Terms of Service

GroomMates is a marketplace. We connect clients with independent beauty and grooming professionals (“Pros”) and with suppliers of grooming products. We process payments, run safety checks, and provide the platform — but the haircut, mobile visit, or shipped product is delivered by the Pro or Supplier you choose, not by us.

You must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your state) to use GroomMates. By creating an account or using the app, you accept these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you don't agree, don't use the service.

You're responsible for the activity under your account. Keep your sign-in credentials private and let us know promptly if you notice unauthorized access. Don't share an account, sell it, or transfer it.

Pros and Suppliers must complete an approval process — including identity verification through Stripe — before listing services or products. Misrepresenting credentials, identity, or location is grounds for immediate termination.

When you book a Pro, you're entering a service agreement directly with that Pro. GroomMates is not a party to that agreement. We collect payment, hold deposits, and handle disputes per the policies below — but the appointment itself is between you and the Pro.

• Confirmation — a booking is only confirmed once the Pro accepts. We'll let you know either way.
• Cancellations — clients can cancel free up to the cancellation window the Pro sets (typically 24h). Cancelling inside the window forfeits the deposit and may incur the Pro's late-cancel fee. No-shows are charged the standard no-show fee.
• Deposits — non-refundable once the cancellation window closes; fully refunded if the Pro cancels or fails to show.
• Behavior — Pros are entitled to a safe, respectful service environment. Sexual advances, intoxication, or unsafe conditions justify the Pro ending the appointment with full payment retained.

Pros are independent contractors, not employees of GroomMates. You set your own hours, pricing, services, and travel zone. You warrant that you hold every license, certification, and insurance policy required by your state and locality to perform the services you list.

• Show up on time, in uniform or per your portfolio, with the tools and supplies you advertised.
• Honor accepted bookings. Repeated last-minute cancellations or no-shows are grounds for suspension.
• Keep your availability calendar accurate.
• Don't take cash payments to circumvent platform fees — that's grounds for immediate termination.

GroomMates retains a service fee on each completed booking; the remainder is paid out via Stripe Connect on your standard payout schedule. We do not take a cut of tips.

Suppliers list and ship physical grooming products through GroomMates. You warrant that every product is authentic, accurately described, and complies with US Customs, FDA, and state requirements where applicable.

• Ship within the lead time stated on each listing.
• Use a tracked carrier and provide tracking numbers in the order workflow.
• Honor returns per the published return policy. Defective items get a full refund or replacement.
• Keep stock levels accurate. Persistent oversells are grounds for suspension.

All payments run through Stripe, which holds and disburses funds. Card data never touches our servers. Disputes filed with your card issuer (chargebacks) are handled through Stripe's dispute process. Frivolous chargebacks may result in account termination.

Platform fees, deposit percentages, and shipping options are shown to you before checkout. By tapping “Pay” you authorize the displayed total.

• Booking cancellations: per the cancellation policy above. Refunds typically land on the original card in 3–10 business days.
• Product returns: per the supplier's stated return window. Defective items: full refund or replacement, GroomMates' choice.
• Service quality complaints: open a dispute in-app within 7 days. Disputes are reviewed by humans — Pro and client both have a chance to respond.

You agree not to:

• Use the platform to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any person.
• Falsify identity, location, credentials, or reviews.
• Circumvent platform fees by taking off-platform payment.
• Scrape, copy, or resell platform data without written permission.
• Post content that infringes someone else's IP, is illegal, or violates someone's privacy.
• Use the platform for anything beyond grooming and beauty services and products.

You keep ownership of photos, reviews, and other content you submit. By posting it on GroomMates you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, display, and distribute it solely to operate and promote the service. Delete your account or content and the license terminates for new uses (we may keep copies for compliance and dispute records).

You can delete your account at any time from within the iOS app (Profile → Delete account). We can suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or behave unsafely toward other users. On termination, the platform license to your content ends except where retention is required by law.

The platform is provided “as is.” We don't warrant that any specific Pro or Supplier meets your expectations, that the service is error-free, or that any particular bookings will be available. Service quality is the Pro's responsibility; product quality is the Supplier's responsibility. We facilitate, vet, and dispute-resolve, but we don't guarantee outcomes.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, GroomMates is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the service. Our total liability for any claim is capped at the greater of (a) the fees we collected from you in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) US$100.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Michigan. Any dispute that can't be resolved through GroomMates' in-app dispute process or by direct contact with support@groommates.app will be resolved by binding arbitration in Wayne County, Michigan, per the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules. You retain the right to bring an individual action in small-claims court.

We'll update the effective date and notify active users of material changes in-app and by email. Continued use after the updated terms take effect counts as acceptance.

Questions about these Terms: support@groommates.app.