Terms of Service

1. Overview

The Contractors Empire (the "Service"), operated by [LEGAL BUSINESS NAME] ("we," "us," "our"), is a free public online directory that connects homeowners with independent contractors. An optional paid upgrade is available to contractors who want enhanced listing features. We do not employ, dispatch, supervise, endorse, or vet contractors, and we are not a party to any agreement, transaction, or dispute between a homeowner and a contractor. By using the Service, you agree to these Terms of Service.

2. For Homeowners (Searchers)

• Browsing and searching the directory is free. No account is required.
• We do not charge per inquiry, per click, or per referral.
• Contractor information — including license claims, insurance, photos, and reviews — is self-reported by the contractors themselves or obtained from publicly available records at the time of listing.
• We do not endorse, guarantee, or warrant the quality, timeliness, legality, or pricing of any contractor's work.
• You are solely responsible for independently verifying any contractor's current license, insurance, bonding, references, reviews, pricing, and the terms of any agreement before hiring. We make no warranty as to any of the foregoing.

3. For Contractors

• A free "Listed" tier is available to establish a basic profile in the directory.
• Optional paid subscription tiers (Standard, Premium, Web Launch) are billed monthly and may be cancelled at any time.
• Contractor representations. By submitting a listing, you represent and warrant that you hold every license, registration, bond, and insurance policy required by the state(s) in which you operate and advertise under the trade category you select, and that you will remain solely responsible for maintaining those credentials, paying applicable taxes, and complying with all professional regulations.
• You are responsible for ensuring your listing information is accurate, current, and lawful. All listings are self-reported.
• We reserve the right to remove listings that are fraudulent, misleading, unlicensed, or in violation of applicable law or these Terms, at our sole discretion.

4. What "Verified" Means

For Premium-tier listings, we may check active license and insurance status at the time of listing submission using publicly available records or documentation provided by the contractor. Any verification reflects status at that point in time. We do not continuously monitor or re-verify credentials unless the contractor updates their listing. A "verified" badge is not an endorsement, guarantee, employment relationship, or ongoing certification of any kind.

5. Subscription Model — No Lead Fees

The directory is free to homeowners. Our revenue comes from optional contractor subscriptions, not from charging homeowners or contractors per lead, per click, or per referral. If we introduce additional paid services in the future, we will update these Terms.

6. Independent Contractors; No Agency

Contractors listed on the Service are independent third parties. No employment, agency, partnership, joint venture, or franchise relationship exists between [LEGAL BUSINESS NAME] and any listed contractor. We do not control, direct, supervise, employ, or guarantee any contractor or their work. Contractors are solely responsible for carrying their own licensing, insurance, and bonding as required by law.

7. No Warranties; "As Is"

THE SERVICE AND ALL LISTINGS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE", WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR UNINTERRUPTED AVAILABILITY. WE MAKE NO WARRANTY REGARDING ANY CONTRACTOR'S QUALIFICATIONS, IDENTITY, CONDUCT, WORKMANSHIP, TIMELINESS, PRICING, INSURANCE, LICENSING, OR COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.

8. Disclaimer of Liability for Contractor Conduct & Transactions

[LEGAL BUSINESS NAME] is not responsible or liable for:

• any contractor's acts, omissions, workmanship, delays, damages, negligence, fraud, or misconduct;
• any contract, agreement, dispute, payment, refund, or transaction between a homeowner and a contractor;
• injury, property damage, financial loss, theft, or other harm of any kind arising out of a homeowner's engagement of any contractor found through the directory; or
• the accuracy of self-reported licensing, insurance, reviews, or other listing content.

Any dispute between a homeowner and a contractor must be resolved directly between those parties.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE FEES YOU PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) USD $100. IN NO EVENT WILL WE BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR LOSS OF GOODWILL, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in those jurisdictions our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless [LEGAL BUSINESS NAME] and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claim, demand, loss, liability, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of: (a) your use of the Service; (b) any content you submit (including listing content); (c) your dealings with any other user, including any contractor or homeowner; or (d) your breach of these Terms or violation of any law.

11. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of [GOVERNING STATE], without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. You agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in [GOVERNING STATE] for any dispute not subject to another mandatory forum.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes affecting pricing, data use, or liability will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact:

[LEGAL BUSINESS NAME]
[BUSINESS ADDRESS]
[CONTACT EMAIL]