Terms & Privacy

General terms (editorial)

1. Working process: For a full explanation of how the Company works and how to handle documents, please send an email to info@flatpage.com.

2. Scope: The scope of this project will be determined by the Client in conversation with the Company. The scope will be outlined in the Client Contract and/or will be given in a product description. Please review service descriptions for a basic outline of each service.

3. Deliverables: The deliverables on this project will be determined based on the scope. Please see service descriptions for sample edits/evaluations. The Company will provide machine-readable copy, at the Client’s request, when you give approval to our final round of edits.

4. Schedule: The schedule and deadline(s) for this project will be determined by the client in conversation with the Company.

Rush Jobs: Rush jobs (determined at the Company’s discretion) usually incur a 20% fee increase, which is incorporated into the rate and total cost.

5. Project Rate and Fees:

Project Rate and Budget: The project rate is based on the project manager’s review of the sample that you provided and the service you contract us to perform. This rate is based on the manuscript pages that you provide and the complexity of the work involved. If, upon review, the job appears to require more work to complete, our project manager will contact you immediately so that we can reevaluate the project’s requirements.
Copyediting Passes: For copyediting projects, the rate listed above consists of one full pass to the manuscript and a second, quicker pass to the manuscript once you have responded to the queries; any large revisions/additions after the first pass will be billed as new text. Graduate student copyediting includes only one pass. Any additional passes will be charged at an hourly rate of $75 per hour ($60/hr for grad students).
Line Editing Passes: For line editing projects, the rate listed above consists of one full pass to the manuscript and a second, quicker pass to the manuscript once you have responded to the queries; any large revisions/additions after the first pass will be billed as new text. Graduate student line editing includes only one pass. Any additional passes will be charged at an hourly rate of $75 per hour ($60/hr for grad students).
Developmental Editing Passes: For developmental editing projects, the rate above includes one editorial pass and a virtual consultation call to discuss the Subcontractor’s feedback. The call will be recorded for your future reference and the link will be sent to you following the call.
Evaluations: For evaluations (e.g., job application documents, proposals), the rate above includes one full pass to the manuscript and a shorter, abbreviated pass once you have responded to the Subcontractor’s suggestions. Evaluations of artists’ statements include only one pass.
Ghostwriting: For ghostwriting projects, the rate above includes one written draft and one pass of revisions based on your feedback. The final word count will be determined from the final draft. Any passes performed after the first pass will be charged at an hourly rate of $75 per hour; additional copyediting is available at a per-word rate.
Consultation and Excess Project Management: Any form of consultation that falls outside of the document itself, including but not limited to complex project management, the publication process, excessive communication related to a project, or reviewing revisions in detail, will be billed hourly at a rate of $125 (billed in 15-minute blocks). Any expenses related to the editing process, such as printing or mailing, are additional (see Invoicing and Payment).

6. Deposit: For projects estimated at over $500 and all ghostwriting projects, the Company charges a deposit of 25–50% of the minimum estimated project budget, which will be invoiced upon signing a client agreement and/or before work begins. The deposit amount is based on the word count provided; the final total will reflect the actual word count of the document(s) received.

Deposit Refunds: The deposit is refundable if you cancel 61+ days from your reservation; half refundable if you cancel within 31–60 days; and nonrefundable if you cancel 30 days or less before project start date.
Rebooking: A rebooking fee of 10% of the total project budget will be assessed for any deadline changes within 14 days of your reservation or for deadline changes within the project schedule that are not easily accommodated by the Subcontractor (determined at the Subcontractor’s discretion). Rebooking is dependent upon the Subcontractor’s schedule and availability.

7. Document Handling:

Manuscript Editing: Refer to this video, which explains how to handle documents once you receive the first pass. If the document will receive multiple rounds of edits, the Company may “lock” it (add protection) before it is returned to the Client; this means that you can still make changes to the text, but you cannot accept or reject changes. Please respond to comments (what we call “editorial queries”), when possible, by directly changing the text rather than providing a rationale or directions in the comments. Many editorial decisions are based on style and you are not required to address all queries; should you choose not to address a query, please mark it as “resolved” in the Review tab of Word.
Ghostwriting: Our writer will write a draft of your content based on your needs/specs, which are outlined above. This service includes one written draft and one pass of content revisions based on your feedback. The final draft will then be released to you and/or posted on the platform of your choice (e.g., Wikipedia) at the time of payment.

8. Version Control: In signing this document, the Client agrees that once their manuscript has been delivered, that they will make no further changes to it until the Company returns it to them with comments/revisions. We can work with a shared Dropbox (for one-off projects) and/or Basecamp (for multipart projects) in order to maintain version control.

9. Communication with Subcontractors: The subcontractors at the Company are accustomed to working electronically. A project manager at the Company handles all communication between clients and Subcontractors and manages projects using Basecamp (you may receive an invitation to the project page, if necessary). We can confer by email, phone, or on Basecamp when necessary. If your manuscript requires more than one round of edits after the first pass, we will determine a deadline for you to return your revisions back to us for further correction (see Document Handling). Any notes or queries that you have for the subcontractors performing manuscript edits must be relayed through our project manager.

Virtual Consultations and Coaching: All calls between our Subcontractors and our clients are recorded for your future reference and for quality control. If you prefer not to be recorded, please indicate this to the project manager before the call begins. You will be sent a link to the recording after its completion that you may download; the link is valid for 30 days, after which time the recording will be permanently deleted.

10. Non-Solicitation: the Company is not a referral service for our Subcontractors; the project manager ensures that all projects meet our high standards for quality and abide by our legal and financial protections. Any subcontractor who is found to be soliciting clients of the Company for services outside of our agreement will be terminated.

11. Copyright and Plagiarism: The Client confirms that they are the author, co-author, or author’s agent and the sole owner of all rights to all submitted material, and that it contains no instances of plagiarism. The Client’s use of any previously published material (including their own) is with the written permission of the copyright owner, or publisher, within the doctrine of fair use.

Ghostwriting: For ghostwriting projects, the Company owns copyright over all written material until the final text is released to or approved by the Client, after which the Company releases the copyright either to the author or the platform on which it’s posted (e.g., Wikipedia). The Company is not responsible for any changes that may be made to a text once it is released to the Client or posted on an open-source online platform (i.e., it may be changed/edited/deleted by the Client or others). Please see Acknowledgments section for crediting.

12. Termination:

Client Termination: Should the Client decide to terminate the project before its completion, we have agreed that the Company will be paid in full for the work that the Subcontractor has done on it up to that point, together with a cancellation fee of 20% of the project budget up to a maximum of $500, and the Company will return all materials, including the edited manuscript, to the Client immediately. Any portion of the deposit that has not been earned up until that point will also be refunded (see deposit terms above for details on refunds). The Company does not provide refunds for rush projects if the project is terminated at any point in the process.
Company Termination: In the unlikely case that the Company decides to terminate the project before its completion, we have agreed that the Company will be paid in full for the work that the Subcontractor has done on it up to that point and the Company will return all materials, including the edited manuscript, to the Client immediately. Any portion of the deposit that has not been earned up until that point will also be refunded (see deposit terms above for details on refunds).
Subcontractor Termination: Should the Subcontractor decide to terminate the project before its completion, the Company will endeavor to find a replacement Subcontractor who will be able to complete the project according to the full scope outlined above. Should the Client wish to terminate the project at this time, please refer to the terms outlined in paragraph 12a. Should the Company wish to terminate the project at this time, please refer to the terms outlined in paragraph 12b.

13. Invoicing and Payment:

Invoicing: The Company will send the Client an invoice at the end of each month for larger, multi-month manuscript editing projects and before delivery of final manuscripts for smaller or rush projects. These bills will include all time spent in actual editing, together with time spent in meetings or communication with the Client, and in tasks directly related to the job. The Subcontractor will also include related expenses, such as those for postage and photocopying, if applicable.
Payment Timing and Deliverables: For manuscript editing, payment is due before delivery of the final manuscript for self-paying private clients. For institutional clients (e.g., universities, presses, etc.) and clients whose payments are dependent upon grant/fellowship funds, invoices are payable within 15 days; such clients must notify us of their status in writing on official letterhead at the beginning of the project and confirm payment schedule prior to the delivery of the manuscript.
Rush Job Payment: Rush jobs require payment in full upon receipt, any unearned amount of which will be refunded upon final project approval. The Subcontractor will not begin work until payment has been received.
Delinquent Payments: Interest will be applied if payment is not made within 30 days, at a rate of 5% per month, including the month following the invoice date. No interest is due if payment is made by the fifteenth day. Invoices that are not paid within three months will be considered delinquent; in these cases, the Company reserves the right to compel payment through legal action.

14. Confidentiality and Acknowledgments:

Nondisclosure: the Company and our subcontractors agree to ensure full confidentiality with regard to our working relationship and any information or details we have about the content of manuscripts we work on or the names or contact details of the clients we work with. If the subcontractor is found to have breached client confidentiality, either by sharing these details privately or publicly, the Company will sever our agreement with that subcontractor immediately; the Company also relieves themselves of any legal implications of such a breach by the subcontractor.
Acknowledgments: Our project manager, the Company, or any of our contractors’ names may not be listed in your publication or website without written permission, nor will the Company disclose our relationship without the Client’s prior written permission. That said, the best form of acknowledgement we can receive are referrals—so please feel free to pass on our name to friends and colleagues who need an editor (we can send you an email describing our services to share, if you prefer).
Ghostwriting Authorship: For ghostwriting projects that are posted in an open-source platform like Wikipedia, the author’s name will be attached to the content in order to provide legitimacy to the content; they are also required to disclose their financial connections to the subject in order to post.

15. Applicable Laws and Jurisdiction: The terms of this agreement shall be interpreted according to the laws in the Delaware, United States, and venues and jurisdiction in the event of any dispute arising from this service agreement shall be in the court having jurisdiction in Delaware. In the event of a claim being brought to enforce rights under this contract, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its costs and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred in the event of breach of this contract.

16. Errors, Warranties and Refunds:

Errors: Please note that no editor, ours included, can guarantee an error-free document (industry standard for copyediting is 95%). Certain aspects of editing are subjective (e.g., rewording for clarity, word choice). Clients may choose to accept none, some, or all of the Subcontractor’s changes and/or suggestions. The Client’s payment of the final invoice indicates their approval. Once the Client signs off on the final edit, the Company is no longer responsible for any typos or errors.
Warranties: Our service does not guarantee that a work will be accepted for publication nor that the Client has met publisher submission standards or guidelines for publication or acceptance. It is the Client’s responsibility to ensure that the manuscript contains no errors or omissions.
Refunds: The Client’s decision to decline changes or their disagreement with the Subcontractor’s assessment of their manuscript or plan for revision do not constitute nonperformance of the Subcontractor and do not entitle the Client to a refund, nor does the Company provide refunds if the Client changes their mind about which service they wished to receive after completion of the scope (see section 3).

Privacy Notice

Last updated: May 14, 2025

Thank you for choosing to be part of our community at Flatpage, Inc. (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy notice or our practices with regard to your personal information, please contact us at info@flatpage.com.

This privacy notice describes how we collect, use, and share your information if you:

Visit our website at flatpage.com
Sign up for our newsletter
Make a purchase from us
Engage with us in other related ways — including any sales, marketing, or events

In this privacy notice, if we refer to:

“Website,” we are referring to any website of ours that references or links to this policy.
“Services,” we are referring to our Website and other related services, including any sales, marketing, or events.

1. WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

Personal information you provide to us

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you express an interest in obtaining information about us, subscribe to our newsletter, make a purchase, or otherwise engage with our Services.
This may include names, email addresses, billing addresses, payment details, job titles, and any other information you choose to provide.

2. HOW DO WE USE YOUR INFORMATION?

We process your information for purposes based on:

Legitimate business interests
The fulfillment of our contract with you
Compliance with our legal obligations
Your consent

We use the information we collect or receive to:

Facilitate account creation and logon process.
Send you marketing communications if you have signed up for our newsletter or made a purchase, with the option to opt-out at any time.
Fulfill and manage orders, payments, and other transactions.
Improve our services, respond to inquiries, and offer customer support.
Manage your account and keep it in working order.

By submitting any form on our website, you agree that we may collect and use your information to respond to your inquiry and provide any related follow-up communications regarding our services. Your information may be accessed by employees, independent contractors, service providers, or authorized agents acting on our behalf for legitimate business purposes. We do not sell your personal data.

If you would like to receive future updates, newsletters, or promotional emails about our services, please indicate your consent below. You can unsubscribe at any time by following the link in our emails or contacting us directly.

3. WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE SHARED WITH ANYONE?

We may share your information with third parties in the following situations:

With your consent.
For business transfers, such as mergers or acquisitions.
With service providers who assist in processing payments or providing services.

4. DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to collect and store information.

5. IS YOUR INFORMATION TRANSFERRED INTERNATIONALLY?

Our servers are located in the United States. Your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed by us in the United States and other countries.

6. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

We retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this notice unless otherwise required by law.

7. HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information.

8. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

We do not knowingly collect data from or market to children under 18 years of age.

9. YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

Depending on your region, you may have rights under applicable data protection laws, including the right to:

Access and obtain a copy of your data.
Request correction or deletion of your data.
Opt-out of marketing communications.

10. UPDATES TO THIS NOTICE

We may update this privacy notice from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by an updated “Revised” date.

11. CONTACT US

If you have questions or comments, you may contact us at info@flatpage.com or by post at: Flatpage, Inc. 3 Germay Drive, unit 4 Wilmington, DE 19804 United States