Data and Account Policy
Effective date: 31 May 2026. Last updated: 31 May 2026.
This policy describes where BeginThings stores your data, what an "account" means for each product category, and how you can delete everything cleanly when you stop using us.
1. What counts as an account on BeginThings
BeginThings does not operate a traditional username/password account system. The only authenticated identity on the site is your Google account, used for sign-in to Cat 2 products. Even then, we do not store a "BeginThings account record" on a server beyond what your Google identity provides for that session.
2. Where data lives
| Type of data | Where it lives | You control it via |
|---|---|---|
| Cat 1 free-tool inputs (e.g., your QR text, your invoice data) | Your browser memory only. Never sent to us. | Closing the tab. Clearing browser data. |
| Cat 2 Workspace 3D files, notes, sketches | Your browser localStorage on the device you used. | Workspace export to .3dwb. Clearing browser data. Disconnecting Google. |
| Cat 2 Google sign-in profile (name, email, photo) | Held in memory during your session only. Not persisted to our server. | Revoking access at myaccount.google.com. |
| Cat 3 FormulaMapper trial state and license | Your computer (Excel registry + AppData folder). | Uninstalling the add-in. Clearing AppData. |
| Cat 4 purchase records (digital product orders) | Payment processor (Razorpay or PayPal) and our order log. | Refund request. DPDPA/GDPR deletion request. |
| Cat 5 service engagement files (audit input URLs, scope docs) | Our email and storage for the duration of the engagement. | Deletion request after engagement closes. |
| Newsletter / lead-capture email | Web3Forms inbox — relayed to sourav@beginthings.com. | Unsubscribe link. Email deletion request. |
3. Google sign-in scopes (Cat 2)
When you sign in to Workspace 3D or any future Cat 2 product, BeginThings requests only the default Google Identity Services scopes:
openid— standard identity assertion.email— your Google email address.profile— your display name and profile picture.
We do not request any of the following: Google Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Sheets, Docs, Photos, YouTube, or other sensitive scopes. If a future feature requires an extended scope, we will ask you explicitly and update this policy.
4. How to delete your data
If you used only Cat 1 free tools
There is nothing to delete on our side. Your data never left your device. Clear your browser cookies and localStorage for beginthings.com if you want a fresh state.
If you used Workspace 3D (Cat 2)
- Export anything you want to keep as a .3dwb file.
- Inside Workspace, sign out (top-right user menu).
- Go to myaccount.google.com/permissions, find BeginThings in the list, click "Remove access".
- Clear browser data for beginthings.com to wipe localStorage.
If you used FormulaMapper (Cat 3)
- Uninstall the FormulaMapper add-in from Excel (File > Options > Add-ins > Manage > Excel Add-ins).
- Optionally delete the BeginThings folder from your Windows AppData (or macOS Library Application Support) to remove trial markers.
- Email sourav@beginthings.com if you want your purchase record deleted from our order log (subject to the 7-year accounting-record requirement under Indian tax law — we will anonymize where retention is mandatory).
If you bought a Cat 4 digital product or engaged a Cat 5 service
Email sourav@beginthings.com with subject "Data deletion request". We will:
- Delete project files and email correspondence (subject to mandatory retention for finished engagements).
- Mark your record as deleted in our order log.
- Retain only the minimum information required for tax and audit compliance (transaction date, amount, GSTIN if applicable, payment processor reference) for the legally mandated period.
5. Inactive accounts
Because we do not operate a persistent server-side account, there is no "inactive account" sweep. If you never come back, nothing changes. Your Cat 2 Google authorization stays valid until you revoke it at myaccount.google.com.
6. Account or data transfer
BeginThings does not support transferring a paid Cat 3 license, a Cat 4 download, or a Cat 5 engagement to another person or business entity. If a different person at the same organization needs access, please contact us and we will discuss reissue on a case-by-case basis.
7. Data export
You can export the following yourself, at any time, without contacting us:
- Workspace 3D content: in-app "Export as .3dwb".
- Free-tool outputs: download the generated file (the only output of the tool).
- Cat 4 PDFs and templates: re-download from your order email (or request a re-send).
For order metadata or other records, send a portability request to sourav@beginthings.com.
8. Backups and accidental loss
Because Workspace 3D and free-tool data live in your browser only, you are responsible for backing up your own work. We have no copy. We recommend exporting Workspace files to .3dwb regularly, and storing them somewhere off-device (Drive, Dropbox, GitHub, etc.).
9. Security
BeginThings uses HTTPS for all pages, OAuth 2.0 (popup mode, no client secret) for Google sign-in, and reputable payment processors (Razorpay, PayPal) that we do not see card details from. We do not store any card or bank information. Our hosting (Hostinger) operates standard data-center security; we do not have additional certifications and recommend that highly regulated workflows be conducted on platforms with the required compliance attestations.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the latest revision. Material changes will be announced on the homepage.
11. Contact
All data and account questions: sourav@beginthings.com. Operator: Sourav Mahapatra, India.
Related policies: Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer, Refund Policy, Cookie Policy.