Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using SafeGuardGRC ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and SafeGuardGRC.

2. Description of Service

SafeGuardGRC is a compliance platform for accounting firms that provides AI-powered governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) tools including:

• Data Inventory with security controls tracking and classification
• Risk Assessment framework (7-module vCISO-level assessment)
• Written Information Security Programs (WISPs) compliant with FTC Safeguards Rule
• Incident Response Plans (IRPs) compliant with FTC Safeguards Rule and IRS Publication 4557
• Task management, team training (Compliance Academy), and role-based access
• Version control, approval workflows, signature capture, audit trails, and annual review reminders

3. Account Registration and Eligibility

3.1 Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to use the Service
• You must have authority to bind your firm to these Terms
• You must provide accurate and complete information

3.2 Account Security

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account
• One account per firm; sharing accounts is prohibited
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access

4. Subscription and Payment

4.1 Pricing

SafeGuardGRC offers three plans, all billed annually: Starter at $99/month ($1,188/year), Professional at $179/month ($2,148/year), and Enterprise at $299/month ($3,588/year). All prices are in USD. We reserve the right to change pricing with 30 days' advance notice to existing subscribers.

4.2 Billing

• Annual billing only - no monthly payment option
• Payments processed securely via Stripe
• Subscriptions auto-renew annually unless canceled
• You authorize recurring charges to your payment method
• Failed payments may result in service suspension

4.3 Refunds and Money-Back Guarantee

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: If you are not satisfied within the first 30 calendar days from the date your payment is processed, you may request a full refund. The 30-day period begins on the date of your initial payment, not account activation.

• To request a refund, submit a request through our contact form and select "Billing" as the topic, or email us directly
• Refunds will be processed to your original payment method within 5–10 business days of approval
• The 30-day guarantee applies to first-time subscribers only and is limited to one refund per firm
• Upon refund, your account will be deactivated and access to the platform will end immediately

After the 30-day period, refunds may be considered on a case-by-case basis but are not guaranteed. No pro-rated refunds for partial year usage after the guarantee period.

4.4 Cancellation

You may cancel your subscription at any time. Upon cancellation, you retain access until the end of your current billing period. No refunds for early cancellation after the 30-day guarantee period. Downloaded plans remain yours forever.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree NOT to:

• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or related systems
• Transmit malware, viruses, or harmful code
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Service
• Resell, redistribute, or white-label the Service without written permission
• Use the Service to compete with SafeGuardGRC
• Scrape, data mine, or use automated tools to access the Service
• Abuse or overload our systems (e.g., generating excessive plans to burden infrastructure)

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 Your Content

You retain all rights to your firm information, incident response plans, and any content you create using the Service. We claim no ownership of your content.

License to Us: You grant us a limited license to use your content solely to provide the Service (e.g., storing your data, generating plans).

6.2 Our Content

SafeGuardGRC, our logo, templates, AI models, and software are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not use our intellectual property without written permission.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• The Service is provided "AS IS" without warranties of any kind, express or implied
• We are NOT LIABLE for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
• Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid in the past 12 months
• We are NOT RESPONSIBLE for compliance failures, regulatory fines, data breaches, or business losses
• We do NOT GUARANTEE uptime, availability, or uninterrupted service

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability, so these limitations may not apply to you.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SafeGuardGRC, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any laws or regulations
• Your violation of third-party rights

10. Data and Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy. We use industry-standard security measures, but cannot guarantee absolute security. You acknowledge that internet transmission is never 100% secure.

11. Service Availability and Changes

11.1 Service Modifications

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time. We will provide reasonable notice for material changes that negatively impact functionality.

11.2 Downtime and Maintenance

We may perform scheduled maintenance that temporarily interrupts service. We will attempt to provide advance notice when possible. We are not liable for any downtime or data loss.

12. Termination

12.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by canceling your subscription or contacting support. Downloaded plans remain yours after termination.

12.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or illegal activity
• Non-payment or payment disputes
• Abuse of the Service or our systems
• Extended periods of inactivity

12.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, you will lose access to the Service. You should download your plans before termination. We may delete your data 30 days after termination.

13. Modifications to Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or prominent service notification at least 30 days before taking effect. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you don't agree to changes, you may cancel your subscription.

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Informal Resolution

Before filing any claim, you agree to attempt to resolve disputes informally by contacting us through our contact form and selecting "Legal" as the topic. We will attempt to resolve disputes within 30 days.

14.2 Arbitration (US Users)

If informal resolution fails, disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the American Arbitration Association rules. You waive your right to a jury trial and class action participation.

15. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes not subject to arbitration shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Delaware.

16. Miscellaneous

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and SafeGuardGRC and supersede all prior agreements.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

16.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.