Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

Information you provide directly. When you schedule a consultation, create a client portal account, or communicate with us, we may collect:

• Full name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Business name, EIN, and other business identification information
• Financial records, tax documents, payroll data, and related accounting information provided in connection with our professional services
• Login credentials for your client portal account
• Communications you send us, including messages through the client portal

Information collected automatically. When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address, browser type, and operating system
• Pages visited, referring URLs, and time spent on pages
• Device identifiers and general geographic location (city/region level)

Information from third parties. We may receive information about you from third-party sources such as identity verification services, publicly available business records, or referral partners, consistent with applicable law.

How We Use Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide, administer, and improve our accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll, advisory, and M&A services
• To communicate with you about appointments, service updates, and account matters
• To send appointment confirmations, reminders, and calendar invitations
• To process payments and maintain billing records
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including IRS requirements, state tax authority requirements, and professional licensing obligations
• To enforce our Terms of Service and protect the rights, property, and safety of Blackthorne Wicker, our clients, and others
• To analyze usage trends and improve our website and client portal

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use your information for automated profiling or algorithmic decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects without human review.

How We Share Information

We may share your information in limited circumstances:

• Service providers. We engage trusted third-party vendors (such as cloud storage, email delivery, and scheduling platforms) who process data on our behalf under confidentiality obligations. Current key providers include Google (Firebase/Firestore for client portal data) and Resend (email delivery).
• Government and regulatory agencies. We disclose information to the IRS, state tax authorities, and other regulatory bodies as required by law or professional obligations, including in connection with tax filings, payroll reporting, and business registrations.
• Legal proceedings. We may disclose information if required by subpoena, court order, or other legal process, or to protect against fraud, abuse, or harm.
• Professional advisors. With your consent, we may share information with attorneys, financial advisors, or other professionals engaged to assist with your matter.
• Business transfers. In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our business, client information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to appropriate confidentiality protections.

We do not share your financial or tax information with third parties for marketing purposes.

Data Retention

We retain your personal and financial information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy and to comply with applicable legal and professional obligations. For accounting, tax, and financial records, our standard retention period is seven (7) years following the end of the applicable engagement, consistent with IRS and state record-keeping requirements. Portal account data is retained for the duration of your engagement and for a reasonable period thereafter.

You may request deletion of your account information at any time; however, we may retain certain records as required by law or our professional obligations, and we will inform you of any such limitations at the time of your request.

Security

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Measures include encrypted data transmission (TLS), role-based access controls on our client portal, and authentication requirements for all portal accounts.

No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially reasonable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you as required by applicable law.

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses essential cookies and similar technologies necessary for the website to function properly (such as session management for the client portal). We do not currently use third-party advertising cookies or cross-site tracking technologies.

You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the client portal. We do not respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals at this time, as no industry standard has been finalized.

Your Rights & Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access. Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction. Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion. Request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal retention obligations.
• Portability. Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format where technically feasible.
• Opt-out of marketing. Unsubscribe from non-transactional marketing communications at any time by contacting us or using the unsubscribe link in any marketing email.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@blackthornewicker.com. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days, or as required by applicable law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete it promptly. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us immediately at info@blackthornewicker.com.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services not operated by Blackthorne Wicker. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you by email or through a notice on the client portal. Your continued use of our services following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

• Email: info@blackthornewicker.com
• Phone: (302) 636-7454
• Mail: 800 N King St, Ste 304-1761, Wilmington, DE 19801

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.