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Draft for counsel review — not yet published as the active legal document.

Terms of Service

Sterling Authority Last updated: [Date TBD] Effective date: [Date TBD]

1. Agreement to These Terms

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a legal agreement between you and Sterling Authority (“Sterling Authority,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) governing your access to and use of our website, contractor application process, homeowner service request forms, contractor dashboard, email and SMS communications, and related platform services (together, the “Services”).

By accessing or using the Services, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

These Terms apply to all users of the Services, including visitors, contractors, homeowners, and other individuals who interact with Sterling Authority through our platform or communications channels.

Other documents may also apply to you, including our Privacy Policy and, where applicable, a Contractor Network Agreement, Homeowner Service Request Consent, or other service-specific terms. If there is a conflict between these Terms and a document that applies specifically to your role and was accepted by you, the more specific document may control for that subject matter, unless counsel advises otherwise.

2. What Sterling Authority Is — and Is Not

Sterling Authority operates a contractor network, referral, matching, and routing platform. Our role is to help connect homeowners who submit service requests with independent contractors who participate in our network, using structured processes based on service type, geographic area, availability, and platform rotation rules.

Sterling Authority is not a contractor, tradesperson, builder, general contractor, or home service provider. We do not perform plumbing, electrical, HVAC, renovation, or other home services. We do not supervise projects, direct on-site work, set job pricing for contractors, or guarantee project outcomes.

Contractors in our network are independent businesses. They are not our employees, agents, partners, or joint venturers. Sterling Authority does not control how contractors perform their work, manage their crews, price their services, or fulfill contracts with homeowners.

Sterling Authority is not a party to any agreement between a homeowner and a contractor for home services. Any quote, contract, payment arrangement, warranty, or dispute about the work itself is between the homeowner and the contractor.

3. Eligibility

You may use the Services only if:

  • You are at least 18 years old and able to enter into a binding agreement
  • You provide accurate and complete information when requested
  • You use the Services only for lawful purposes and in compliance with these Terms

The Services are intended for use in Canada, with an initial focus on Ontario. You are responsible for ensuring that your use of the Services complies with applicable laws in your location.

4. The Services

4.1 What the Services include

Depending on your role and the features available to you, the Services may include:

  • Website and marketing pages describing the Sterling Authority network
  • Contractor application and onboarding flows
  • Homeowner service request submission
  • Routing, matching, and rotation of opportunities within the network
  • Contractor dashboard and application status access
  • Email and SMS communications related to applications, opportunities, and platform operations
  • Support and operational communications

4.2 What the Services do not include

The Services do not include:

  • Performing or supervising home services
  • Guaranteeing that a homeowner will receive a contractor, a response, or a completed project
  • Guaranteeing the quality, safety, legality, pricing, or outcome of any contractor’s work
  • Guaranteeing that any contractor holds valid licences, insurance, WSIB coverage, or ongoing regulatory compliance
  • Acting as an escrow agent, payment processor for job payments, or insurer for contractor work
  • Providing legal, regulatory, engineering, or trade compliance advice

4.3 Platform discretion

Sterling Authority may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Services at any time, including routing rules, network capacity, available markets, application criteria, and feature availability. We may offer opportunities to some contractors and not others based on platform rules, availability, demand, and operational factors.

Participation in the network does not guarantee job volume, frequency, earnings, placement, or outcomes.

5. Relationship of the Parties

Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership, franchise, or joint venture relationship between Sterling Authority and any user, including any contractor.

Contractors remain solely responsible for their business operations, taxes, workers, subcontractors, tools, insurance, licensing, permits, pricing, scheduling, workmanship, and customer relationships.

Sterling Authority does not have the authority to bind contractors in home service contracts with homeowners, and contractors do not have authority to bind Sterling Authority.

6. Accounts and Access

Some parts of the Services require an account, such as contractor dashboard access, reviewer access, or internal administrator access.

You are responsible for:

  • Maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials
  • All activity that occurs under your account
  • Notifying us promptly if you believe your account has been compromised

We may refuse, suspend, or terminate account access if we reasonably believe you have violated these Terms, provided false information, or created risk for Sterling Authority or other users.

Application status access may be provided through limited access methods, such as signed status links, without requiring a full account.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

  • Use the Services for any unlawful, fraudulent, abusive, or misleading purpose
  • Provide false, misleading, or incomplete information in applications, service requests, or communications
  • Impersonate any person or business, or misrepresent your affiliation with Sterling Authority
  • Harass, threaten, spam, or abuse other users or Sterling Authority personnel
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Services, accounts, systems, or data
  • Scrape, copy, reverse engineer, or interfere with the operation of the Services except as permitted by law
  • Circumvent platform routing, network rules, or access controls
  • Use homeowner or contractor contact information obtained through the Services for unrelated solicitation, resale, or off-platform lead brokering without authorization
  • Upload or transmit malware, harmful code, or content that violates third-party rights
  • Use the Services in a way that could damage Sterling Authority’s reputation, systems, or users

We may investigate violations and take action we consider appropriate, including removing content, suspending access, or terminating participation.

8. User Responsibilities

All users agree to:

  • Use the Services in good faith and in accordance with these Terms
  • Provide and maintain accurate contact information
  • Review linked policies, including the Privacy Policy
  • Understand that Sterling Authority is a platform provider, not the home service provider
  • Resolve service-performance issues directly with the relevant contractor or homeowner, except where Sterling Authority expressly offers a platform-level process

9. Homeowner Responsibilities

If you submit a homeowner service request through Sterling Authority, you agree that:

You are requesting routing or connection services, not hiring Sterling Authority to perform work. Any home service contract is between you and the contractor you choose to engage.

You are responsible for your own due diligence. Before hiring a contractor, you should independently verify licensing, insurance, WSIB coverage where applicable, references, permits, and any other information important to your project. Sterling Authority does not guarantee that any contractor is licensed, insured, qualified, or suitable for your job.

Shared information. When you submit a request, we may share relevant contact and job details with contractors who are offered or connected to your request so they can respond. See our Privacy Policy for more information.

No platform guarantee. Sterling Authority does not guarantee that a contractor will accept your request, contact you within a particular time, provide a quote, begin work, or complete work to your satisfaction.

Direct dealings. Payments, contracts, warranties, change orders, disputes about workmanship, property damage, delays, and refunds related to the actual home service are between you and the contractor unless we expressly state otherwise in writing.

Accurate request information. You agree to provide accurate information about your service needs and contact details so contractors can respond appropriately.

Communications. Contractors who receive your information may contact you by phone, email, or other methods you provide. Additional consent requirements may apply and will be presented where required by law.

10. Contractor Responsibilities

If you apply to join or participate in the Sterling Authority contractor network, you agree that:

You are an independent business. You remain solely responsible for licensing, insurance, WSIB coverage where applicable, taxes, pricing, scheduling, workmanship, permits, code compliance, and all communications with homeowners.

Application information must be accurate. Information you provide in your application, including compliance-related answers, must be truthful to the best of your knowledge. Sterling Authority may review applications for network participation, but application review does not mean we have verified your licence, insurance, background, or qualifications.

Network participation is not employment. Approval or placement in the network means you may receive access to platform routing and related tools. It does not make you an employee, agent, or representative of Sterling Authority.

No guarantee of opportunities. Sterling Authority does not guarantee any number of leads, jobs, responses, earnings, or placements. Routing and rotation rules may change.

Homeowner information. If you receive homeowner contact or job details through the Services, you may use that information only to respond to the relevant opportunity and in compliance with applicable law, including privacy and anti-spam requirements. You are responsible for your own business conduct after contact is made.

Response and conduct standards. Where network rules, dashboard instructions, or separate contractor agreements apply, you agree to follow them. Failure to do so may affect your participation in the network.

Separate contractor terms. Additional terms may apply to contractors through a Contractor Network Agreement or other contractor-specific document. If you accept such a document, it governs alongside these Terms.

11. Application Review and Network Participation

Sterling Authority may review contractor applications using information submitted by applicants and internal operational criteria.

“Approved,” “authorized,” “placed,” or similar status language means network admission or platform access only. It does not mean Sterling Authority:

  • Has verified licensing, insurance, WSIB status, or regulatory compliance
  • Endorses a contractor’s skill, safety record, or suitability
  • Guarantees the contractor will receive opportunities
  • Assumes responsibility for the contractor’s work

Compliance information collected during application is self-reported by applicants unless we expressly state otherwise in writing through a verified program that actually exists and is in operation.

We may approve, waitlist, reject, suspend, or remove contractors from the network at our discretion.

12. Routing, Matching, and Opportunities

Sterling Authority uses platform rules to route homeowner requests and offer opportunities to contractors in the network. These processes may include rotation, zone limits, service matching, response windows, fallback routing, and operator review.

You acknowledge and agree that:

  • Routing methods describe how the platform operates, not a guarantee of any result
  • A request may be offered to one contractor at a time in some workflows, but routing outcomes depend on availability, responses, and platform rules
  • Sterling Authority does not guarantee that a homeowner request will be matched, accepted, or completed
  • Sterling Authority does not guarantee lead quality, homeowner intent, budget, readiness to hire, or conversion into paid work
  • Platform rules may change without guaranteeing continued access or outcomes

Any operational expectations described on our website or in communications are network rules or business practices, not warranties to homeowners or contractors unless expressly stated in a signed written agreement outside these Terms.

13. Communications

Sterling Authority may communicate with you by email, SMS, phone, or other methods using the contact information you provide or use to interact with us.

Email. We may send transactional and operational messages related to applications, service requests, opportunities, support, and account activity. Additional consent requirements may apply to certain messages under Canadian law, including CASL.

SMS. If SMS features are offered, additional consent and opt-out requirements may apply before messages are sent. SMS consent terms may be provided separately where required.

Support communications. If you contact us or email our support address, we may store and use communications to respond, maintain records, and operate the platform, as described in our Privacy Policy.

User-to-user communications. Sterling Authority is not responsible for the content, timing, legality, or accuracy of communications between homeowners and contractors, whether on or off the platform.

You are responsible for keeping your contact information current.

14. Fees and Commercial Terms

Sterling Authority may offer paid network participation or related commercial terms to contractors in some markets.

At the time of this draft, detailed billing, payment collection, and subscription terms are not fully published as a separate active billing program in the public Services. If and when commercial fees apply to you, they will be disclosed through a separate agreement, checkout flow, billing terms, or Contractor Network Agreement before charges apply.

Unless expressly stated otherwise in applicable commercial terms:

  • Fees relate to platform access or network participation, not to guaranteed job outcomes
  • Homeowners are not charged by Sterling Authority for submitting a standard service request unless we clearly disclose otherwise at the time of submission

Nothing in these Terms creates a payment relationship between Sterling Authority and a homeowner for contractor-performed home services.

15. Privacy

Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information.

By using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read or had the opportunity to read the Privacy Policy.

Homeowners and contractors should understand that personal information may be shared between users and service providers as described in the Privacy Policy, including sharing homeowner contact and job details with contractors involved in routing.

16. Disclaimers

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Sterling Authority disclaims all warranties, representations, conditions, and guarantees of any kind, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement.

Without limiting the foregoing, Sterling Authority does not warrant or guarantee that:

  • The Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
  • Any homeowner request will be routed, accepted, or fulfilled
  • Any contractor is licensed, insured, qualified, available, or suitable
  • Any contractor’s work will be performed properly, on time, safely, or at any price
  • Information provided by users or contractors is accurate or complete
  • Use of the Services will produce any particular business result or income

Sterling Authority does not endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for any contractor, homeowner, request, opportunity, communication, or off-platform interaction.

Any material or information available through the Services is for general platform operation and informational purposes only.

17. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:

Sterling Authority will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, including lost profits, lost business, lost data, property damage, personal injury, or business interruption, arising out of or related to the Services or these Terms, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Sterling Authority will not be liable for the acts or omissions of any contractor, homeowner, or other user, including negligence, misconduct, failure to perform, pricing disputes, property damage, bodily injury, licensing violations, or breach of contract related to home services.

Sterling Authority’s total aggregate liability for any claim arising out of or relating to the Services or these Terms will not exceed the greater of:

  • CAD $100, or
  • The total amount you paid directly to Sterling Authority for the Services in the twelve (12) months before the event giving rise to the claim

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations or exclusions of liability. In those jurisdictions, our liability will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including certain statutory consumer rights where they apply.

18. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Sterling Authority and its operators, affiliates, and personnel from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

  • Your use of the Services
  • Your breach of these Terms or any applicable law
  • Your interactions with other users, including homeowners or contractors
  • Any home services you perform, request, quote, supervise, or pay for
  • Any content or information you submit
  • Any claim that your conduct caused harm to another person or property

Sterling Authority may assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, and you agree to cooperate with that defense.

19. Platform Disputes and Complaints

19.1 Home service disputes

Sterling Authority is not responsible for resolving disputes about home service performance, workmanship, pricing, refunds, property damage, or project outcomes between homeowners and contractors. Those disputes must be handled directly between the parties involved, along with any insurers, regulators, or legal remedies available to them.

19.2 Platform-related concerns

If you have a concern about the Services themselves, you may contact us at support@sterlingauthority.com.

For contractors, Sterling Authority may maintain internal platform processes for certain operational issues such as routing concerns, communication issues, or platform access. Any remedies Sterling Authority chooses to offer in those internal processes, if available, relate to platform participation only and do not include cash settlements, off-platform payment remedies, or guarantees about job outcomes.

Nothing in this section requires Sterling Authority to provide a dispute process for every issue, and nothing in this section makes Sterling Authority responsible for contractor-homeowner service disputes.

20. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services, or remove you from network participation, at any time if we reasonably believe:

  • You violated these Terms or applicable law
  • You created risk, harm, or legal exposure for Sterling Authority or others
  • Your account or application information is false or misleading
  • Continued access is no longer appropriate for platform operations

You may stop using the Services at any time.

Sections that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including platform role disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and governing law.

21. Changes to the Services or These Terms

We may modify the Services or these Terms from time to time. When we update these Terms, we will post the revised version and update the “Last updated” and “Effective date” at the top.

If changes are material, we may provide additional notice where appropriate. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of updated Terms means you accept the revised Terms, except where applicable law requires additional consent.

22. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

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.

You agree that the courts located in Ontario, Canada will have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

Note for counsel review: Mandatory arbitration, class action waiver, and jury waiver clauses common in U.S. marketplace terms may not be appropriate or enforceable for all Sterling users in Canada. Any alternative dispute resolution language should be reviewed for Ontario and federal enforceability before publication.

23. General Terms

Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any applicable role-specific document you accept, form the agreement between you and Sterling Authority regarding the Services, unless counsel structures them differently.

Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.

No waiver. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of that provision.

Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of assets.

Language. These Terms are drafted in English. If a translated version is provided, the English version will control unless applicable law requires otherwise.

Contact. Questions about these Terms may be sent to support@sterlingauthority.com.

Mailing address: [Registered mailing address TBD]