Terms of Agreement
Last Updated: January 2026
1. Parties to Agreement
1.1 Service Provider
Legal Entity: Start My Business Inc.
Doing Business As: 508ministry.com
Role: Administrative partner and software service provider
1.2 Client
The Client represents and warrants that it is:
- A legally constituted religious organization or ecclesiastical entity
- Operating under or seeking designation under IRC Section 508(c)(1)(A)
- Duly authorized to enter into this Agreement through its proper representatives
- Committed to using the Services solely for legitimate ministry purposes
1.3 Authorized Representatives
Each party's authorized representative has the legal authority to bind their respective organization to the terms of this Agreement. The Client's authorized representative is designated during the account setup process and must be a leader, officer, or duly authorized agent of the religious organization.
2. Scope of Services
2.1 Core Platform Services
Provider agrees to provide Client with access to the 508ministry.com platform, which includes:
Ministry Dashboard
- Customized administrative portal with role-based access controls
- Real-time analytics and reporting dashboard
- Ministry health metrics and compliance tracking
- Customizable widgets and data visualization tools
Member Management
- Comprehensive member database with custom fields
- Member directory with privacy controls
- Attendance tracking and engagement metrics
- Member communication and notification system
- Volunteer management and scheduling
Financial Management
- Donation tracking and receipt generation compliant with IRS requirements
- Multiple fund accounting and allocation
- Budget planning and expense tracking
- Financial reporting compliant with Publication 1828 guidelines
- Integration with accounting software (QuickBooks, etc.)
Communication Tools
- Email campaign management
- SMS/text messaging capabilities (where applicable)
- Automated notification systems
- Member portal for self-service access
Document Management
- Secure cloud storage for ministry documents
- Version control and document tracking
- Template library for common ministry documents
- E-signature capabilities for authorized documents
Event Management
- Event calendar and scheduling
- Registration and ticketing systems
- Attendance tracking and check-in
- Resource allocation and facility management
2.2 Implementation Services
As part of the initial setup, Provider will provide:
- Platform customization and branding with ministry logo and colors
- Initial data import and migration assistance (up to 500 records)
- Administrative training session (2 hours via video conference)
- Configuration of core modules and workflows
- Integration setup for up to 3 third-party services
- User account creation and permission configuration
2.3 Ongoing Support
Included with active subscription:
- Email support during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM EST)
- Access to knowledge base and video tutorials
- Regular platform updates and security patches
- Monthly webinars on platform features and best practices
- Priority bug fixes and issue resolution
2.4 Optional Enhanced Services
Available for additional fees:
- Advanced data migration (over 500 records)
- Custom module development
- Additional training sessions
- Phone support and expedited response times
- Dedicated account manager
- Custom reporting and analytics
- White-label branding options
3. Client Obligations
3.1 Accurate Information
Client agrees to provide and maintain accurate, current, and complete information including:
- Organization contact information and ministry leadership details
- Payment and billing information
- Technical contact details for system administration
- Prompt notification of any changes to the above
3.2 Acceptable Use
Client agrees to use the Services:
- Solely for legitimate religious and ministry purposes
- In compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws
- In accordance with IRS Publication 1828 guidelines for 508(c)(1)(A) organizations
- Without infringing upon any intellectual property rights
- Without transmitting harmful, offensive, or illegal content
3.3 Security Responsibilities
Client is responsible for:
- Maintaining the security and confidentiality of login credentials
- Implementing appropriate access controls and user permissions
- Monitoring user activity for unauthorized access
- Immediately notifying Provider of any security breaches
- Ensuring all authorized users comply with this Agreement
3.4 Data Management
Client agrees to:
- Obtain necessary consents for collection and processing of personal data
- Comply with applicable data protection and privacy laws
- Maintain regular backups of critical data using Provider's export tools
- Review and validate the accuracy of data entered into the system
- Properly handle and secure any exported data
3.5 Cooperation
Client agrees to reasonably cooperate with Provider by:
- Providing timely responses to information requests
- Participating in scheduled training and implementation sessions
- Providing feedback on platform functionality and issues
- Assigning appropriate personnel to manage the platform
4. Service Level Agreements (SLA)
4.1 Platform Availability
Provider commits to maintaining the following service levels:
SLA Credits: If monthly uptime falls below 99.9% (excluding scheduled maintenance and force majeure events), Client may be eligible for service credits equivalent to 5% of monthly fees for each 1% below the guarantee, up to a maximum of 25% of monthly fees.
4.2 Support Response Times
Provider commits to the following response times during business hours:
4.3 Data Backup and Recovery
Provider maintains the following backup protocols:
- Daily Backups: Full database backups performed daily
- Retention Period: 30 days of rolling backups maintained
- Disaster Recovery: Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of 24 hours
- Recovery Time Objective (RTO): 4 hours for critical data restoration
- Geographic Redundancy: Backups stored in multiple geographic locations
4.4 Security Standards
Provider maintains enterprise-grade security including:
- 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmission
- AES-256 encryption for data at rest
- Regular security audits and penetration testing
- SOC 2 Type II compliance
- Multi-factor authentication options
- Regular security patches and updates
4.5 Performance Standards
- Page load times under 3 seconds for standard operations
- Database query response times under 500ms for typical operations
- Support for concurrent users as specified in pricing tier
- API response times under 1 second for standard calls
5. Fees and Payment Terms
5.1 Pricing Structure
The Services are provided under the following pricing model:
5.2 Payment Terms
Installation Fee: Due upon signing this Agreement or before platform activation, whichever occurs first. Services will not commence until installation fee payment is received and cleared.
Annual License Fee: Due annually on the anniversary of the installation date. Invoices will be sent 30 days prior to renewal date. Continued access to the Services requires timely payment of annual fees.
5.3 Accepted Payment Methods
- Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)
- ACH/Bank Transfer (US-based accounts)
- Check (payable to Start My Business Inc.)
- Wire Transfer (for international payments, additional fees may apply)
5.4 Late Payment
Payments not received within 15 days of the due date are considered late and will incur:
- Late fee of $25 or 5% of the outstanding balance, whichever is greater
- Suspension of access to Services after 30 days of non-payment
- Possible termination of Agreement after 60 days of non-payment
- Interest charges of 1.5% per month on outstanding balances (or maximum rate allowed by law)
5.5 Taxes
All fees are exclusive of applicable federal, state, local, or foreign taxes, levies, or duties. Client is responsible for payment of all such taxes except those based on Provider's net income. Religious organizations claiming tax-exempt status must provide valid documentation.
5.6 Price Changes
Provider reserves the right to modify pricing with 90 days' advance written notice. Price changes will take effect at the next renewal period. If Client does not agree to the new pricing, Client may terminate this Agreement before the renewal date without penalty.
5.7 Refund Policy
See our separate Payment Policies document for detailed refund terms. Generally:
- Installation fees are non-refundable after platform setup is complete
- Annual license fees may be pro-rated if Client terminates within first 30 days
- No refunds are provided after 30 days of annual renewal
6. Data Ownership and Portability
6.1 Client Data Ownership
Client retains all right, title, and interest in and to all data, content, and materials uploaded, stored, or processed through the Services ("Client Data"). Provider claims no ownership rights to Client Data.
6.2 License to Process Data
Client grants Provider a limited, non-exclusive license to access, use, process, and store Client Data solely for the purpose of providing the Services. This license terminates upon termination of this Agreement, subject to applicable data retention requirements.
6.3 Data Portability
Client has the right to export Client Data at any time using Provider's data export tools. Provider will provide Client Data in commonly used, machine-readable formats including:
- CSV (Comma-Separated Values) for tabular data
- JSON for structured data exports
- PDF for formatted reports and documents
- XML for complex data structures
6.4 Data Retention and Deletion
Upon termination of this Agreement:
- Client has 30 days to export all Client Data using the data portability tools
- After the 30-day grace period, Provider will permanently delete all Client Data
- Provider may retain anonymized, aggregated data for analytical purposes
- Provider will retain certain data as required by law or regulation
- Upon written request, Provider will provide certification of data deletion
6.5 Data Security Obligations
Provider agrees to:
- Implement and maintain appropriate technical and organizational security measures
- Encrypt Client Data both in transit and at rest
- Restrict access to Client Data to authorized personnel only
- Notify Client promptly of any data breach affecting Client Data
- Comply with applicable data protection laws and regulations
6.6 Data Processing Agreement
To the extent Provider processes personal data on behalf of Client, the parties agree to execute a separate Data Processing Agreement (DPA) incorporating Standard Contractual Clauses as may be required under applicable data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
7. Confidentiality
7.1 Definition of Confidential Information
"Confidential Information" means any information disclosed by one party to the other party, either directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or by inspection of tangible objects, including without limitation:
- Business plans, strategies, and financial information
- Member and donor information
- Technical data, trade secrets, and know-how
- Software code, algorithms, and system architecture
- Marketing plans and customer lists
- Terms and pricing of this Agreement
7.2 Obligations
Each party agrees to:
- Hold all Confidential Information in strict confidence
- Not disclose Confidential Information to third parties without prior written consent
- Use Confidential Information solely for the purpose of performing obligations under this Agreement
- Protect Confidential Information using the same degree of care used for its own confidential information, but no less than reasonable care
- Limit access to Confidential Information to employees and contractors with a legitimate need to know
7.3 Exceptions
Confidentiality obligations do not apply to information that:
- Is or becomes publicly available without breach of this Agreement
- Was rightfully in the receiving party's possession prior to disclosure
- Is rightfully received from a third party without confidentiality obligations
- Is independently developed without use of Confidential Information
- Must be disclosed pursuant to law, regulation, or court order (with notice to disclosing party)
7.4 Return of Materials
Upon termination of this Agreement or upon request, each party shall:
- Return or destroy all Confidential Information in its possession
- Certify in writing the destruction or return of such information
- Continue to be bound by confidentiality obligations for a period of 5 years after termination
7.5 Ministry-Specific Confidentiality
Provider acknowledges the sensitive nature of religious organization data and agrees to:
- Respect the confidential nature of pastoral communications and counseling records
- Maintain strict confidentiality of donor information and giving records
- Protect member personal information in accordance with privacy laws
- Honor any additional confidentiality requirements specific to the Client's ministry
8. Term and Termination
8.1 Initial Term
This Agreement commences on the Effective Date and continues for an initial term of one (1) year from the date of platform activation.
8.2 Renewal
Following the initial term, this Agreement will automatically renew for successive one-year periods unless either party provides written notice of non-renewal at least 30 days prior to the end of the then-current term.
8.3 Termination for Convenience
Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason by providing 30 days' written notice to the other party. Client remains responsible for fees through the end of the notice period.
8.4 Termination for Cause
Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice if:
- The other party materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure within 15 days of written notice
- The other party becomes insolvent, files for bankruptcy, or ceases business operations
- Performance becomes illegal under applicable law
8.5 Termination by Provider
Provider may terminate or suspend access to Services immediately if:
- Client fails to pay fees when due (after 60 days of non-payment)
- Client violates acceptable use policies
- Client's use poses security or legal risks to Provider or other clients
- Client engages in fraudulent or illegal activities
8.6 Effect of Termination
Upon termination of this Agreement:
- Client's access to the Services will be immediately discontinued
- Client must cease all use of the Services and Provider's intellectual property
- Client has 30 days to export all Client Data before deletion
- No refunds of prepaid fees unless termination is due to Provider's material breach
- All confidentiality obligations survive for 5 years
- Sections relating to intellectual property, limitation of liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution survive indefinitely
8.7 Transition Assistance
Upon request and for a reasonable fee, Provider may offer transition assistance to help Client migrate to an alternative solution, including:
- Extended data export period (additional 30 days)
- Documentation of data structures and formats
- Limited technical consultation (up to 4 hours)
9. Warranties and Representations
9.1 Provider Warranties
Provider represents and warrants that:
- It has the full right and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement
- The Services will be provided in a professional and workmanlike manner
- The Services will substantially conform to the documentation provided
- It will comply with all applicable laws in providing the Services
- The Services do not infringe upon any third-party intellectual property rights
- It maintains appropriate security measures as described in Section 4.4
9.2 Client Warranties
Client represents and warrants that:
- It has the full right and authority to enter into this Agreement
- All information provided to Provider is accurate and complete
- It has obtained all necessary consents for data processing
- Client Data does not infringe upon any third-party rights
- It will use the Services in compliance with applicable laws and this Agreement
9.3 Warranty Remedies
In the event of a breach of Provider's warranties, Provider's sole obligation and Client's exclusive remedy shall be the re-performance of the non-conforming Services or, if Provider cannot re-perform, a refund of fees paid for the non-conforming Services.
9.4 Disclaimer
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 9, PROVIDER MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. PROVIDER DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR COMPLETELY SECURE.
10. Amendments and General Provisions
10.1 Amendments
This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement signed by both parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Provider may update the general Terms of Service with 30 days' notice as described in that document.
10.2 Entire Agreement
This Agreement, together with the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and other referenced policies, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral.
10.3 Assignment
Client may not assign this Agreement without Provider's prior written consent. Provider may assign this Agreement to an affiliate or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets. Any attempted assignment in violation of this section is void.
10.4 Force Majeure
Neither party shall be liable for failure or delay in performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, strikes, or governmental actions.
10.5 Notices
All notices under this Agreement must be in writing and sent to:
For Provider:
Start My Business Inc.
c/o 508ministry.com
Email: legal@508ministry.com
For Client:
To the email address provided during registration or as subsequently updated in account settings.
10.6 Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of law principles. Both parties consent to exclusive jurisdiction in Delaware courts.
10.7 Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
10.8 Waiver
No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.