Privacy Policy

Local Roots Studio (“we,” “us,” or “I”) is a one-person web studio operated by Benjamin Rodriguez in San Diego, California. This policy explains what information we collect when you visit localrootsstudio.com or hire us to build a website, how we use it, and the rights you have over it. If anything here is unclear, email ben@localrootsstudio.com and I'll explain it in plain English.

Information We Collect

When you fill out the contact form on this site, we collect your name, email address, phone number, and business name. If you book a call, our scheduling tool collects the same contact details plus the meeting time you chose. When you become a client, we collect the content you send us for your site (photos, copy, logos, service details) and billing information needed to invoice you.

We also collect basic, anonymous analytics when you browse the site: pages viewed, approximate location (city level), device type, and referring source. We do not use advertising trackers or sell your data. Ever.

How We Use Your Information

• To respond to your inquiry and schedule a call.
• To build, host, and maintain your website if you hire us.
• To send invoices and process payments.
• To send occasional project updates or renewal notices.
• To understand what content on the site is useful and improve it.

We will not add you to a marketing list without your permission and we do not send unsolicited email.

Third-Party Services

To run the business, we rely on a short list of reputable vendors. Each has their own privacy policy and we encourage you to review them:

• Vercel — hosting and deployment of this site and client sites.
• Cloudflare — DNS, CDN, and basic security filtering.
• Web3Forms — delivers messages sent through our contact form to our inbox.
• Calendly — books discovery calls and manages our calendar.
• Google Analytics — anonymous, aggregate site analytics (if enabled).
• Stripe — payment processing for invoices and subscriptions.

We share only the minimum information each vendor needs to do its job.

Cookies

This site uses a small number of functional cookies required for the site to work and, if analytics are enabled, anonymous analytics cookies. We do not use cookies for advertising or cross-site tracking. Your browser lets you block or delete cookies at any time; blocking them should not break anything here.

Your California Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you live in California, you have the right to know what personal information we hold about you, the right to request a copy of it, the right to ask us to delete it, the right to correct it, and the right not to be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not sell personal information. To make a request, email ben@localrootsstudio.com from the address on file and we will respond within 45 days.

Data Retention

We keep contact-form submissions for up to 24 months. Client project files and records are kept for the life of the engagement plus seven years for tax and accounting purposes. Analytics data is retained by Google for the period specified in their default settings. You can request deletion earlier by emailing us.

Children's Privacy

This site is not directed to children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect information from children. If you believe a child has submitted information to us, contact ben@localrootsstudio.com and we will delete it.

Security

We use industry-standard measures (HTTPS everywhere, vendor-managed infrastructure, password managers, two-factor authentication) to protect information. No system is perfectly secure, so we encourage you to avoid sending truly sensitive information by email.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll change the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. If the change is material, we'll email current clients.

Contact

Local Roots Studio, San Diego, California. Questions? Email ben@localrootsstudio.com.