Custom Tailoring and Alterations Terms of Service

What a good one includes

• A detailed timeline for fittings, specifying the maximum number of included sessions and the fees associated with post-approval weight fluctuations or style changes.
• A clear payment schedule that outlines non-refundable deposits for materials and the final balance due before any completed garment leaves your studio.
• A robust liability disclaimer regarding customer-provided fabrics, stating that you are not responsible for shrinkage, hidden flaws, or how the material behaves under heat and stitching.
• An abandoned goods clause detailing exactly how many days a finished item will be stored before it is sold, donated, or subjected to daily storage fees.
• A formal sign-off policy requiring the client's written or verbal approval of the final fit before they walk out the door, waiving future claims for free adjustments.
• A limited liability clause that caps your financial responsibility to the cost of the alterations service or a set multiple of the fee in the rare event of accidental damage.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on verbal agreements for fitting milestones, which leaves you vulnerable when a client insists they never approved a specific hem length.
• Failing to define an exact expiration date for unclaimed garments, forcing you to store finished bridal gowns or suits indefinitely at your own expense.
• Accepting high-risk, delicate vintage fabrics without a written warning that older fibers may break or degrade during the alteration process.
• Neglecting to specify who pays for additional work when a client's body measurements change significantly between the initial consultation and the final fitting.

Frequently asked questions