Independent Contractor Agreement

You acknowledge and agree that you are an independent contractor and not an employee, agent, joint venturer, or partner of Home Harbor. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create an employment relationship. You are solely responsible for determining how, when, and where you perform services, subject to the quality standards outlined in the Platform's Terms of Service.

As an independent contractor, you are responsible for:

• Providing your own tools, equipment, and supplies necessary for service delivery
• Maintaining appropriate licenses, permits, and certifications for your trade
• Securing your own general liability and professional insurance coverage
• Managing your own business operations, scheduling, and client communications

As an independent contractor, you are solely responsible for all federal, state, and local tax obligations arising from payments received through the Platform. Home Harbor does not withhold income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, or any other taxes from your earnings.

You acknowledge that:

• You are responsible for paying all applicable self-employment taxes
• You are responsible for making estimated quarterly tax payments as required
• Home Harbor will issue IRS Form 1099-NEC for payments exceeding $600 in a calendar year
• You must provide accurate taxpayer identification information (SSN or EIN) via the Stripe Connect onboarding process

While Home Harbor provides platform-level insurance coverage for bookings made through the Platform, you are encouraged to maintain your own insurance coverage, including but not limited to:

• General liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence
• Professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance where applicable
• Workers' compensation insurance if required by your state of operation
• Commercial auto insurance if you use a vehicle for service delivery

Home Harbor's platform insurance is supplementary and does not replace your obligation to maintain appropriate coverage for your business activities.

While you maintain independence in how you perform services, you agree to adhere to the following platform standards:

• Arrive within the scheduled booking window or communicate delays promptly
• Perform services in a professional, workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards
• Maintain respectful and professional communication with homeowners at all times
• Follow all applicable safety guidelines and regulations for your trade
• Accurately represent your qualifications, experience, and service capabilities
• Complete all work as described in the booking scope, or clearly communicate any changes before proceeding

Failure to meet these standards may result in account restrictions, reduced visibility, or termination of your access to the Platform as described in the Terms of Service.

Payments for services are processed through the Platform's payment-hold system, in which Stripe (our payment processor) holds homeowner funds on a delayed-payout basis until the work is approved. Home Harbor never takes custody of customer funds. You agree to the following payment terms:

• Payment is released to you upon homeowner approval of completed work
• Home Harbor retains a platform service fee as described in the fee schedule
• Payouts are processed via Stripe Connect to your designated bank account
• Standard payout timing is 1–2 business days; instant payouts may be available for an additional fee
• Disputes are handled through the Platform's resolution process before external remedies

You set your own service prices and are free to adjust them at any time through your provider dashboard. Home Harbor does not dictate pricing.

To maintain the integrity of the Platform and protect all parties, you agree not to:

• Solicit homeowners to conduct transactions outside the Platform for services originally discovered through Home Harbor
• Request that homeowners cancel bookings to rebook through alternative channels
• Share personal contact information for the purpose of circumventing Platform fees
• Recruit or solicit other contractors from the Platform for competing services

This provision does not prevent you from serving customers who independently contact you outside the Platform, provided the relationship did not originate through Home Harbor.

You retain ownership of your business name, branding, and any original content you create. By uploading content to the Platform (including profile photos, portfolio images, and service descriptions), you grant Home Harbor a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display that content in connection with the Platform.

Home Harbor's name, logo, and Platform design are proprietary. You may not use Home Harbor's branding in your external marketing without prior written consent.

Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time, for any reason, by providing written notice. Upon termination:

• You must complete all currently accepted bookings or arrange appropriate cancellations
• Any pending payments for completed work will be processed according to normal payout schedules
• Your profile and storefront will be deactivated
• Provisions regarding confidentiality, non-solicitation, and dispute resolution survive termination

Home Harbor reserves the right to immediately suspend or terminate your account for material breach of this Agreement or the Terms of Service, including but not limited to safety violations, fraud, or repeated failure to meet service standards.

Any disputes arising from this Agreement shall first be addressed through Home Harbor's internal dispute resolution process. If the dispute cannot be resolved internally, both parties agree to binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, conducted in the state in which Home Harbor is headquartered.

Both parties waive the right to participate in class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration related to this Agreement.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Home Harbor may update this Agreement from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or through a prominent notice on the Platform at least 30 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.