Independent Contractor Agreement

You are not an employee of MowMatch. You are an independent business that uses MowMatch to find customers. In plain terms:

• You decide whether to offer on any request. You can ignore any request without penalty.
• You set your own price on every offer. MowMatch does not set, suggest, or cap your price and does not publish a rate card.
• You decide how to do the work, in what order, and with what tools and materials. MowMatch does not supervise you on site.
• You bring your own tools, equipment, vehicle, and supplies. MowMatch provides none of them.
• You choose your own hours. You block out time in the app when you are not available.
• You may work for other platforms, other customers, or your own business at any time.
• You may hire helpers or subcontractors at your own cost and risk, as long as they meet the same trust requirements you do.

When a requester accepts your offer, the contract for the work is between you and that requester. MowMatch is a broker. It introduced you, carries the messages, and processes the payment. MowMatch is not a party to the work itself.

Every offer you make carries your price. The requester sees your price, MowMatch fee, and the total before accepting. Once accepted, the price changes only if you send a revised amount in the app and the requester approves it. Do not start extra work before approval. Work done without approval is at your own risk.

• Payments run through Stripe. You set up a Stripe Express account during onboarding. It collects your legal name, date of birth, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your bank account, and your W-9 information.
• You are eligible for requests only after Stripe confirms your account can receive charges and payouts.
• A job is captured when you mark it complete with the required photos and the requester confirms, or 24 hours after you mark it complete if the requester does not respond.
• the MowMatch fee is deducted from the captured amount. The rate is shown on every offer before you send it and on your earnings screen.
• Your share is transferred to your Stripe account on capture and paid to your bank on Stripe's standard schedule.
• Tips are not processed by MowMatch at this time.

If you cancel an accepted job within 24 hours of the start, the requester pays nothing, the request goes back out to other workers, and your ranking in future dispatches is reduced. Repeated late cancellations or no-shows can suspend your account.

A requester can dispute a job within 48 hours of capture. MowMatch reviews your completion photos, the requester's photos, the job description, and the messages, then decides within 5 business days. You see the reason for any decision on your earnings screen.

If a refund is issued to the requester, the refunded amount is recovered from you. Stripe reverses the transfer to your account or debits it against your next payout. If your Stripe balance goes negative, Stripe may debit your linked bank account. The MowMatch fee on the refunded amount is refunded too, so you are never charged a fee on money you did not keep.

Chargebacks raised by a requester's bank are handled the same way. Your completion photos are your best defence, which is why they are required.

You are responsible for your own income tax, self-employment tax, and any other tax on what you earn. MowMatch does not withhold anything. Stripe issues a Form 1099 where the federal thresholds are met, using the W-9 details you gave during setup.

• You are responsible for damage or injury caused by your work. MowMatch does not insure you or the work.
• You are strongly encouraged to carry general liability insurance. Uploading proof of insurance earns a badge on your profile. Some kinds of work may require it later.
• Some kinds of work require a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license, for example gutter installation and hardscape. Lawn care, leaf removal, and gutter cleaning generally do not. You cannot offer on licensed work until you upload your license and it is reviewed.
• You must follow all laws that apply to your work, including safety, pesticide, and noise rules.

• Arrive inside the window you offered, or message the requester before it opens.
• Take the required before and after photos on every job.
• Treat requesters and their property with respect.
• Do not ask a requester to move a job off MowMatch. It removes payment protection for both of you and ends your account.
• Do not share a requester's address or contact details with anyone not working the job.

You can stop using MowMatch at any time. Finish or cancel any accepted jobs first. MowMatch can end your access for breaking this agreement, for repeated disputes decided against you, or for conduct that puts requesters at risk. Money already earned is still paid out, less any refunds owed.

This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. Disputes not settled through MowMatch are brought in the state or federal courts located in Maryland.

Maryland law requires this notice for workers in landscaping and construction who are classified as independent contractors.

Ask on the help page. Requester-side rules are in the Terms of Service.