Provider Terms of Service

What changed in 1.5. The definition of "Bronze Certification" / "Silver Certification" / "Gold Certification" in §1 still described them as "performance-tier badges eznest awards based on a Provider's track record" — the wording 1.2 removed from §12 and that §12.4 contradicts. The definition now says what §12.4 says: they are display labels for the credential Trust Levels (L1 Bronze, L2 Silver, L3 or above Gold), earned solely by reviewed credentials, never by performance. No representation has grown; a definition that contradicted its own operative clause has been made to agree with it, and the effective date is unchanged for the reason given for 1.2. What changed in 1.4. §12.1 said every piece of Trust Level evidence other than email was a document the Provider uploads and an administrator looks at. Since 2026-09-11 the platform also accepts Stripe's outcome on a connected account — enabled for charges, nothing outstanding — as the L1 business-registration evidence, without an upload or an administrator; §12.1 now says so, says it reaches L1 only, and says it is Stripe's determination on records eznest cannot see. Nothing eznest claims to verify itself has grown, no obligation on a Provider changed, and the effective date is unchanged for the reason given for 1.2. What changed in 1.3. §12 and the Trust Level definition said Trust Levels rest on "verified credentials". They rest on credentials a Provider uploads and an eznest administrator reviews by eye; eznest does not confirm any document with its issuer, regulator or insurer, and the Homeowner Marketplace Agreement has told clients exactly that since 2026-09-01. The word "verified" is gone wherever it implied more; §12.1 now says what a review is and is not; §10.2(d) says what an expiry does — the level is recomputed and a Project that needs the higher level refuses the bid; and two cross-references that pointed at §13 (intellectual property) now point at §12. This version again claims less than the one before it — it removes a representation eznest could not back and adds no obligation on a Provider — so the effective date is unchanged for the reason given for 1.2. What changed in 1.2. §12 previously said Trust Level was based partly on "performance metrics" and that eznest "may award performance certifications … based on completed Project count, average client rating, dispute rate." Neither was true: eznest operates no performance measure of any kind. §12 now states the credential criteria in full, states plainly that no performance measure exists, and corrects Bronze/Silver/Gold: they are the display labels for the credential Trust Levels, not separate performance certifications. This version claims less than 1.1 did, not more — it removes statements eznest could not back and adds no obligation on a Provider, so the terms of the bargain accepted on 2026-09-01 are unchanged and the effective date is unchanged with them.

These Terms apply to every service provider account. During the invite-only beta, project payments remain outside eznest and the Marketplace Service Fee is invoiced manually. The final commercial policy uses three server-assigned rails. Eznest-originated marketplace work carries a 10% Marketplace Service Fee. Every payment processed by eznest carries a separate 0.5% Payment Facilitation Fee plus actual payment-processing fees. Direct-client and pro-to-pro transaction execution activates only after the Platform can prove eligibility, disclose every fee, settle funds, and reconcile refunds and ledger entries.

1. Definitions

In these Terms, the following capitalized words have the following meanings:

"Account" means the registered account a Provider creates and maintains on the Platform.

"Bronze Certification" / "Silver Certification" / "Gold Certification" means the display labels for the credential Trust Levels in §12.1 — Bronze for L1, Silver for L2, Gold for L3 or above — as §12.4 sets out. They are not performance tiers and are not awarded on a Provider's track record.

"Client" means a Person who uses the Platform to engage a Provider for services, including homeowners, renters, and businesses.

"Marketplace Service Fee" means the fee charged to the Provider on client-approved milestone value for a relationship or Project originated through eznest matching, as described in Section 9. The rate is ten percent (10%) for every new obligation governed by this version of these Terms.

"Payment Facilitation Fee" means the eznest fee of one-half of one percent (0.5%) on every payment processed by eznest, regardless of commercial rail, as described in Section 9.

"Direct Client" means an eligible Provider-owned or imported Client relationship that did not originate through eznest.

"Pro-to-Pro" means an eligible commercial relationship in which one validated eznest business invoices another validated eznest business.

"Payment Processing Fee" means the actual fee charged for processing a payment through Stripe or another disclosed processor. It is separate from both the Marketplace Service Fee and Payment Facilitation Fee and is shown before a payment obligation is accepted.

"Construction Act" means the Construction Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30, as amended.

"Contract" means the agreement between a Client and a Provider for the performance of Services, entered into through the Platform.

"Platform" means the eznest marketplace, website (eznest.ca), mobile applications, and related services operated by eznest.

"Project" means a specific service engagement between a Client and a Provider that is initiated through the Platform.

"Provider" means a Person, sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation that provides Services through the Platform, including the entity executing these Terms.

"Services" means the labour, materials, and deliverables a Provider supplies to a Client under a Contract.

"Trust Level" means the credential status (L0 through L3) eznest assigns to a Provider based on reviewed credentials only, as set out in §12.1. A review is an eznest administrator looking at the document the Provider uploaded; it is not confirmation with the issuer. Trust Level does not measure performance, workmanship, client satisfaction or dispute history.

"Workflow" means the structured set of milestones, sign-offs, and deliverables that a Project follows on the Platform.

2. Acceptance of these Terms

By creating an Account, completing onboarding, or accessing the Platform, the Provider agrees to be bound by these Terms, the Privacy Policy (incorporated by reference), and any additional terms applicable to specific Platform features.

These Terms constitute a binding agreement between eznest and the Provider. If the Provider is entering these Terms on behalf of a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, the individual accepting represents that they have full authority to bind that entity.

The Provider may not access or use the Platform if they do not agree to these Terms.

3. Account registration

3.1 Eligibility

To register an Account, a Provider must:

(a) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age; (b) Be capable of entering into legally binding contracts in Canada; (c) Not be barred from operating a business in Ontario or any other province where the Provider intends to operate; (d) Not be on any sanctions list maintained by the Government of Canada, the United States, or any applicable jurisdiction; (e) If a corporation, be a corporation in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation; (f) Operate a business that is legal in the jurisdiction(s) the Provider serves.

3.2 Application and onboarding

The Provider agrees to complete the onboarding process described in eznest's published onboarding flow, including:

(a) Providing accurate business identification information; (b) Submitting compliance documentation including but not limited to insurance certificates, applicable trade licenses, and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) clearance certificates; (c) Configuring at least one Workflow template appropriate to the Provider's services; (d) Before using an enabled in-platform payment rail, completing the disclosed Stripe Connect onboarding and payout-readiness steps; no payment method is required for a rail that is not enabled; (e) Completing platform training and acknowledging the rules set out in these Terms.

3.3 Truth and accuracy

The Provider represents and warrants that all information submitted during onboarding and during the use of the Account is true, accurate, complete, and not misleading. The Provider agrees to update Account information promptly upon any material change.

3.4 Account security

The Provider is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of Account credentials and for all activity that occurs under the Account. The Provider agrees to notify eznest promptly of any unauthorized access or suspected security incident.

4. Provider eligibility — categories and geographic scope

4.1 Service category eligibility

The Provider may only use the Platform to offer Services within the categories for which eznest has activated their Account. Some categories require additional credentials (e.g., trade licenses) before a Provider may operate within them; these are gated by the Trust Level system described in Section 12.

4.2 Geographic eligibility

The Provider may only offer Services to Clients located in the geographic regions for which the Provider has been activated. Eznest may activate, deactivate, or restrict geographic regions at its discretion.

4.3 Regulated categories

During Phases P0–P2 of the Platform's launch (as defined in eznest's published roadmap), the Platform does not support regulated categories including but not limited to: real estate brokerage, legal services, mortgage brokerage, insurance brokerage, and investment advice. The Provider may not offer these services through the Platform until eznest activates them with appropriate licensed-partner intermediation structures.

4.4 Quebec consumers

Until eznest activates Quebec operations (anticipated Phase P3), the Provider may not knowingly contract with Quebec consumers through the Platform. The Provider agrees to attest non-Quebec status during onboarding and to cease engagement if it becomes apparent that a Client is a Quebec resident, pending eznest's Quebec compliance launch.

5. Description of Platform services

5.1 What the Platform does

The Platform provides:

(a) Discovery and matching — connecting Providers with Clients seeking their Services; (b) Workflow tools — structured Project management with milestones, sign-offs, photos, checklists, and document storage; (c) Communication — in-Platform messaging between Provider and Client per Project; (d) Reputation system — collection and display of Client reviews and Provider ratings; (e) Trust system — review of the credentials a Provider submits, and Trust Level assignment; (f) Dispute support — an internal record and review process that pauses affected approvals; it is not arbitration, does not bind the parties, and moves no money while payments are disabled; (g) Compliance reminders — tracking of credential expiry, applicable regulatory requirements, and contract obligations; (h) Reporting — financial summaries and operational analytics.

5.2 What the Platform does NOT do

The Platform expressly does not:

(a) Hold Client funds. During the current beta, Clients pay Providers directly outside eznest. If an in-platform payment rail is later enabled, it will use the disclosed charge-on-approval / direct-charge structure and will not be described as escrow, a trust account, or a custodial hold. (b) Perform the Services itself. Eznest is a marketplace facilitator; the Provider performs the Services under a Contract directly with the Client. (c) Guarantee any specific quantity or value of Projects to the Provider. (d) Provide insurance, indemnify the Provider against project-specific risks, or substitute for the Provider's own insurance. (e) Provide legal, tax, accounting, insurance, securities, mortgage, construction-law, privacy, or payments advice. The Provider should consult qualified professionals for any advice in those areas.

6. Provider obligations

6.1 General obligations

The Provider agrees to:

(a) Operate professionally, ethically, and in good faith; (b) Honour Contracts entered with Clients through the Platform; (c) Perform Services to a reasonable professional standard for the relevant trade or category; (d) Comply with all applicable laws including but not limited to Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (Ontario), Construction Act (Ontario), Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario), and applicable federal and provincial tax laws; (e) Maintain valid insurance and credentials at the levels required by the Trust Level system (Section 12); (f) Respond to Client communications through the Platform within a reasonable time, generally not exceeding forty-eight (48) hours during normal business operations; (g) Use the Workflow as designed: marking milestones complete only when actually complete, uploading required photos and checklists, and not pressuring Clients to sign off prematurely; (h) Treat Clients with respect; not engage in discrimination based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, family status, or any other prohibited ground under applicable human rights legislation.

6.2 Reporting obligations

The Provider agrees to:

(a) Report all Projects initiated through the Platform, including the full contract value, through the Platform's workflow tools; (b) Not divert Clients introduced through the Platform to off-Platform engagements for the purpose of avoiding the Marketplace Service Fee, except as expressly permitted in Section 15; (c) Promptly report any material adverse events including insurance lapses, license revocations, criminal charges related to the business, or Client safety incidents; (d) Cooperate with eznest's internal dispute-record and review process.

6.3 Construction Act and regulated trade obligations

For Projects that fall within the scope of the Construction Act (Ontario) or analogous construction legislation in other provinces:

(a) The Provider acknowledges the Construction Act 10% holdback obligation and represents that the Provider's contract with the Client provides for proper holdback retention by the Client for the statutory 60-day lien period; (b) The Provider, not eznest, is the party obligated to comply with the Construction Act, including but not limited to: serving statutory notices, complying with prompt-payment timelines, and managing lien rights; (c) The Provider acknowledges that eznest's Workflow tools include reminders and tracking but that ultimate compliance responsibility rests with the Provider; (d) The Provider warrants that all trade work performed under the Platform's auspices is performed by individuals holding the licences and certifications required by the regulator with jurisdiction (e.g., Skilled Trades Ontario, Electrical Safety Authority).

6.4 Tax obligations

(a) The Provider is solely responsible for collecting, reporting, and remitting all applicable taxes, including HST/GST and any provincial sales taxes, on Services provided to Clients. (b) The Provider acknowledges that eznest may issue T4A Box 048 slips, T5018 Statements of Contract Payments, or analogous documents reflecting payments related to Platform activity, where required by law. (c) The Provider warrants that it holds a valid Business Number with the Canada Revenue Agency.

7. The relationship between eznest and the Provider

7.1 Independent contractor

The Provider is an independent business operating its own enterprise. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership, joint-venture, or franchise relationship between eznest and the Provider.

7.2 No exclusivity

The Provider is free to operate on competing platforms, accept Clients independently of the Platform, and conduct any other business. Eznest does not require exclusivity.

7.3 No guaranteed work

Eznest does not guarantee that any specific number, type, or value of Projects will be offered to the Provider. Provider's matching opportunities depend on Client demand, Provider's Trust Level, and whether the Provider serves the Client's area. Performance, ratings and spend are not inputs to matching, and no Provider can pay for a better position.

7.4 No employer relationship

The Provider is responsible for:

(a) Its own taxes, including income tax and HST/GST; (b) Workers' compensation coverage for itself (where applicable) and its employees; (c) Employment standards compliance for any individuals it employs; (d) Insurance for its business and operations; (e) Tools, equipment, and overhead; (f) All operating costs.

Eznest is not responsible for any of the foregoing.

8. Provider Portal access and separately priced products

8.1 No access, lead, bid, listing, seat, or placement fee at launch

eznest does not charge a Provider merely to create an Account, invite team members, receive or review a lead, submit or decline a bid, maintain a listing, or obtain a better ranking or placement. The Platform does not offer paid placement.

8.2 Optional future products

eznest may later offer optional software, automation, AI, payment, or digital-credit products. No such product is payable unless its price, tax, renewal terms, refund terms, and effect on the Provider are disclosed separately before the Provider orders it. A future optional product does not change the fee rail or rate already snapshotted on committed work.

9. Commercial fee rails

9.1 The three rails

The commercial relationship—not a Provider-selected dropdown—determines which rail applies:

The Provider/payee bears the applicable eznest fees and actual Payment Processing Fee unless a checkout disclosure accepted by all affected parties and permitted by law expressly says otherwise. Eznest does not describe “0.5%” as the total transaction cost.

9.2 Marketplace Service Fee

(a) The standard Marketplace Service Fee is ten percent (10%) of each milestone amount the Client approves, exclusive of taxes charged by the Provider on its Services. (b) No Marketplace Service Fee is charged merely for a lead, bid, listing, seat, or placement, or on an unapproved milestone. (c) The 10% rate is fixed for every new obligation governed by this version of these Terms. A private or provider-specific rate cannot replace it. The rate and policy version are snapshotted on the Project when the Client awards it, so a later published policy cannot reprice accepted work. (d) The Marketplace Service Fee pays for marketplace origination and marketplace services. It is separate from the Payment Facilitation Fee and actual Payment Processing Fee.

9.3 Payment Facilitation Fee

Every payment processed by eznest carries a Payment Facilitation Fee of one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the payment principal. This applies to Marketplace, Direct Client, and Pro-to-Pro payments. It does not apply when the Client pays the Provider entirely outside eznest and eznest does not facilitate the payment.

9.4 Direct Client and Pro-to-Pro eligibility

A Direct Client payment does not carry the Marketplace Service Fee when the relationship was owned or imported by the Provider and did not originate through eznest matching. A Pro-to-Pro payment does not carry the Marketplace Service Fee when both payer and payee are validated eznest businesses and the underlying relationship did not originate through eznest matching. Both rails carry the 0.5% Payment Facilitation Fee whenever eznest processes the payment. Transaction activation remains pending until the Platform can derive eligibility on the server, retain it immutably, disclose all fee components, settle the Provider's funds, and reconcile refunds and ledger entries.

9.5 Server-derived rail and anti-relabeling rule

(a) The Provider cannot choose a cheaper rail in an invoice composer or payment form. (b) The Platform assigns the rail from relationship origination and validated counterparty records. (c) A relationship or Project originated through eznest remains on the Marketplace rail for that obligation. Creating another invoice, importing the same Client, changing a label, or moving the conversation outside the Platform does not convert it to Direct Client. (d) Any operator correction must be reasoned and audited. It creates a replacement relationship for future obligations only and must be completed before the next Project award, agreement acceptance, invoice acceptance, or payment commitment that relies on it. It does not retroactively change or re-price an existing Project, agreement, invoice, payment, refund, dispute, receipt, statement, or ledger record. An error in an existing obligation is remedied through the applicable correction, credit, refund, dispute, or reversal process rather than by rewriting its relationship origin.

9.6 Snapshot and disclosure

(a) Marketplace rail and rate are snapshotted at Project award. (b) Direct Client and Pro-to-Pro rail and rate will be snapshotted when the invoice is accepted. (c) A later pricing change does not retroactively re-price accepted work. (d) Before acceptance, the Platform must show the rail, invoice or milestone principal, each applicable eznest percentage and amount, actual or determinable processing amount, applicable tax, and total transaction cost. The label “0.5% eznest payment-facilitation fee, plus payment-processing fees” must be used; “0.5% total” must not be used.

9.7 Illustrative card examples

Using Stripe Canada's published domestic online-card rate of 2.9% plus CA$0.30 as of 30 August 2026, a CA$1,000.00 eligible Direct Client or Pro-to-Pro invoice would illustrate as follows:

• eznest fee at 0.5%: CA$5.00;
• illustrative Stripe processing: CA$29.30;
• illustrative combined transaction cost: CA$34.30 (3.43%).

For a CA$1,000.00 marketplace-originated payment processed by eznest:

• Marketplace Service Fee at 10%: CA$100.00;
• Payment Facilitation Fee at 0.5%: CA$5.00;
• illustrative Stripe processing: CA$29.30;
• illustrative combined transaction cost: CA$134.30 (13.43%).

This is an example, not a fixed processing quote. The actual processing amount depends on payment method, card origin, currency conversion, Stripe pricing, and other disclosed factors at the time of acceptance. Current Stripe pricing is published at <https://stripe.com/en-ca/pricing>.

9.8 Refunds, failed payments, and processor fees

(a) When principal is refunded, eznest refunds both corresponding eznest fee components proportionally. A full refund of principal reverses the full applicable Marketplace Service Fee and Payment Facilitation Fee; a partial refund reverses the same proportion of each. (b) Original payment-processing, Connect, currency-conversion, dispute, or other processor fees may not be returned by Stripe. Any amount that is not recoverable is disclosed and remains allocated to the party identified before acceptance. (c) A failed or uncaptured payment earns no eznest platform fee. (d) Refunds and chargebacks are not complete in the Platform merely because an operator selects an outcome; the processor event and ledger must reconcile first.

9.9 Current beta operation

Automated marketplace payment collection and the Direct Client and Pro-to-Pro transaction rails are disabled. During the beta, the Client pays the Provider directly outside eznest. For Eznest-originated work, eznest issues the Provider a monthly Marketplace Service Fee statement based only on Client-approved milestones and the rate snapshotted on the Project at award. Each statement preserves the included work, eznest's issuer and tax identity, the applicable fee policy, amounts due, and recorded collections. Because eznest does not facilitate the off-platform Client payment, the 0.5% Payment Facilitation Fee does not apply to that payment. There is no Stripe Billing subscription or automatic debit promise. Marketplace statement commands remain disabled until eznest completes the production activation controls described in the Platform.

9.10 Taxes on eznest fees

Where required by law, applicable GST/HST or other tax on an eznest fee is shown separately on the eznest invoice or checkout disclosure. The Provider is responsible for obtaining its own advice about input tax credits and its tax treatment.

10. Insurance requirements

10.1 Minimum insurance by Trust Level

The Provider agrees to maintain insurance coverage as required by the Provider's Trust Level (Section 12), at minimum:

(a) Trust Level L0–L1: No specific insurance required, but Provider may not perform Services where insurance is required by law or by the Service category; (b) Trust Level L2 (Insured): Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance with minimum limits of two million dollars (CA$2,000,000) per occurrence and five million dollars (CA$5,000,000) aggregate, naming eznest as a Certificate Holder where commercially reasonable; (c) Trust Level L3 (Licensed + Insured): Above plus all trade-specific licences and certifications required by the regulator with jurisdiction; (d) Trust Level L4: Reserved. No tier above L3 is currently offered, no Provider is assigned L4, and no capability depends on it. eznest runs no background check of any kind, at any tier — this matches what the Homeowner Marketplace Agreement tells clients, and any future tier would require these Terms to be amended first.

10.2 Insurance maintenance

The Provider agrees to:

(a) Maintain all required insurance continuously while operating on the Platform; (b) Notify eznest within five (5) business days of any lapse, cancellation, or material change to required insurance; (c) Provide updated certificates of insurance upon renewal; (d) Acknowledge that when an insurance certificate on file reaches its expiry date, eznest recomputes the Provider's Trust Level without the expired evidence, the lower level stands until current evidence is reviewed, and a Project that requires the higher Trust Level refuses the Provider's bid in the meantime (Section 12.2).

10.3 No coverage by eznest

The Provider acknowledges that eznest does not provide insurance coverage for the Provider's operations, employees, or Services. Any liability arising from the Provider's performance of Services is the Provider's responsibility, subject to indemnification under Section 22.

11. Licensing and regulatory compliance

The Provider warrants that:

(a) All Services performed under these Terms are performed in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including municipal by-laws, provincial regulations, and federal legislation; (b) All individuals performing Services on the Provider's behalf hold the licences, certifications, and registrations required to perform such work in the relevant jurisdiction; (c) The Provider is not subject to any regulatory order, suspension, or revocation that would impair its ability to provide Services on the Platform; (d) The Provider will provide eznest with copies of relevant credentials upon request and will promptly notify eznest of any regulatory action against the Provider.

12. Trust Level and certification

12.1 Trust Level assignment

eznest assigns each Provider a Trust Level based on reviewed credentials only. Trust Level does not measure performance, workmanship, client satisfaction, or dispute history.

The criteria are these, and they are the whole of them:

Evidence that contributes: email confirmation, phone confirmation, business registration, general liability insurance, government-issued ID, and contractor, trade or professional licences. Each piece of evidence carries an expiry; evidence that has expired, been revoked or been suspended contributes nothing.

What a review is, and is not. eznest confirms one thing itself: that the Provider controls the email address on the Account. Every other piece of evidence is a document the Provider uploads and an eznest administrator looks at, with one exception: where the Provider has completed the Stripe Connect onboarding in §3.2(d), eznest treats Stripe's outcome — the connected account enabled for charges with nothing outstanding on Stripe's requirements — as the Provider's business-registration evidence for L1, and only L1. That is Stripe's determination under Stripe's own verification, made on records eznest cannot see; eznest reads the outcome and records it, and the evidence lapses if Stripe disables the account. eznest does not confirm a registration with the registry, an insurance certificate with the insurer, or a licence with the regulator, and a Trust Level is not a representation to the Provider or to any client that it has. A reviewed document may be expired, altered or belong to someone else without eznest knowing. The Homeowner Marketplace Agreement tells clients the same thing, in the same terms.

A Provider may view every point applied to their own profile, the reason for it, and what to do next.

12.2 Effect of Trust Level

The Provider's Trust Level affects:

(a) The categories and value bands of Projects the Provider may participate in; (b) The Provider's visibility in matching results; (c) Which Projects the Provider is eligible to receive and which trust badges appear on the Provider's profile. Trust Level does not create paid placement or allow a Provider to purchase a better rank.

12.3 Trust Level downgrades

eznest may downgrade a Provider's Trust Level if:

(a) Required documentation expires or is revoked; (b) The Provider fails to maintain insurance or licensing requirements; (c) eznest determines, in good faith, that the Provider no longer meets the credential criteria for the assigned Trust Level.

A dispute or complaint, whatever its outcome, does not change a Trust Level. Trust Level measures credentials only (§12.1); dispute outcomes belong to the separately named Work Record described in §12.4, which is not in operation.

12.4 Bronze / Silver / Gold, and performance measures

Bronze, Silver and Gold are display labels for the credential Trust Levels in §12.1 — L1 is shown as Bronze, L2 as Silver, and L3 or above as Gold. They are earned solely by reviewed credentials. They are not performance certifications, and they are not awarded separately from Trust Level.

eznest does not currently operate any performance certification, rating tier, or performance score. No measure of completed Project count, client rating or dispute history affects a Provider's Trust Level, their labels, or their ranking.

If eznest introduces a performance measure in future:

(a) It will be a separate and separately named measure. It will not be merged into Trust Level, which remains credential-only under §12.1; (b) Its criteria, its inputs, and how each input is weighted will be published before any Provider is measured by it; (c) A Provider will be able to see the measure applied to their own account, the reason for it, and how to change it; (d) A Provider will be able to appeal it, and a substantiated appeal will correct the measure; (e) These Terms will be amended and the change notified before it operates.

The measure eznest intends to build is published in advance, in full, at docs/architecture/provider-trust-and-work-record.md. It is a Work Record — separate from Trust Level, based on completed engagements on eznest, weighted by the outcome of any dispute rather than by a dispute having been raised, smoothed so that a small number of jobs cannot produce a misleading figure, and shown only once a Provider has enough completed work for it to mean anything. A dispute resolved in the Provider's favour will never count against them. It is not an input to matching or ranking, and it cannot be bought or improved by paying. It is not in operation, and no Provider is measured by it, until these Terms are amended under (e).

13. Content, intellectual property, and license

13.1 Provider content

The Provider retains ownership of all content the Provider submits to the Platform, including but not limited to profile information, photos, project work product, and messages ("Provider Content").

13.2 License to eznest

The Provider grants eznest a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, host, display, and distribute Provider Content for the purpose of operating the Platform, providing the Services described in these Terms, and promoting the Platform. This license persists as long as the content is needed for those purposes and includes the right to display the Provider Content to Clients, prospective Clients, and the public (where the content is intended to be public, such as profile information).

13.3 Platform IP

All intellectual property in the Platform itself — including the brand, code, design system, content, and trademarks — is owned by eznest or its licensors. The Provider receives a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Platform solely for the purposes described in these Terms.

13.4 Reviews and ratings

(a) Client reviews and ratings, once submitted, may not be modified by the Provider, but the Provider may post a public response. (b) eznest does not buy, fabricate, or fraudulently induce reviews. The Provider similarly may not buy, fabricate, or fraudulently induce reviews.

14. Confidentiality and privacy

14.1 Confidential information

In the course of using the Platform, the Provider may have access to information about Clients and eznest's business that is confidential ("Confidential Information"). The Provider agrees to:

(a) Hold Confidential Information in strict confidence; (b) Use Confidential Information solely for the purpose of performing Services or operating on the Platform; (c) Not disclose Confidential Information except to the Provider's employees or contractors with a need to know and who are bound by similar confidentiality obligations.

14.2 Privacy compliance

The Provider acknowledges that the Provider will receive personal information about Clients through the Platform. The Provider agrees to:

(a) Comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and any applicable provincial privacy legislation; (b) Use Client personal information solely for the purpose of providing the Services contracted; (c) Not retain Client personal information longer than necessary; (d) Not sell, share, or further disclose Client personal information except as required by law or contracted with the Client; (e) Implement reasonable safeguards against unauthorized access, loss, or theft; (f) Notify eznest within twenty-four (24) hours of any actual or suspected privacy breach.

15. Anti-circumvention and off-Platform activity

15.1 Reporting Projects initiated through the Platform

The Provider agrees that all Projects initiated through the Platform — meaning Projects where the Client and Provider were first introduced through the Platform — must be reported through the Platform, with the full contract value disclosed, even if the Client and Provider subsequently choose to conduct ancillary communication or perform the Services off-Platform.

15.2 What constitutes circumvention

Circumvention includes but is not limited to:

(a) Under-reporting the contract value of a Project; (b) Reporting a Project as cancelled or withdrawn when in fact the Services were performed; (c) Diverting the Client to an off-Platform engagement before any Project is reported; (d) Soliciting or relabeling business from a Platform-introduced Client with the specific intent of avoiding the Marketplace Service Fee.

15.3 What does NOT constitute circumvention

The Provider may, without violating this Section:

(a) Continue communicating with or serving a Client off-Platform after a Project is completed, provided that the fee rail for any later obligation is determined from the recorded relationship origin under Section 9 rather than from where the communication occurs; (b) Maintain pre-existing relationships with Clients the Provider had before joining the Platform; (c) Decline a Platform lead and have no further engagement with that Client; (d) Engage on competing platforms.

15.4 Detection and remedies

Eznest may, using telemetry, client cross-checks, performance pattern analysis, and other reasonable means, identify suspected circumvention. Where circumvention is substantiated, eznest may:

(a) Charge the Marketplace Service Fee that would have been owed, subject to the snapshotted rate and the dispute process; (b) Demote the Provider's Trust Level or revoke Certifications; (c) Suspend or terminate the Provider's Account; (d) Pursue other remedies available at law.

16. Performance standards

16.1 Service quality

The Provider warrants that Services will be performed in a workmanlike manner, consistent with industry standards for the relevant trade.

16.2 Responsiveness

The Provider agrees to:

(a) Respond to new Client inquiries through the Platform within twenty-four (24) hours during normal business operations; (b) Honour scheduled appointments and provide reasonable notice of any change; (c) Communicate proactively about delays, changes, or issues affecting a Project.

16.3 Workflow discipline

The Provider agrees to:

(a) Use the Platform's Workflow for every Project, including milestone sign-offs, photo uploads, and document storage; (b) Not mark milestones complete until the work for that milestone is actually completed; (c) Initiate all change orders through the Platform's change-order tool, with the change priced and approved by the Client before work proceeds; (d) Cooperate with deficiency review and remediation per the published process.

16.4 Communication standards

In all Platform communications, the Provider agrees to:

(a) Use respectful, professional language; (b) Not solicit off-Platform contact during the early stages of a Project (introductory messages from the Client); (c) Not request payment outside the Workflow's structure; (d) Not engage in harassment, threats, or discriminatory conduct.

17. Disputes between Provider and Client

17.1 Internal dispute support

If a Provider and Client have a dispute regarding a Project, either party may open an internal dispute record. Eznest may review the Project record, ask each party for information, and record a non-binding outcome. This is support and recordkeeping, not mediation, adjudication, or arbitration.

17.2 Sign-off SLA

The Provider acknowledges that:

(a) Client sign-off on milestones has a three (3) business day SLA; (b) Silence by the Client beyond the SLA results in auto-approval of the milestone (unless the Client has flagged a deficiency); (c) The Provider may not pressure the Client for sign-off.

17.3 Effect and external remedies

An eznest outcome is a recorded view. It does not bind the Provider or Client, award compensation, compel performance, or move money. Either party remains free to rely on its contract, applicable consumer or construction law, a regulator, or a court. Eznest does not promise or fund an external mediator or arbitrator.

17.4 No outcome guarantees

Eznest does not guarantee any specific outcome. Eznest is not a court of law and does not have judicial authority.

18. Disputes between Provider and eznest

18.1 Initial resolution

If the Provider has a dispute with eznest, the Provider agrees to first attempt resolution by submitting a written notice through the Platform's support channel and allowing eznest thirty (30) days to respond.

18.2 Optional resolution

The Provider and eznest may agree in writing to mediation or another resolution process after a dispute arises. No external dispute-resolution service is pre-arranged or mandatory under these Terms.

18.3 Courts

Unless the parties later agree otherwise in writing, either party may bring a dispute in a court with jurisdiction. Nothing in these Terms waives access to Small Claims Court or another court that the law makes available.

18.4 Carve-outs

Nothing in this Section prevents either party from seeking injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent imminent harm, including but not limited to misappropriation of intellectual property or breach of confidentiality.

18.5 No class-action waiver

These Terms do not require the Provider to waive participation in a class proceeding.

19. Indemnification

19.1 Provider indemnification

The Provider agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless eznest, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claim, liability, loss, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

(a) The Provider's performance of Services; (b) The Provider's breach of these Terms; (c) The Provider's breach of applicable law; (d) Any claim by a Client or third party that the Provider's Services caused injury, damage, or loss; (e) The Provider's violation of any third party's rights, including intellectual property rights; (f) The Provider's failure to maintain required insurance, licenses, or registrations.

19.2 eznest indemnification

eznest will defend the Provider against any third-party claim alleging that the Platform itself infringes a Canadian patent, copyright, or trademark, provided the Provider notifies eznest promptly and cooperates in the defense. This indemnification is limited to amounts actually paid by eznest in settlement or judgment and excludes consequential damages.

20. Limitation of liability

20.1 Disclaimer

Except as expressly stated in these Terms, the Platform is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

20.2 Cap on liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, eznest's aggregate liability to the Provider for any claim arising out of these Terms, regardless of the form of action, is limited to the greater of:

(a) The platform fees actually paid by the Provider to eznest in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim; or (b) One thousand dollars (CA$1,000).

20.3 Excluded damages

In no event is eznest liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages, including lost profits, lost business opportunities, or loss of data, even if eznest has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

20.4 Carve-outs

Sections 20.2 and 20.3 do not limit:

(a) Either party's indemnification obligations; (b) Either party's liability for breach of confidentiality; (c) Either party's liability for fraud or willful misconduct; (d) Liabilities that cannot be excluded by law.

21. Termination

21.1 Termination by the Provider

The Provider may terminate the Account at any time by following the published account-deletion process. Termination does not change an already-accepted Project, invoice, refund, or other outstanding obligation.

21.2 Termination by eznest

eznest may suspend or terminate the Provider's Account at any time, with or without notice, for:

(a) Breach of these Terms; (b) Suspected fraud, misrepresentation, or illegal conduct; (c) Sustained poor performance (e.g., low client ratings, high dispute rate); (d) Failure to pay an undisputed Marketplace Service Fee, Payment Facilitation Fee, Payment Processing Fee, or other separately accepted charge when due; (e) Failure to maintain required insurance, licences, or credentials; (f) Any other reason at eznest's reasonable discretion, with notice where commercially reasonable.

21.3 Effect of termination

On termination:

(a) The Provider's Account is closed; (b) In-flight Projects either complete through the Platform or are referred to alternative providers, at eznest's discretion; (c) Outstanding platform fees and separately accepted charges remain due and payable; (d) The Provider's data is retained or deleted in accordance with the Privacy Policy and applicable law; (e) Confidentiality and indemnification obligations survive termination; (f) Sections that by their nature survive (including 13.3, 14, 18, 19, 20, 22) continue in force.

21.4 Reputation portability

On termination, the Provider may request a signed transcript of the Provider's reviews and ratings accumulated on the Platform. This transcript may be used by the Provider for their own marketing purposes but is provided as a courtesy, not a guarantee of continued availability.

22. Data protection and privacy

22.1 Privacy Policy

The Provider's use of the Platform is subject to eznest's Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

22.2 Right to data export

The Provider may request a copy of all personal information eznest holds about the Provider, in a portable format, at any time.

22.3 Right to deletion

The Provider may request deletion of the Account and associated personal information, subject to eznest's right to retain certain data for legal, regulatory, or legitimate business reasons (e.g., audit log retention, tax records, dispute records).

22.4 Anti-lock-in commitment

eznest commits to:

(a) Maintain the Provider's data in portable, machine-readable format; (b) Provide reasonable export tools; (c) Not impose contractual penalties for the Provider's choice to operate on competing platforms or to leave the Platform.

23. Communications

23.1 Consent to communications

The Provider consents to receive operational communications from eznest, including notifications about Projects, billing, account status, security, and updates to these Terms. The Provider may opt out of marketing communications at any time.

23.2 Method of communication

eznest may communicate with the Provider by email, in-Platform notifications, push notifications (if enabled), and SMS (if enabled with consent). Notices required by law must be sent in writing.

23.3 CASL compliance

The Provider acknowledges that eznest's outreach to the Provider is permitted under Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) by virtue of the Provider's express consent provided during Account registration.

24. Modification of Terms

24.1 Right to modify

eznest may modify these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated to the Provider with at least thirty (30) days' notice through email and in-Platform notification.

24.2 Provider's options

Following notice of a material change:

(a) The Provider may continue using the Platform, signifying acceptance of the modified Terms; (b) The Provider may terminate the Account before the effective date of the change, in which case the existing Terms continue to apply until termination.

24.3 Non-material changes

Non-material changes (such as clarifications, corrections, or formatting) take effect upon posting and do not require notice.

25. General provisions

25.1 Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

25.2 Jurisdiction

Subject to any mandatory law that applies, the parties submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario.

25.3 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force. The invalid provision is to be replaced with a valid provision that most closely matches the intent of the original.

25.4 No waiver

Failure by either party to enforce a provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision.

25.5 Assignment

The Provider may not assign these Terms or the Account without eznest's prior written consent. Eznest may assign these Terms to a successor or affiliate.

25.6 Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional terms applicable to specific Platform features, constitute the entire agreement between eznest and the Provider regarding the Platform, superseding all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals.

25.7 Language

These Terms are provided in English. A French translation will be provided in connection with the Platform's Quebec launch. In the event of conflict between language versions, the English version controls except where Quebec law mandates the French version.

25.8 Force majeure

Neither party is liable for failure to perform obligations under these Terms due to causes beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of government, network outages, or pandemics.

25.9 Headings

Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

26. Acknowledgment

By creating an Account on the Platform, the Provider acknowledges that the Provider has read, understood, and agrees to be bound by these Terms.

Corporation number: 1801532-5 (Canada Business Corporations Act, incorporated 13 June 2026) Registered office: 226 Kinloch Crt, Nepean, Ontario K2J 5S9, Canada Contact: support@eznest.ca