Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Acela Financial Services website (acelafinancialservices.com), submitting any form, requesting a consultation, or engaging our professional services, you ("Client," "you," or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference.

If you are using this site or engaging our services on behalf of a business or organization, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

2. Our Services

Acela Financial Services provides professional accounting, bookkeeping, and financial advisory services including but not limited to:

• Bookkeeping and general ledger maintenance
• Accounting and financial statement preparation
• Nonprofit accounting and Form 990 preparation
• Audit and work paper support
• Financial consulting and advisory services

The scope of specific professional services will be defined in a separate Engagement Letter or Service Agreement signed by both parties prior to commencement of billable work.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age and have full legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement to use our services. By submitting any form on this website, you represent that you meet these requirements.

4. Client Engagement & Professional Relationship

Submitting a contact form, consultation request, or service request through this website does not create an attorney-client, CPA-client, or any other professional relationship. A professional relationship is established only upon execution of a written Engagement Letter or Service Agreement.

An initial free consultation does not constitute the rendering of professional advice and does not create a professional engagement. Any general information provided during a consultation is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon without first entering into a formal engagement.

5. Fees, Invoicing & Payment

All professional service fees will be clearly stated in your Engagement Letter or proposal. Unless otherwise agreed in writing:

• Invoices are due within 30 days of issuance.
• Overdue balances may be subject to a late fee of 1.5% per month (18% per annum) on amounts outstanding beyond 30 days.
• We reserve the right to suspend services on accounts with invoices outstanding beyond 60 days.
• All fees are quoted and payable in US Dollars.
• Fees do not include government filing fees, third-party software costs, or out-of-pocket expenses unless expressly included in the Engagement Letter.

6. Client Responsibilities

The quality and timeliness of our work depends significantly on your cooperation. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and timely information, documents, and records as requested.
• Promptly review and respond to our requests, draft documents, and correspondence.
• Notify us immediately of any material changes to your financial situation, business structure, or other relevant circumstances.
• Maintain the security of your Client Portal credentials and notify us immediately of any suspected unauthorized access.
• Ensure that all information you provide is truthful and does not infringe the rights of any third party.

Acela Financial Services shall not be liable for any errors, penalties, or delays arising from your failure to provide accurate and complete information.

7. Confidentiality & Professional Standards

We treat all client information with the highest degree of confidentiality, consistent with our professional obligations as a CPA firm. Our confidentiality obligations include:

• Not disclosing client information to third parties without your written consent, except as required by law or professional standards.
• Maintaining appropriate safeguards for all financial documents and sensitive data.
• Adhering to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and all applicable professional standards.

You acknowledge that we may be required by law, court order, or professional regulatory authority to disclose certain information, and that such disclosure does not constitute a breach of these Terms.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on this website — including text, graphics, logos, images, page layouts, and software — is owned by or licensed to Acela Financial Services and is protected by United States and international intellectual property laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, or exploit any content from this website without our prior written consent.

Work product prepared by Acela Financial Services specifically for you (e.g., financial statements, reports) is provided for your use as described in your Engagement Letter. Acela retains ownership of all underlying methodologies, templates, and processes.

9. Client Portal Use

Access to our Client Portal is provided for the purpose of securely exchanging documents and communications related to your engagement. You agree to:

• Use the portal only for lawful purposes related to your engagement with us.
• Not upload malicious files, unauthorized third-party data, or content that violates any law.
• Keep your access credentials confidential and not share them with unauthorized parties.
• Accept that uploaded files may be retained per our data retention policy (see Privacy Policy, Section 6).

10. Disclaimers

This website and its general content are provided "as is" for informational purposes only. Nothing on this website constitutes professional accounting, tax, legal, or financial advice unless provided through a formal written engagement.

We make no warranty, express or implied, that the information on this website is accurate, complete, current, or suitable for any particular purpose. Tax laws and accounting standards change frequently; always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Acela Financial Services and its principals, employees, and contractors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of this website or our services.

Our total aggregate liability for claims arising under any formal service engagement shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to Acela Financial Services in the 12 months preceding the claim. This limitation does not apply to claims arising from gross negligence or willful misconduct.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Acela Financial Services and its principals, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your use of our website or services; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any applicable law or third-party rights; or (d) any inaccurate or incomplete information you provide to us.

13. Termination of Services

Either party may terminate a service engagement upon written notice. Upon termination:

• You remain responsible for all fees for work completed prior to termination.
• We will provide you with copies of completed work product and return your original documents.
• We may retain copies of records as required by professional standards and applicable law.

We reserve the right to refuse or discontinue services at our discretion, including if you breach these Terms or fail to cooperate with the engagement.

14. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the state in which Acela Financial Services is registered, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any dispute arising from these Terms or our services that cannot be resolved informally shall first be submitted to non-binding mediation. If mediation is unsuccessful, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, except that either party may seek emergency injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.

15. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via website notice and, where appropriate, by email. Your continued use of our website or services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

16. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about these Terms of Service, please contact: