.

Regarding the handling of taxes on refunded amounts, any applicable taxes follow the exact same treatment as the original invoice, meaning they are refunded proportionally alongside the refunded principal amount wherever applicable by law.

22. Changes To This Policy

This section explains how this policy may change.

LiFet expressly reserves the right to modify, amend, or update this Refund and Cancellation Policy at any time and at our sole discretion, ensuring our terms remain aligned with our operational practices and legal obligations.
Whenever changes are made, the "Last Updated" date prominently displayed at the top of this page will be revised to reflect the date of the most recent modification.
Your continued engagement with LiFet, or continued use of our services following the posting of any changes, constitutes your explicit acknowledgment and acceptance of the newly updated policy.

23. Contact

Please reach out to us if you have any refund or cancellation questions.