Terms & Conditions

Last updated: September 11, 2026

The short version: SLO Handyman is an online marketplace. We help customers in and around San Luis Obispo find independent handymen, book jobs, and pay through Stripe. We do not perform handyman work. Handymen are independent service providers, not our employees. The agreement for the actual work is between the customer and the handyman. Listing as a handyman is an opportunity to be found — we do not promise anyone jobs or a particular amount of work.

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the SLO Handyman website and related services (the "Platform"). By creating an account, listing as a handyman, booking a job, or otherwise using the Platform, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

In these Terms, "SLO Handyman," "we," "us," and "our" mean the SLO Handyman Platform. "Customer" means a person who browses, requests, or books work. "Handyman" means an independent service provider who lists on the Platform. "You" means any user of the Platform, including Customers and Handymen.

1. What SLO Handyman is — and is not

SLO Handyman is an online marketplace and payment platform that connects Customers in and around San Luis Obispo, California with independent Handymen. Our role is limited to:

displaying Handyman profiles, rates, services, and reviews;
allowing Customers to describe a job, choose pricing (hourly estimate or flat price), and book;
processing payments through Stripe;
holding the Customer's payment until the Customer confirms the job is done and releases payout; and
transferring the Handyman's share to the Handyman's Stripe connected account after release.

SLO Handyman is not a contractor, employer, staffing agency, or the person performing the work. We do not inspect jobs, supervise Handymen, direct how work is done, guarantee results, or act as a party to the service agreement between the Customer and the Handyman.

2. The work agreement is between the Customer and the Handyman

When a booking is accepted, the Customer and the Handyman enter into a direct agreement with each other for the described work, at the price paid for that job, on the preferred date (if one was provided), and on any other details they communicate. SLO Handyman is not a party to that agreement and does not control its performance.

Listings, hourly rates, service descriptions, bios, photos, "licensed" or "insured" indicators, experience, and reviews are provided by users. We do not verify, endorse, or warrant that information.

3. Independent Handymen — not employees

Handymen are independent contractors and independent service providers. They are not employees, agents, joint venturers, or partners of SLO Handyman. They set their own rates and availability, choose which bookings to accept or decline, decide how to perform the work, and are responsible for their own tools, materials, taxes, licenses, permits, and insurance.

Nothing in these Terms or on the Platform creates an employment, agency, or partnership relationship between SLO Handyman and any Handyman or Customer.

Creating a Handyman profile and finishing payout setup does not guarantee any bookings, job requests, messages, income, or a particular volume of work. Demand depends on Customers, your profile, rates, services, availability, reviews, and other factors outside our control. SLO Handyman's role is to provide a marketplace where Customers can discover Handymen. We create an opportunity to be hired; we do not promise that any Handyman will receive work. We are not responsible if a Handyman receives few or no requests.

4. Accounts

Customers must create an account and log in to book a job. Handymen create an account, complete a profile, and finish Stripe payout setup before they can receive bookings. You must provide accurate information, keep your login details confidential, and be at least 18 years old.

You are responsible for activity on your account. Notify us promptly if you believe someone has used your account without permission. We may suspend or close an account as described in Section 16.

5. How booking works

The Customer browses Handyman profiles and selects a Handyman who is taking requests and has finished Stripe payout setup.
The Customer describes the job, may enter a preferred date, and chooses a price: either an estimate based on hours times the Handyman's listed hourly rate, or a flat price the Customer enters.
The Customer pays the job price plus a $5 booking fee through Stripe Checkout.
After payment, contact information is shared so the Customer and Handyman can coordinate. The Handyman can accept or decline the booking.
If the Handyman declines, the Customer is fully refunded (job price plus the $5 booking fee).
If the Handyman accepts, they perform the work. They may mark the job as done in their dashboard. That does not pay them; it notifies the Customer.
When the Customer is satisfied, the Customer releases payment on their booking page. Only then is the Handyman's share transferred to their Stripe connected account.
Automatic release. If the Handyman marks the job as done and the Customer does not release payment or report a problem within 72 hours, the Platform will automatically release the Handyman's payout. We send the Customer an email when the job is marked done and a reminder before the automatic release. If the Customer reports a problem before the 72 hours pass, the automatic release is paused while the issue is reviewed.
After payment is released, the Customer may leave a 1–5 star rating and an optional written review.

The Platform also lets anyone submit a "describe your job" request. That is a lead for matching, not a paid booking, unless and until a Customer later books and pays a Handyman through the Platform.

6. Job descriptions, pricing, and scheduling

Customers are responsible for describing the work clearly and completely. Handymen are responsible for reviewing the description, asking questions, and accepting only jobs they can lawfully and competently perform. If the scope changes, the Customer and Handyman must agree with each other. The Platform currently charges the amount entered at checkout; it does not automatically add extra charges or issue partial refunds if the job runs over or under that amount.

An hourly total shown at booking is an estimate based on the hours the Customer enters and the Handyman's listed rate. A flat price is the amount the Customer chooses to pay for that booking. A preferred date is a scheduling request, not a guaranteed appointment until the Handyman accepts and the parties confirm timing with each other.

SLO Handyman does not set job prices (other than our fees in Section 8), does not schedule the work, and does not decide whether a job was completed correctly.

7. Customer and Handyman responsibilities

Customers

Provide accurate contact information and a clear job description.
Be present or arrange access to the property at the agreed time.
Provide a reasonably safe work environment.
Communicate promptly about access, scope, materials, and scheduling.
Release payment only when you are satisfied that the agreed work is done.
Treat Handymen respectfully and lawfully.

Handymen

Keep your profile, rates, services, and availability accurate.
Accept or decline new paid bookings promptly.
Perform accepted work in a workmanlike manner, on the agreed schedule, and in compliance with applicable law.
Obtain any licenses, permits, and insurance required for the work you take on.
Communicate promptly if you cannot make an appointment or cannot complete the job as described.
Treat Customers, their property, and their households respectfully and lawfully.

8. Fees: $5 booking fee and 12% commission

Each paid booking includes two SLO Handyman fees:

$5 booking fee. The Customer pays this in addition to the job price at checkout. It is a Platform fee, not part of the Handyman's job amount.
12% commission. SLO Handyman retains 12% of the job price. This comes out of the Handyman's job amount, not as an extra charge on top of what the Customer pays for the job.

Example: If the job price is $200, the Customer pays $205 ($200 job + $5 booking fee). SLO Handyman retains $5 + $24 (12% of $200). The Handyman's payout after the Customer releases payment is $176.

Joining as a Handyman has no signup, monthly, or listing fee. The commission applies to booked jobs as described above. Stripe may also deduct its own processing or payout fees according to Stripe's terms; those are Stripe's charges, not additional SLO Handyman fees listed at checkout.

9. How payment works (Stripe)

Payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. and its affiliates. Your use of payment features is also subject to Stripe's terms and privacy policy. Handymen must complete Stripe Connect onboarding and have payouts enabled before they can be hired. Payouts go to the Handyman's Stripe connected account, and from there to the bank or payout method the Handyman set up with Stripe.

At checkout, the Customer's card is charged the job price plus the $5 booking fee. That charge is made to SLO Handyman's Stripe platform account. The Handyman is not paid at that moment. The funds remain with the Platform (processed by Stripe) until either:

the Handyman declines the booking, in which case we refund the Customer's full payment; or
the Customer releases payment after the job is accepted, in which case we transfer the Handyman's payout (job price minus the 12% commission) to the Handyman's connected account. The $5 booking fee and the 12% commission stay with SLO Handyman; or
the Handyman marks the job as done and 72 hours pass without the Customer releasing payment or reporting a problem, in which case the Handyman's payout is released automatically on the same terms as a Customer-initiated release.

This is a held platform payment using Stripe's charge-and-transfer tools. It is not a licensed escrow service, and SLO Handyman is not an escrow agent. Releasing payment is the Customer's decision. We do not inspect the work or decide whether it was done correctly. Once payment is released and transferred, that transfer generally cannot be undone through the Platform.

Contact details are shown after a successful booking payment so the parties can coordinate. A Handyman who is marked as not taking requests, or who has not finished Stripe payout setup, cannot be booked.

10. Cancellations, no-shows, incomplete work, and disagreements

The Platform does not currently include a Customer "cancel booking" button after payment. Scheduling, rescheduling, cancellations, no-shows, extra work, and quality issues are first handled between the Customer and the Handyman.

Before the Handyman accepts. The Handyman may decline. If they decline, the Customer receives a full refund of the job price and the $5 booking fee. Refunds are issued through Stripe and typically appear within a few business days, depending on the Customer's bank or card issuer.
If checkout is abandoned. Leaving Stripe Checkout without paying does not create a booking and does not charge the card.
After the Handyman accepts. The Customer's payment remains held. The Customer should not release payment until the agreed work is finished to their satisfaction. If the Handyman does not show up, does not finish, or the parties disagree, they should communicate directly. Either party may also contact SLO Handyman. While funds are still held and have not been released, we may, at our discretion, refund the Customer if the job will not be completed as booked. We are not obligated to mediate or to issue a refund in every case.
Automatic release after work is marked done. Once the Handyman marks the job as done, the Customer has 72 hours to release payment or report a problem before the payout releases automatically (see Section 8). If you are not satisfied, use "Report a problem" on your booking page before the 72 hours pass. Reporting a problem pauses the automatic release so the issue can be reviewed; it does not guarantee a refund.
After the Customer releases payment. The Handyman's payout has been transferred. The Platform does not offer an in-app refund at that point. Remaining issues are between the Customer and the Handyman, except as described in Section 11.

Marking work as done is a notice from the Handyman. It does not mean SLO Handyman inspected the job, and it does not force the Customer to release payment.

11. Refunds, payment disputes, and chargebacks

The Platform's built-in refund is a full refund when a Handyman declines a new booking before accepting it. Other refunds are not automatic. If you need help while payment is still held, contact us at the details in Section 21 and include your booking information.

If you are not satisfied with work that has been accepted, do not release payment until you and the Handyman have addressed the issue. Withholding release is the main protection the Platform currently provides to Customers. It is not a guarantee of a particular outcome, a replacement Handyman, or compensation for damage or delay.

Chargebacks and card disputes are handled by Stripe and the Customer's card issuer under their rules. SLO Handyman does not control and cannot guarantee the result of a chargeback. If you file a chargeback, we may share booking records with Stripe. A chargeback after a Handyman has already been paid can create a loss; we may seek recovery from the responsible user where permitted. Repeated or abusive disputes may result in account suspension.

We do not promise that every payment issue will be resolved in your favor, that funds can always be recovered after release, or that Stripe or a bank will reverse a charge.

12. Licensing, permits, insurance, and legal compliance

SLO Handyman does not verify licenses, permits, insurance, background checks, qualifications, or right to work. A Handyman may check "I'm licensed" or "I'm insured" on their profile. Those statements are the Handyman's own. We do not confirm them.

Handymen are solely responsible for complying with California and local law for each job they accept, including contractor licensing rules administered by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), permit requirements, and insurance. Customers are encouraged to ask the Handyman about licensing and insurance, and to confirm anything that matters to them, before work begins.

Certain home-improvement and construction work in California requires a contractor license. Limited work may be exempt. SLO Handyman does not determine whether a particular job needs a license or permit. If you are unsure, consult the CSLB or a qualified professional.

13. Risks of independent handyman work

Hiring an independent Handyman involves risk. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, SLO Handyman is not responsible for:

the quality, safety, legality, timeliness, or completion of any job;
property damage, personal injury, illness, death, theft, or loss arising from a job or from a user's conduct;
defective, incomplete, delayed, or unsatisfactory workmanship;
tools, materials, or methods a Handyman uses;
disagreements, no-shows, cancellations, or unpaid amounts between Customers and Handymen;
a Handyman's or Customer's acts or omissions, including negligence;
whether a Handyman is licensed, insured, qualified, or legally permitted to do the work;
listings, photos, rates, or reviews provided by users; or
a Handyman receiving few or no job requests, bookings, or earnings from listing on the Platform.

You use the Platform and arrange work with other users at your own risk. This Section does not limit liability that applicable law does not allow us to limit, including liability that cannot be waived for our own fraud or willful misconduct, where such a waiver is prohibited.

14. Reviews, ratings, photos, and other content

After a job is completed and payment is released, the Customer may leave a 1–5 star rating and an optional written note. Ratings appear as an average on the Handyman's profile. Written notes may appear on the Handyman's public profile. Handymen may upload a profile photo and write a bio.

Reviews reflect the opinions of individual Customers, not SLO Handyman. You grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, and use content you submit (including reviews, photos, bios, and job descriptions) in connection with operating and promoting the Platform. You represent that you have the right to submit that content and that it is accurate and not misleading.

Do not post content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, obscene, fraudulent, that invades privacy, or that impersonates someone else. We may edit, refuse, or remove content that violates these Terms or that we reasonably believe is abusive, fake, or harmful. We are not obligated to review all content before it appears.

15. Prohibited conduct

You may not:

use the Platform for any unlawful purpose;
misrepresent your identity, qualifications, licensing, insurance, or a job;
book with a stolen or unauthorized payment method, or otherwise commit payment fraud;
manipulate reviews, ratings, or bookings;
harass, threaten, discriminate against, or harm another user;
steal, damage, or misuse another person's property;
circumvent fees by taking a paid Platform booking off-Platform in order to avoid the booking fee or commission, when that booking was arranged through SLO Handyman;
interfere with the Platform's security, accounts, or payment systems;
scrape, copy, or misuse other users' contact information for spam or unrelated marketing; or
use the Platform to offer work you are not legally allowed to perform.

16. Suspension and termination

We may suspend or terminate a Customer or Handyman account, hide a listing, or refuse a booking, at any time, if we reasonably believe you have violated these Terms, engaged in fraud or abuse, created a safety or legal risk, failed Stripe or payment requirements, or for other legitimate operational reasons. We may also do so if required by law or by Stripe.

Handymen may delete their own account from their dashboard if they do not have active jobs with payment still held (bookings that are paid and awaiting acceptance, or marked work-done and awaiting release). You remain responsible for obligations that arose before termination, including completed jobs and amounts already charged or transferred.

We may keep records as needed to operate the Platform, complete payments, handle disputes, and comply with law.

17. Platform availability, security, and disclaimers

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Platform is provided "as is" and "as available." We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free, that listings are accurate, that any Handyman will receive bookings or a particular volume of work, or that any Handyman will accept your booking or complete your job.

We take reasonable steps to operate the Platform, and Stripe processes card payments. No website or payment system is perfectly secure. You are responsible for keeping your devices, passwords, and booking links confidential. A private booking or dashboard link is equivalent to access to that booking or account — do not share it.

18. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, SLO Handyman and its owners, officers, and employees will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, lost data, or business interruption, arising out of the Platform, a booking, or a job, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, our total liability for any claim relating to the Platform or a particular booking is limited to the total fees SLO Handyman actually retained from that booking (the $5 booking fee and, if applicable, the 12% commission actually retained on that job). If we retained no fees on the transaction at issue, our total liability is limited to $50.

Some jurisdictions, including California in certain consumer situations, do not allow certain warranty disclaimers or limitations of liability. In those cases, the disclaimer or limitation applies only to the extent permitted. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.

19. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless SLO Handyman and its owners, officers, and employees from and against claims, damages, losses, and reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of:

your use of the Platform;
a job you booked or performed;
your content (including profile information, photos, and reviews);
your violation of these Terms or of applicable law; or
a dispute between you and another user.

This indemnification does not require you to indemnify SLO Handyman for claims arising solely from our willful misconduct or fraud, or to the extent such indemnification is prohibited by applicable law.

20. Disputes and governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Except for claims that must be brought in small claims court, and except where applicable law requires otherwise, you and SLO Handyman agree that disputes arising out of these Terms or the Platform will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in San Luis Obispo County, California, and you consent to that venue.

You and SLO Handyman may also use small claims court in California if the claim qualifies. Nothing in this Section requires arbitration.

If a court finds any part of these Terms unenforceable, the rest remains in effect. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. These Terms are the entire agreement between you and SLO Handyman regarding the Platform and replace prior terms for the same subject, except that Stripe's terms still govern Stripe payments.

21. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will change the "Last updated" date at the top. Continued use of the Platform after updated Terms are posted means you accept the updated Terms. If you do not agree, stop using the Platform.

22. Contact

Questions about these Terms, bookings, or payments may be sent to:

SLO Handyman
San Luis Obispo, California
Email: slohandyman@smart-folder.com
Phone: 805-323-8127
Or use our Contact Us page.

We typically respond within 1–2 business days.