Engagement Terms & Commercial Policies

Effective Date: January 01, 2020
Last Updated: January 02, 2026

Retainer Policy

Certain engagements may require a retainer prior to the commencement of services.

  • Retainers secure availability, priority scheduling, and allocation of resources.

  • Retainers may be applied against future invoices unless otherwise stated.

  • Retainers are non-refundable once services begin, regardless of client delays or changes in direction.

Failure to maintain an active retainer may result in suspension of services.

Billing Models & Payment Methods

Onyx Ingenuity, LLC offers flexible billing structures based on engagement type:

Billing Models

  • Hourly consulting

  • Monthly retainers

  • Fixed-fee or milestone-based contracts

  • Month-to-month advisory agreements

  • Long-term contract engagements

Accepted Payment Methods

  • ACH / Direct Bank Transfer

  • Wire Transfer

  • Debit Card

  • Square Invoicing & Payments

  • Chase Payments

  • Other electronic invoicing platforms as agreed in writing

Clients are responsible for any processing or transaction fees imposed by third-party payment providers unless otherwise stated.

Net Terms & Payment Expectations

Invoices may be issued with Net 7, Net 15, Net 30, or other agreed payment terms.

Payment terms begin from the invoice issue date, not from client review, approval, or internal processing cycles.

Client Delays & Non-Responsiveness

If client feedback, approvals, access, or required materials are delayed beyond a reasonable timeframe:

  • Work already completed remains fully billable.

  • Reserved time, preparation, and analysis remain billable.

  • Engagement timelines may shift without penalty to Onyx Ingenuity, LLC.

Extended non-responsiveness (typically exceeding 10 business days) may result in invoicing for work performed and temporary suspension of services until communication resumes.

Change Request Policy

Any request that materially alters scope, timeline, deliverables, or effort from the original agreement constitutes a change request.

Change requests may require:

  • Written approval

  • Revised timelines

  • Additional fees

Onyx Ingenuity, LLC is not obligated to perform out-of-scope work without written confirmation.

Kill Fee & Early Termination

If an engagement is terminated by the client prior to completion:

  • All work completed up to the termination date remains billable.

  • A kill fee may apply to cover reserved capacity, opportunity cost, and administrative overhead.

  • Any outstanding invoices become immediately due upon termination.

Termination does not waive payment obligations for services already rendered.

Minimum Engagement Commitment

For strategic, advisory, or enterprise engagements, a minimum engagement period or minimum billing threshold may apply. This ensures adequate time to deliver meaningful outcomes and maintain continuity.

Minimums will be outlined in the applicable agreement or proposal.

Intellectual Property & Deliverables

Final deliverables are released upon full payment of all outstanding invoices.

  • Methodologies, frameworks, tools, templates, internal documentation, and proprietary processes remain the intellectual property of Onyx Ingenuity, LLC.

  • Clients receive usage rights for internal business purposes unless otherwise agreed.

Suspension of Services

Onyx Ingenuity, LLC reserves the right to suspend or terminate services for:

  • Non-payment

  • Breach of agreement

  • Extended non-responsiveness

  • Misrepresentation or unethical conduct

Suspension does not waive outstanding payment obligations.

Professional Conduct

We reserve the right to disengage from any client relationship that becomes abusive, unethical, or misaligned with our values.

Acceptance of Terms

Engaging Onyx Ingenuity, LLC constitutes acceptance of these Engagement Terms & Commercial Policies, regardless of whether a separate contract is executed.

These Consulting Terms collectively govern all professional services provided by Onyx Ingenuity, LLC.