Restoration Service Agreement Template

A free, copy-and-paste liability and scope-of-work agreement for professional card repair and restoration services.

Adapted and published with permission from a template originally written by Matthew Musick of Shiny Asset Exchange LLC. Expanded and annotated by Card Conservation.

Far too many restorers take custody of other people's valuable cards with nothing in writing. This page exists to fix that. Use it, adapt it, make it yours.

WARNING: This is not legal advice. Card Conservation is not a law firm, no attorney drafted or reviewed this document, and it has never been tested in court. It was written by working restorers based on practical experience, not legal training. Treat it as an organized checklist of what your contract should probably address, not as a contract you can safely use as-is. Have a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction review it before you use it with a real customer.

Read This First

Laws vary enormously. Consumer protection statutes, bailment law, artisan's lien rules, unclaimed-property law, the enforceability of liability limits, and mandatory-arbitration rules all differ by U.S. state and by country. A clause that is fully enforceable in Texas may be void in California, the EU, the UK, Canada, or Australia.

Several specific things to understand before you rely on this:

Some clauses may not be enforceable against consumers at all. Many jurisdictions refuse to enforce liability waivers, damage caps, or forum-selection clauses in consumer contracts, or require specific formatting — bold text, all-caps, separate initials — to make them effective.
This template assumes a U.S.-based, business-to-consumer, in-person-or-mail service relationship. If that is not you, it needs more than edits. It needs rewriting.
An unenforceable waiver is worse than no waiver, because it creates false confidence. Do not skip the attorney step.

Everything in [BRACKETS] must be filled in or deleted. Everything else should be read line by line and adjusted to how you actually operate.

How to Use This Template

Replace all [BRACKETED] fields with your information.
Delete any optional section that does not apply to your business, and renumber.
Have an attorney review the result.
Send it before any work begins — not with the invoice.
Get affirmative acceptance in writing (email reply, e-signature, or checkbox on an intake form) and keep the record.
Store a copy of the accepted agreement with the job file, alongside your intake photos.

Tip: Regardless of what your agreement says: photograph every card on arrival under consistent lighting, front and back, before you touch it. A time-stamped photo record resolves more disputes than any clause in this document.

A Note on Disclosure and Ethics

This template protects the restorer. It does not, and cannot, authorize anyone to misrepresent a card.

Restoration is legitimate work. Passing a restored card off as unrestored is not. Grading companies treat undisclosed alteration as grounds for rejection, and knowingly selling an altered card as original may constitute fraud regardless of what any agreement says. Section 12 below places the disclosure obligation squarely on the customer, and it should stay there.

Cover Email

Hi [CUSTOMER NAME],

Thanks for reaching out about [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CARD(S)].

Before I begin any repair or restoration work, I need your written
confirmation that you have read and agree to the Service Agreement below.

Please reply to this email stating that you have read, understand, and
agree to the terms, and I will get started.

If you have questions about any provision, ask before you accept. I would
rather talk it through now than after work has begun.

Thank you,

[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR BUSINESS NAME]
[CONTACT INFO]

The Agreement

Preamble

This Service Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into between [YOUR LEGAL BUSINESS NAME] (the "Service Provider") and [CUSTOMER NAME] (the "Customer"), effective as of the date the Customer accepts these terms as described in Section 19.

1. Services and Scope

The Service Provider agrees to perform the repair and restoration services described in [THE ATTACHED WORK ORDER / THE QUOTE DATED ___ / THE ACCOMPANYING EMAIL] (the "Services") on the trading card(s) identified therein (the "Card(s)").

Optional additions to consider:

Estimated turnaround: [X] business days from receipt, which is an estimate and not a guaranteed completion date.
Right to refuse: The Service Provider may decline or discontinue any job at its sole discretion and return the Card(s) to the Customer, at [WHOSE] expense.
Declared value: The Customer declares the value of the submitted Card(s) as [$ AMOUNT] for the purposes of this Agreement.

2. Acknowledgment of Risk

The Customer acknowledges and understands that card repair and restoration involve specialized techniques and processes that carry inherent risks, including but not limited to:

Minor alterations in texture, gloss, or coloration
Changes in surface integrity, including additional whitening or increased visibility of existing defects
Unforeseen reactions to materials, treatments, heat, pressure, hydration, cleaning processes, or environmental factors
The possibility that certain defects cannot be fully repaired and may remain visible
The possibility that the Card(s) may be left in a condition equal to or worse than their condition on arrival

The Customer understands and agrees that while the Service Provider will exercise reasonable care and professional judgment, no specific outcome is guaranteed, and some changes may be permanent or irreversible.

3. Assumption of Risk and Limitation of Liability

The Customer knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with the repair and restoration process.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Service Provider shall not be liable for any actual or perceived loss in value, condition change, or damage arising during or after the restoration process, including but not limited to:

Fading, color shifts, whitening, gloss variation, or surface changes
Creases, dents, impressions, or imperfections that may not be fully removable or that may become more apparent
Any impact on the Card's eligibility for grading, authentication, encapsulation, or resale

Liability cap. (Optional — discuss with your attorney. Caps are unenforceable in some jurisdictions and may be voided as unconscionable if set too low.) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Service Provider's total aggregate liability arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall not exceed [THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY THE CUSTOMER FOR THE SERVICES / $ AMOUNT / THE DECLARED VALUE IN SECTION 1].

Nothing in this Agreement limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud.

4. No Guarantee of Grading or Value

The Service Provider makes no representations or warranties regarding:

The outcome of grading or authentication by third-party companies, including but not limited to PSA, Beckett (BGS), CGC, SGC, or similar entities
Whether a Card will or will not be flagged as altered, restored, or otherwise ineligible for numeric grading
The market value, resale value, or collectability of any Card following restoration

All grading determinations and valuations are made solely by independent third parties and are entirely outside the Service Provider's control.

5. Shipping and Handling

The Service Provider is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage occurring during inbound or outbound shipping. The Customer is strongly encouraged to use tracked and insured shipping methods.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, shipping risk remains solely with the Customer. Outbound shipping will be sent [TRACKED AND INSURED FOR $___ / AS SPECIFIED BY THE CUSTOMER] at [WHOSE] expense.

6. Custody of Property

The Service Provider will exercise reasonable care in safeguarding the Customer's Card(s) while they are in the Service Provider's possession. However, the Customer acknowledges and agrees that the Service Provider is not an insurer of the Card(s).

Except to the extent caused by the Service Provider's gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud, the Service Provider shall not be liable for any loss, theft, burglary, fire, vandalism, natural disaster, carrier delay, or other event beyond the Service Provider's reasonable control while the Card(s) are in the Service Provider's care, custody, or control.

The Customer acknowledges that collectible trading cards may possess substantial monetary or sentimental value, and assumes the risk of loss arising from such events beyond the Service Provider's reasonable control. The Customer is encouraged to maintain or obtain appropriate insurance coverage for valuable Card(s).

7. Pre-Existing Conditions and Hidden Defects

The Customer acknowledges that collectible trading cards may contain pre-existing damage, hidden defects, prior restoration, manufacturing irregularities, contamination, or other conditions that are not visible or reasonably discoverable before restoration begins.

The Customer understands and agrees that such conditions may affect the restoration process or become apparent only after treatment has commenced. The Service Provider shall not be responsible for adverse outcomes resulting from pre-existing or concealed conditions that could not reasonably have been identified prior to performing the authorized Services.

8. Authorization for Restoration Methods

The Customer authorizes the Service Provider to perform the Services using the Service Provider's professional judgment, experience, and customary restoration techniques, including the selection of materials, tools, processes, heat, pressure, hydration, cleaning, or other restoration methods the Service Provider reasonably determines are appropriate.

The Customer acknowledges that individual cards may respond differently to restoration techniques, and that the Service Provider may modify or discontinue a treatment if, in the Service Provider's professional judgment, doing so is appropriate to help preserve the condition of the Card.

If the Service Provider determines that a material change in the scope of the Services is necessary, or wishes to perform services substantially different from those originally authorized, the Service Provider will obtain the Customer's written approval before proceeding — unless immediate action is reasonably necessary to prevent further damage to the Card.

9. Payment, Lien, and Unclaimed Property

Payment. Payment for all Services is due in full within [FOURTEEN (14)] calendar days of the Customer being notified that the Services are complete.

Possession pending payment. The Service Provider shall retain possession of the Card(s) until payment is received in full. The Customer acknowledges the Service Provider's right to do so, and the Service Provider may exercise any rights and remedies available under applicable law if payment is not timely received.

Caution: Artisan's and repairman's lien statutes are highly state-specific. Whether you have a lien, what notice you must give, and whether you may ever sell the property to satisfy the debt are all questions of local law. Do not assume you can sell an unpaid customer's card.

Unclaimed property. (Optional but strongly recommended — you do not want cards in your safe forever.) If the Customer fails to pay or to arrange retrieval of the Card(s) within [NINETY (90)] days of the completion notice, the Service Provider may treat the Card(s) as abandoned to the extent permitted by applicable law, after providing [WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE CUSTOMER'S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS AND EMAIL].

Caution: State unclaimed-property and abandonment laws override whatever this section says. Verify before relying on it.

10. Cancellation and Refunds

(Optional — delete if you do not offer cancellation.)

The Customer may cancel the Services at any time before work begins by written notice, and the Card(s) will be returned at [WHOSE] expense.

Once work has commenced, [NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED / FEES WILL BE PRORATED AS FOLLOWS: ___]. The Service Provider may cancel and return the Card(s) at any time, refunding any unearned fees.

11. Release of Claims

By submitting Card(s) for repair or restoration, the Customer releases and discharges the Service Provider from claims arising out of or related to the inherent risks of authorized restoration services, except to the extent caused by the Service Provider's gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud.

12. Customer Ownership, Authority, and Disclosure Obligations

Ownership. The Customer represents and warrants that they are the lawful owner of the Card(s) submitted, or that they have full legal authority from the owner to authorize the requested Services. The Service Provider shall not be responsible for disputes regarding ownership or authorization of submitted Card(s).

Disclosure. The Customer acknowledges that the Card(s) will have been restored, and agrees that any subsequent sale, trade, consignment, or submission for grading of the Card(s) is the Customer's sole responsibility to disclose accurately in accordance with applicable law and the policies of any third-party grading or authentication service.

The Service Provider does not authorize, and expressly disclaims any participation in, the misrepresentation of restored Card(s) as unrestored. The Customer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Service Provider from any claim arising out of the Customer's failure to disclose restoration.

13. Good-Faith Customer Care

While this Agreement limits liability, the Service Provider values transparency and customer satisfaction. Any concerns should be communicated promptly, and the Service Provider may, at its sole discretion, elect to address issues as a customer service courtesy. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as an obligation to provide refunds, replacements, or compensation.

14. Photography and Documentation

(Optional — but if you post before-and-after shots on YouTube, Instagram, or Patreon, you want this.)

The Service Provider may photograph or record the Card(s) before, during, and after the Services for documentation, quality control, and portfolio, educational, or promotional purposes.

Unless the Customer objects in writing before work begins, the Customer grants the Service Provider a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use such images and recordings. [PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION WILL BE EXCLUDED / THE CUSTOMER WILL NOT BE IDENTIFIED BY NAME.]

15. Electronic Acceptance and Communications

The Customer acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement may be delivered, accepted, and executed electronically.

Agreement to these terms may be confirmed by email response or other written electronic communication indicating acceptance.
Such electronic acceptance shall be deemed legally binding and equivalent to a handwritten signature.
No physical signature is required for this Agreement to be valid and enforceable.

16. Governing Law, Venue, and Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [STATE / PROVINCE / COUNTRY], without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Services shall be brought exclusively in the [state or federal courts located within STATE], and the Customer consents to such jurisdiction and venue.

Caution: Forum-selection and choice-of-law clauses are frequently unenforceable against out-of-state or foreign consumers. If you take international work, this section needs specific attention. Arbitration clauses and class-action waivers are a separate decision with real trade-offs. Do not add one from a form without advice.

17. Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Customer and the Service Provider with respect to the Services. It supersedes all prior or contemporaneous discussions, representations, understandings, negotiations, and agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

No amendment, modification, or waiver of any provision shall be effective unless made in writing and agreed to by both parties.

19. Acceptance of Agreement

By replying to the accompanying email, checking the acceptance box on the Service Provider's intake form, or otherwise submitting Card(s) for repair or restoration services, the Customer affirms that they have read, understood, and voluntarily agreed to the terms of this Agreement in full.

Acceptance Record

Field	Entry
Customer	`[NAME]`
Date of acceptance	`[DATE]`
Method of acceptance	`[EMAIL REPLY / E-SIGNATURE / INTAKE FORM]`
Card(s) covered	`[LIST]`

Attribution and Reuse

This template is released to the card conservation community for free use and adaptation, including commercial use by working restorers. Attribution is appreciated but not required.

Originally drafted by Matthew Musick of Shiny Asset Exchange LLC, shared with the community with his permission. Expanded and annotated by Card Conservation.

Neither contributor is an attorney, and no attorney has reviewed this document. No warranty of any kind is provided. See the disclaimer at the top of this page.