📄 Effective: May 1, 2026

Terms of Service

Written in plain language — not legalese. If something isn't clear, email us and we'll explain it.

Two paid plans — Verified Pro & Elite Pro
Month-to-month — no annual lock-in
Cancel anytime — no cancellation fees
No contracts — access through end of billing period

1. What BusinessCertified Is

BusinessCertified ("we," "our," "the platform") is an online trust and verification platform that connects homeowners and property managers ("Consumers") with local service businesses ("Businesses") across the United States.

We offer:

  • A public directory of local service businesses organized by city and service category
  • A verification and certification program for businesses that meet our standards
  • AI-search-optimized listings designed to surface your business in Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI-powered search tools
  • A digital trust badge that verified businesses may display on their websites and marketing materials
  • Website compliance certification (TCPA, ADA) for qualifying businesses

By creating an account or using the platform, you agree to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.

2. Subscription Plans

Verified Pro ($149/mo)

  • Verified Business Badge (website + profile)
  • AI search engine priority placement
  • Unlimited reviews
  • Lead contact form on your profile
  • Directory listing published to city and category pages

Elite Pro ($299/mo)

  • Everything in Verified Pro
  • #1 ranking in your city + category
  • Competitor exclusion zone
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Email lead alerts

Feature availability is subject to change. We'll give you at least 30 days' notice before removing a feature from a plan you're actively paying for.

3. Payment & Billing

How Billing Works

Paid plans are billed monthly via Stripe, on the same calendar date you subscribed. For example, if you subscribe on the 10th, your card is charged on the 10th of each subsequent month. All prices are in US dollars.

Failed Payments

If a payment fails, Stripe will automatically retry the charge over the following 7 days. We'll email you after the first failure. If the charge remains unpaid after 7 days, your account will be suspended and paid features will be deactivated. You can resubscribe at any time.

Price Changes

We may change subscription pricing at any time. If we raise prices, we'll notify you by email at least 30 days in advance, and the new price will apply at your next renewal after that notice period. If you don't want the new price, cancel before your next billing date — no penalty.

4. Refund Policy

All subscription fees are non-refundable. You may cancel at any time and your access continues through the end of the current billing period. There are no contracts and no cancellation penalties.

5. Cancellation

You can cancel your paid subscription at any time from your account dashboard or by emailing support@businesscertified.org. There are no cancellation fees, no early termination charges, and no cancellation penalties.

After cancellation:

  • Your paid features remain active until the end of your current billing period
  • Your listing is removed from the directory when paid access ends
  • Your reviews remain on your profile
  • The Verified badge is removed from your profile when paid access ends

6. Acceptable Use

Using BusinessCertified, you agree not to:

  • Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent business information
  • Post fake reviews — for yourself or to damage a competitor
  • Claim a listing for a business you don't own or have authority to represent
  • Use the platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any regulations
  • Scrape, crawl, or systematically download data from the site without written permission
  • Interfere with or disrupt the platform's infrastructure or security
  • Use the platform to send unsolicited communications (spam) to other users

Violations may result in immediate removal of your listing and termination of your account without refund.

7. Listing Accuracy — Your Responsibility

You are responsible for the accuracy of the information on your listing. This includes your:

  • Business name, address, phone number, and website
  • Services offered and service area
  • License numbers and insurance information submitted for verification

If any of this information changes (e.g., your license expires, you move cities, or you stop offering a service), you agree to update your listing promptly. Continuing to display the Verified badge with outdated or expired credentials is a violation of these terms.

We reserve the right to remove or unverify listings that contain demonstrably false information, even after initial verification.

8. Verification Process

The BusinessCertified verification process is designed to confirm that you operate a legitimate business with proper credentials. It typically includes:

  • License check — Verification that your state-required contractor or trade license is current and in good standing
  • Insurance confirmation — Confirmation of general liability and/or workers' comp coverage appropriate to your trade
  • Business registration — Confirmation your business is registered with your state
  • Review authenticity — Review of customer reviews for authenticity signals

Verification is not a guarantee of quality or future performance. BusinessCertified is a trust platform — we verify credentials, not the quality of every job a business does. Consumers should exercise independent judgment when hiring any contractor.

We reserve the right to deny verification, revoke verification, or request updated documentation at any time.

9. Badge Usage Rights

When you hold an active paid subscription and pass verification, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to:

  • Display the BusinessCertified Verified badge on your business website
  • Include the badge in digital marketing materials (email signatures, social media profiles)
  • Print the badge on physical materials (vehicle wraps, business cards, yard signs) while your verification is current

This license terminates immediately if your subscription lapses, your verification is revoked, or your account is terminated for a policy violation. You agree to promptly remove the badge from all materials upon termination.

You may not alter, modify, or create derivative versions of the badge. All badge intellectual property remains the property of BusinessCertified.

10. Limitation of Liability

BusinessCertified is a platform — we connect businesses and consumers, but we are not a party to any transaction or service agreement between them. We do not employ the businesses listed, and we are not responsible for their work quality, disputes, or outcomes.

To the maximum extent permitted by law: BusinessCertified's total liability to you for any claim arising out of these terms or your use of the platform will not exceed the greater of (a) the total fees you paid us in the 3 months preceding the claim, or (b) $100.

We are not liable for: indirect, incidental, or consequential damages; loss of profits or revenue; loss of data; or service interruptions caused by factors outside our control (Netlify outages, Stripe downtime, force majeure events).

Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law (e.g., fraud, gross negligence, or personal injury).

11. Arbitration

By using the Service, you agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration in Shawnee County, Kansas, rather than in court, except for claims that qualify for small claims court.

12. Legal Expense Recovery

In the event of any legal dispute, claim, or action arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms, you agree to reimburse Business Certified for all reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and legal expenses incurred by Business Certified in defending such claim or enforcing these Terms.

13. Governing Law & Disputes

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Kansas. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts located in Shawnee County, Kansas (Topeka).

Before filing any legal claim, we ask that you contact us at support@businesscertified.org to try to resolve the issue directly. Most problems can be fixed quickly when you just tell us what went wrong.

Questions About These Terms?

We're a real team and we write our own terms. If something isn't clear, reach out — we'll explain it in plain English.

support@businesscertified.org

Or visit our contact page to reach us by form