Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 2025

We care about your privacy - not because we have to, but because it’s the right thing to do. This page explains what data we collect, how we use it, and the rights you have.

We follow the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA), and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), but mostly, we just try to use common sense.

1. Who We Are

We’re ETX Advising, a small professional services business based in Austin, TX, United States. If you’ve got questions about how we handle data, email privacy@etxadvising.com.

2. What We Collect

We don't use any sneaky cookies or ad-trackers - we only collect what’s necessary to run the business and stay in touch with you. That might include:

  • Your name, email, phone number, or address when you share it with us.
  • Details you enter when booking a meeting, sending us an email, or chatting on our site.
  • Payment info if you buy something from us (processed securely third party payment providers - we don’t store it).
  • Basic technical stuff like your IP address and browser type which are automatically logged by our hosting provider to keep the site secure.
  • If we share affiliate or referral links, we don’t track who clicks them - but the third-party vendor may collect limited data to process commissions.

3. How We Use It

We don’t sell, rent, or trade your personal data - ever. We only use your info to:

  • Reply to messages and schedule calls.
  • Deliver the services you’ve asked for.
  • Keep accurate business and tax records.
  • Maintain security and make sure the website runs properly.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

If you’re in the EU or UK, the GDPR requires that we have a “lawful basis” for using your data. Ours are pretty simple:

  • Consent: you gave us permission (like filling out a form).
  • Contract: we need it to provide what you asked for.
  • Legal obligation: we’re required to keep certain records.
  • Legitimate interest: we use minimal data to run and improve ETX Advising responsibly.

5. Subprocessors (Third-Party Services)

We work with a few trusted services that help us operate ETX Advising. All of them follow strong security standards, have proper data-processing agreements in place, and they only process data to support us, never for their own marketing.

  • HostGator: Website hosting and security logs
  • Google Workspace: Business email, calendar, and file storage
  • Calendly: Meeting scheduling
  • Crisp.chat: Live chat and contact forms

6. Data Storage and Transfers

Our systems and providers are based in the United States, so your data may be stored or processed here. When required, we rely on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or similar safeguards to meet EU data-protection standards.

7. How Long We Keep Data

We keep data only as long as we need it, and after that we delete or anonymize it.

  • General inquiries: up to 12 months
  • Client and payment records: up to 7 years (for legal/accounting reasons)
  • Messages and chats: until we’ve wrapped up the conversation or work

8. Your Rights (GDPR & UK GDPR)

If you’re in the EU or UK, you have rights over your personal data:

  • Ask what we have on file
  • Ask us to fix or delete it
  • Tell us to stop using it
  • Withdraw consent if you gave it
  • Ask for a copy to take elsewhere
  • File a complaint with your local data-protection authority
Email us at privacy@etxadvising.com to exercise any of these rights, and we’ll respond within 30 days.

9. California Privacy (CalOPPA)

In line with CalOPPA, visitors can use this site anonymously. Our Privacy Policy link is clearly labeled and visible on the homepage, we don’t track users across other sites, and we honor browser Do Not Track signals.

10. Children’s Privacy (COPPA & GDPR)

We don’t knowingly collect data from anyone under 13 in the U.S. or 16 in the EU. If you’re a parent and think your child has shared info with us, email privacy@etxadvising.com and we’ll take care of it.

11. Security

We use SSL encryption and secure systems. Only authorized people can access data, and they’re required to keep it private.

ETX Advising does not store or process payment details. Payments (if any) are handled through secure third-party providers — we never store card details.

12. If Something Goes Wrong

If there’s ever a data breach that affects your personal information, we’ll notify you know within 7 business days and work quickly to fix it.

13. Updates

If we update this policy, we’ll change the date at the top. If the changes are major, we’ll make it clear on our site.

14. Contact

Questions, concerns, or requests? Email privacy@etxadvising.com