Payment and Billing Policy

EFFECTIVE DATE: JULY 15, 2026

1. Scope of This Policy

This Payment and Billing Policy explains how fees, deposits, invoices, payment schedules, taxes, expenses, recurring charges, overdue balances, billing disputes, and related matters are handled for Services provided by Delmion Advisory. It forms part of the agreement between the Client and Delmion Advisory and should be read with the Terms and Conditions, Business Consulting Services Terms, Cancellation and Refund Policy, and the applicable Engagement Document.

Where the Engagement Document states a different fee, milestone, due date, or billing arrangement, the Engagement Document controls for that engagement.

2. Currency and Published Prices

Unless expressly stated otherwise, all prices, estimates, invoices, and payments are denominated in United States dollars. Price ranges shown on the website are general planning information only. They are not fixed quotations and may vary according to scope, complexity, urgency, available information, number of stakeholders, revision requirements, and delivery schedule.

The final fee is stated in a written proposal, statement of work, engagement confirmation, invoice, or other accepted Engagement Document. Taxes, third-party charges, and approved expenses may be added where applicable.

3. Fixed Fees, Hourly Fees, and Retainers

An engagement may be billed as a fixed-fee project, hourly or daily consulting, a recurring monthly retainer, a milestone-based arrangement, or a combination of these methods. The billing model will be identified in the Engagement Document.

• Fixed-fee work: covers only the defined scope, assumptions, deliverables, and revision allowance.
• Hourly or daily work: is billed for actual professional time, including agreed meetings, preparation, analysis, correspondence, and follow-up.
• Monthly advisory: is billed in advance or on the schedule stated in the Engagement Document and provides the level of access or capacity expressly described there.
• Milestone billing: requires payment when defined stages begin, are delivered, or are accepted, as specified in the Engagement Document.

4. Deposits and Advance Payments

We may require a deposit, initial installment, or full advance payment before reserving time or beginning work. Unless the Engagement Document states otherwise, a deposit is applied toward the total engagement fee and is not an additional charge.

A scheduled start date is not guaranteed until the required payment has cleared. If payment arrives after the requested start date, the engagement may be moved to the next available opening. Deposits may be non-refundable to the extent permitted by law when they compensate for reserved capacity, onboarding, planning, or work already performed, as further described in the Cancellation and Refund Policy.

5. Invoices

Invoices may be issued electronically and may include the Client name, engagement reference, service description, billing period, amount due, applicable taxes, approved expenses, credits, payment instructions, and due date. The Client is responsible for providing accurate billing information and promptly notifying us of changes.

Administrative requirements such as purchase-order numbers, vendor registration, portal submission, or special invoice formatting must be disclosed before the engagement begins. Such requirements do not extend a due date unless we agree in writing.

6. Payment Methods

Available payment methods may include electronic bank transfer, card payment through a third-party processor, or another method identified on the invoice. We may change available methods for security, operational, or compliance reasons.

The Client is responsible for bank charges, currency conversion costs, intermediary fees, card issuer fees, or similar costs imposed by its financial institution. Payment is complete only when cleared funds are received in the full invoiced amount.

7. Authorization for Payment

By submitting payment information to an authorized payment processor, the Client represents that it is authorized to use the selected method and authorizes the transaction described at checkout or on the invoice. Delmion Advisory generally does not receive or store complete payment-card credentials.

For recurring services, the Client may authorize recurring charges where that option is expressly presented. The Client remains responsible for keeping payment information current and for cancelling recurring services in accordance with the applicable cancellation terms.

8. Due Dates

Payment is due on the date stated in the Engagement Document or invoice. If no due date is stated, payment is due within seven calendar days after the invoice date. Deposits and advance payments are due before work begins.

A Client’s internal approval process, reimbursement policy, unavailable approver, purchase-order delay, or disagreement among stakeholders does not alter the due date unless we approve an extension in writing.

9. Recurring Monthly Billing

Monthly advisory fees are generally billed in advance for each service period unless the Engagement Document states otherwise. The recurring fee reserves agreed capacity and access for that period, not a guaranteed quantity of unused hours that can be exchanged for cash or carried indefinitely.

Changes to a recurring scope or fee will be communicated before the affected billing period where reasonably practicable. Cancellation must follow the notice requirements in the Engagement Document or Cancellation and Refund Policy.

10. Taxes

Fees are exclusive of sales, use, value-added, withholding, or similar taxes unless the invoice expressly states that tax is included. The Client is responsible for taxes legally imposed on the purchase of Services, except taxes based on Delmion Advisory’s net income.

If the Client is legally required to withhold tax, it must provide official documentation and, unless prohibited by law, gross up the payment so that Delmion Advisory receives the amount it would have received absent the withholding. Tax treatment can vary, and each party should obtain its own tax advice.

11. Expenses and Third-Party Costs

Ordinary remote-delivery expenses are included only when the Engagement Document says so. Travel, specialized research, paid data, transcription, printing, shipping, software, subcontractor, filing, or other third-party costs may be charged separately when approved or reasonably required by the agreed scope.

We will seek approval before incurring a material unbudgeted expense. The Client must reimburse approved expenses according to the invoice terms, whether the third-party charge is billed directly or passed through without markup.

12. Out-of-Scope Work

Work outside the accepted scope is billable in addition to the original fee. We may provide a change quote, apply an agreed hourly rate, or pause the request until revised commercial terms are accepted.

Examples include additional deliverables, extra stakeholder interviews, repeated revisions, accelerated deadlines, new business units, added data analysis, implementation support, and rework caused by changed Client instructions or previously undisclosed information.

13. Late Payments

If an amount is not paid when due, we may send reminders, suspend meetings or work, withhold draft or final deliverables, remove the engagement from the schedule, or terminate the engagement. Any resulting delay is treated as a Client-caused delay.

To the extent permitted by law and stated in the Engagement Document or invoice, overdue balances may accrue a late charge at the lesser of one and one-half percent per month or the maximum lawful rate. The Client may also be responsible for reasonable collection costs, including legal fees, where permitted.

14. Failed or Reversed Payments

The Client must promptly replace any payment that is rejected, reversed, recalled, or returned. We may charge reasonable pass-through fees imposed by banks or processors and may require a different payment method for future invoices.

A failed payment does not cancel the underlying invoice or engagement obligations.

15. Billing Questions and Disputes

The Client must review invoices promptly and notify us in writing of a specific billing concern within ten calendar days after the invoice date. The notice should identify the disputed amount, the factual basis, and any supporting records.

The Client must timely pay all undisputed amounts. The parties will work in good faith to resolve a genuine billing issue. Silence, general dissatisfaction, or a dispute regarding business outcomes does not suspend payment for Services properly performed.

16. Chargebacks and Payment Reversals

Before initiating a card chargeback or payment reversal, the Client should contact us and allow a reasonable opportunity to investigate. A chargeback does not eliminate contractual obligations and may result in suspension of Services.

We may provide the payment processor with the Engagement Document, invoices, communications, delivery records, meeting records, and other information reasonably necessary to respond to a chargeback, subject to privacy and confidentiality obligations.

17. Credits, Refunds, and Setoff

Refund eligibility is governed by the Cancellation and Refund Policy and the applicable Engagement Document. Credits, if offered, may be limited to future Services and may expire on the date stated.

The Client may not withhold, deduct, or set off amounts owed based on a separate claim unless required by law or agreed in writing.

18. Suspension for Nonpayment

Suspension for nonpayment does not waive the Client’s obligation to pay accrued fees, approved expenses, committed third-party costs, or late charges. We are not responsible for missed milestones, lost opportunities, or other consequences arising from a lawful suspension.

19. Final Payment and Delivery

Where final payment is due before release, we may provide a review copy and withhold editable files, final reports, source materials, licenses, or transfer of deliverable rights until all amounts due for the engagement are received in cleared funds.

20. Changes to Billing Terms

We may update this Policy for future engagements. Existing fixed-term engagements remain subject to the version incorporated when accepted, unless the parties agree otherwise. Recurring services may be updated upon reasonable advance notice, subject to any cancellation rights in the Engagement Document.

21. Billing Contact

Billing questions should include the Client name, invoice number, disputed line item, and a concise explanation. Do not send full card numbers, bank credentials, passwords, or other unnecessary sensitive financial information by ordinary email.