The short version
- I collect what I need to run my free tools, answer you, get paid, and do the work you hire me for. Not more than that.
- I don't sell your personal information.
- Card numbers go to my payment processor, not to me. I never see or store your full card number.
- I use some AI tools. I review customer-facing work myself, and you approve it before it goes out.
- Please don't send passwords, card numbers, or health records through forms, email, or chat.
- You can ask to see, fix, or delete what I have about you. Email [email protected].
The rest of this page explains each of those points in plain English.
1. Who I am
Digital Business Mechanic ("DBM," "I," and "me") is run by Jamie Maniatis in Spokane, Washington. I'm the person responsible for your information. If you have a question or a request about privacy, the fastest route is email: [email protected]. You can also call (509) 868-9784.
2. What this policy covers
This policy covers:
- This website, digitalbusinessmechanic.com, including the blog and Garage TV
- The free tools: Website Inspection, Business Checkup, Fit Check, Cost Estimator, and the Workbench
- The contact form, email, text messages, and phone calls with me
- Purchases of products and services
- Client work, from the first conversation to the handoff
It does not cover other websites you reach through my links, or the policies of the companies I use to run my business. Those companies have their own policies, and I list them below so you know who they are.
3. What I collect
3.1 What you tell me
This is the information you choose to give me: your name, email address, phone number (if you share it), business name, website address, messages, project details, answers you type into a tool, files you send, and scheduling details. If you send it, I have it.
3.2 Public information I look at
When you run the Website Inspection or a similar tool, the tool makes a small number of ordinary public requests to the website address you give it. It records technical observations it needs to build your report, such as how the page is set up, how fast it loads, and what contact information is publicly visible. It does not log in, guess passwords, or try to break in.
Please only enter a website that you own or have permission to check.
3.3 Payment information
When you buy something, my payment processor (currently Square) handles your card details. I can see the product, the amount, the date, the status of the payment, and a transaction ID. I do not see or store your full card number.
3.4 Information collected automatically
Like almost every website, mine and my hosting and security providers create basic records when you visit: your IP address, browser type, device type, the pages you request, timestamps, and security events. These records help keep the site running and protect it from abuse.
3.5 Small settings stored on your device
The site may store small bits of information in your browser, like a tool's last state, so things work the way you expect. This isn't used to follow you around other websites.
3.6 Information from other sources
If I contact a business first, I get its public business details from public places, like its own website, a public business listing, or a public social profile. If an agency or partner brings me in to help a client, they may share details about the project so I can do the work. I'll only use what I need.
3.7 Calls, meetings, and recordings
I will not record a phone call or a meeting without telling you first and getting your okay. This matters in Washington, where recording a private conversation generally requires everyone's consent.
If you use Content Engine, one 20-minute conversation with me is the raw material for your content. I may record or transcribe it so I can turn it into drafts. I'll ask first, and you can say no. If you say no, I'll take notes instead.
4. How I use your information
I use it to:
- Run the free tools and send you the results you asked for
- Answer your questions and reply to your requests
- Write you a scope and do the work we agree on
- Take payments, send receipts, and keep business and tax records
- Keep the site secure and stop abuse
- Fix mistakes and improve the site and tools
- Meet legal obligations
I don't use your information for anything unrelated to those things. I don't sell it, rent it, or trade it.
5. If I contact you first
I'm a small business, and sometimes I reach out to other small businesses about whether I can help. When I do:
- I use business contact information that is publicly available for that business.
- I tell you who I am and why I'm writing.
- I review what I say about your business. I only mention things I can point to, like something on your public website.
- Every marketing email includes a simple way to opt out. If you tell me to stop, I stop, and I keep your address on a do-not-contact list so I don't email you again by accident.
- I won't buy lists of personal email addresses or scrape personal profiles.
To opt out at any time, reply "stop" to any message or email me at the address above.
6. AI tools
I use AI tools to move faster: to organize information, draft text and checklists, summarize what you send, and help with code. Here is what that means for you:
- A person reviews customer-facing work. Drafts are mine to check and yours to approve. Nothing is published, sent, posted, booked, or changed on your behalf without your approval.
- AI providers may process what I give them. I use tools from providers such as Anthropic and OpenAI. Each provider has its own terms for handling information. I send them only what I reasonably need to do your work.
- Don't send anything highly sensitive. If your project involves stricter handling, such as private customer records, tell me before we start. We'll write the rules into the scope, or I'll tell you honestly that I'm not the right fit.
- AI can be wrong. That's one reason a person checks the work. If something I send you looks off, tell me.
You can read more on my AI page.
7. Who I share information with
I share information only with the companies and people I need to run the business, and only as much as the task requires. Current examples may include:
- Cloudflare: hosting, security, and site delivery
- Square: checkout and payment processing
- Google: email (Gmail) and related business tools
- An email delivery service (such as Resend) for sending report copies and notices
- A scheduling tool (such as Calendly) if you book a call
- AI providers (see section 6)
- My accountant or tax preparer, if needed for records
I may also share information:
- When the law requires it, such as a valid legal request
- To protect my rights, my customers, or the site from fraud or abuse
- If I sell or transfer the business, in which case the new owner would need to honor this policy
- When you ask me to, or with your permission
Each provider handles information under its own policy. I choose providers carefully, but I can't control how they run their systems.
I don't sell personal information. I also don't share it with advertisers for targeted advertising.
8. Cookies and analytics
The site uses the technologies that hosting and security providers need to keep it running and safe. It may use basic analytics to see which pages get used, so I can fix what's confusing.
I don't use this site to build advertising profiles. If I ever add advertising trackers, such as ad pixels from social platforms, I will update this section first and tell you what they do.
You can limit or block cookies and local storage in your browser settings. Some parts of the site may work less well if you do.
9. Public content: blog, Garage TV, and demos
If I want to feature your name, your business, your words, or your story in a blog post, a Garage TV episode, a demo, or my portfolio, I ask first and I get a yes. You can ask me to take it down later, and I will.
A "Demonstration" label on my site means I built it to show what I can do. It doesn't mean the business behind it is a paying client. See my Disclaimer for more.
10. How long I keep information
I keep information only as long as I reasonably need it. These are my usual timeframes:
- Contact form messages and tool results from people who don't become customers: up to 24 months, then deleted.
- Customer project files and communication: for the life of the project and a reasonable period afterward in case you need a fix or have a question, then deleted or returned to you.
- Payment, invoice, and accounting records: up to 7 years, because tax and business records need to be kept.
- Do-not-contact requests: kept as long as needed to honor your request.
- Security and server logs: kept for a short period by the provider.
I may keep some information longer if the law requires it or if I need it to handle a dispute.
11. Security
I use reasonable safeguards for the size of my business, including strong passwords, access limits, and providers with security practices of their own. No website, email system, or online service can promise perfect security, and I won't pretend otherwise.
If I learn that a security problem has exposed your personal information, I will tell you as required by Washington law and other laws that apply, and I'll explain what happened and what to do.
You can help by never sending passwords, card numbers, health records, or other highly sensitive information by ordinary email or form. If I need access to one of your accounts for a project, we'll agree on a safer way to do it, and I'll only ask for the access the job needs.
12. Your choices and rights
You can ask me to:
- Tell you what personal information I have about you
- Correct anything that's wrong
- Delete your information
- Stop non-essential messages, such as marketing emails
To make a request, email [email protected] with "Privacy request" in the subject, and include the email address or transaction connected to your request. I may need to confirm it's really you before I act, to protect your information from someone pretending to be you.
I'll reply and take action within 45 days. If I need more time, I'll tell you why.
Some things I can't delete right away, such as payment and tax records I'm required to keep, information I need to handle a dispute, and security logs. If that's the case, I'll tell you what I can't delete and why.
If you believe a public page, report, or tool result contains incorrect personal information about you, send me the page address or document and tell me what's wrong. I'll review it and correct it where I can.
I will not treat you differently for making a privacy request.
13. If you live in another state
Washington does not currently have a general consumer privacy law like those in some other states. If you live in a state that gives you additional privacy rights, such as California, you may have more rights than are listed here. Contact me and I'll do my best to honor a valid request.
14. Children
My site and services are for business owners. They're not directed to children under 13, and I don't knowingly collect information from them. If you think a child has sent me information, contact me and I'll delete it.
15. Using this site from outside the United States
I operate in the United States. If you use the site from another country, your information will be processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those where you live.
16. Links to other sites
My pages link to other websites, tools, and platforms. When you click away, you leave my site, and that site's policy applies instead. A link isn't an endorsement.
17. Changes to this policy
I may update this policy when my tools, providers, or the law change. The effective date at the top shows the current version. If I make a significant change, I'll say so on the site.
18. Contact
Questions, requests, or concerns about privacy:
Digital Business Mechanic Jamie Maniatis, Spokane, Washington Email: [email protected] Phone: (509) 868-9784
This is a plain-language policy describing how my business handles information. It isn't legal advice. If you need advice about your own legal duties, talk with an attorney.