Refund Policy

This policy explains when you can request a refund, what happens at each stage of a project, and how we handle disputes. It applies to all services offered by AuthorWings. For the full terms governing our working relationship, see our terms of service.

Cancellation before work begins

If you cancel before any work has started on your project, you are entitled to a full refund minus a 10% administrative fee. This fee covers the cost of project setup, scheduling, and any initial consultations or planning that took place after your order was placed.

To qualify, you must submit your cancellation request in writing before we deliver the first milestone, draft, or deliverable. Once we confirm that no work has been started or delivered, your refund will be processed within 10 business days.

Cancellation after work has started

Our projects are structured around milestones. Each milestone represents a defined phase of work (for example, the first draft of a section, a completed round of edits, or a finalized cover concept). Refund eligibility after work begins is determined by where your project stands at the time of cancellation.

Completed milestones are non-refundable. The work has been performed, reviewed, and in most cases delivered to you. You retain full ownership of all completed work.

Unstarted milestones are fully refundable. If your project is paid in installments and a milestone has not yet begun, that portion of your payment will be returned in full.

Milestones currently in progress are handled on a case-by-case basis. If work on a milestone is underway but not yet delivered, we will assess the percentage of completion and issue a proportional refund for the unfinished portion. This assessment is made by the project manager and communicated to you in writing.

Revisions and satisfaction

Every service tier includes a defined number of revision rounds, stated in your project agreement. We encourage you to use your revision rounds fully before considering a refund request. Our goal is to deliver work that meets the scope and standards outlined in your project brief.

If the delivered work does not meet the documented requirements of your project brief, we will first offer additional revisions at no extra cost. If the work remains unsatisfactory after all revision rounds have been exhausted and we are unable to resolve the issue, you may be eligible for a partial refund. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by the project review team.

Refunds are not available for dissatisfaction based on subjective preference when the delivered work meets the agreed project brief. Creative work involves personal taste, and differences in stylistic preference after the brief has been followed do not constitute grounds for a refund. We strongly recommend providing detailed, specific feedback during revision rounds to ensure the final product reflects your vision.

Refund request deadline

Refund requests must be submitted within 14 days of the most recent deliverable for the milestone in question. Requests submitted after this window will be reviewed at our discretion but are not guaranteed.

When refunds do not apply

You approved the final deliverable. Once you provide written approval of the completed work, the project is considered closed and no refund will be issued for that milestone.

Delays were caused on your end. If the project timeline extends because of late feedback, missed review deadlines, or failure to provide necessary materials, that delay does not create refund eligibility.

You changed the scope after work began. If you substantially change the direction, genre, word count target, or concept of your project after work has started, additional costs may apply. These changes do not entitle you to a refund of work already completed under the original scope.

Third-party costs have been committed. For publishing, marketing, and distribution services, some costs are committed to third-party vendors (platform fees, ad spend, printing costs, review placement fees, booth registrations, and similar). Once these costs have been committed on your behalf, they are non-refundable regardless of project status. This is noted in your project agreement before any third-party costs are incurred.

A chargeback was filed without contacting us first. If you initiate a chargeback or payment dispute with your bank or payment provider before completing our internal dispute resolution process, we reserve the right to suspend all ongoing work, withhold undelivered files, and recover administrative costs incurred from the dispute.

Refund processing

Approved refunds are processed within 10 business days and returned to the original payment method. In cases where the original method is no longer available, we will work with you to arrange an alternative.

You will receive written confirmation of your refund amount and the reasoning behind the calculation. If your refund request is denied, you will receive a written explanation and may proceed to our dispute resolution process.

Dispute resolution

If you are unsatisfied with a refund decision, contact us directly before taking any external action. Send a written description of your concern to our team, and we will review the matter and respond within 10 business days.

If we cannot reach a resolution through direct communication, both parties agree to pursue good-faith mediation before initiating any formal legal proceedings. The cost of mediation is shared equally unless otherwise agreed.

We believe most disputes arise from miscommunication, not bad intent. Our process is designed to find a fair resolution without unnecessary escalation.

How to request a refund

To submit a refund request, contact our team through our contact page. Include your project name, the date of your most recent payment, and a description of the issue. We will acknowledge your request within two business days and begin the review process.