Terms of Service

Last updated: November 1, 2026

Please read these Terms carefully. By creating an account or using Cheffr (the Cheffr website and any related services), you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use Cheffr.

1. Cheffr is a platform only

Cheffr is an online marketplace that helps customers find and contact independent cooks ("Cooks") who offer cooking services in customers' homes or other locations ("Services"). Cheffr does not cook, does not provide the Services, and is not a party to any agreement between a customer and a Cook.

Cooks are independent service providers. They are not employees, agents, partners or contractors of Cheffr. Cooks decide whether to accept a request, how to perform the Services, their schedule and their prices. Cheffr does not supervise, direct or control Cooks or customers.

2. Accounts and eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter into a legally binding contract.
You must give accurate, current and complete information, and keep it up to date.
You are responsible for your password and for everything that happens in your account. Tell us right away at hello.cheffr@gmail.com if you think your account was used without permission.
One person per account. You may not create an account for someone else or transfer your account.

3. Cook responsibilities

If you offer Services as a Cook, you agree that you are solely responsible for:

The quality, safety and legality of the food and Services you provide, including safe food handling, hygiene, allergy and dietary information, and following any instructions from the customer.
Holding any licences, permits, food handler certificates, insurance and registrations required where you work. Cheffr strongly recommends that Cooks carry their own general liability insurance.
Your own taxes, including income tax and any GST/HST you are required to collect and remit.
The truth of everything in your profile, including your photo, police check, diplomas, experience, reference letter and references. Submitting false or altered documents will result in removal from Cheffr.
Respecting the customer's home, property, family and privacy.
Arriving on time and leaving the kitchen clean and tidy at the end of the Service, unless otherwise agreed.

Cheffr may review documents, call references and display badges such as "PRO". These checks are limited, are done only to help keep the community safe, and are not a guarantee of any Cook's identity, background, skill, conduct or the safety of their Services.

4. Booking a Cook: customer responsibilities

By booking a Cook, you agree to:

Provide safe, clean kitchen facilities: a sanitary kitchen with working appliances (such as stove, oven and refrigerator), running water, good lighting and ventilation.
Provide the necessary ingredients for meal preparation, unless you and the Cook agree that the Cook will buy them. In that case, you reimburse the Cook for the grocery receipts.
Provide basic cookware, utensils, dishes and cleaning supplies, unless otherwise agreed with the Cook.
Give the Cook accurate information about the job, your kitchen, allergies, dietary needs and anyone with special health needs.
Give the Cook safe access to your home at the agreed time, with an adult (18+) present or reachable during the Service.
Keep valuables, medications, weapons and other risky items secured.
Make your own decision about which Cook to hire, and supervise children, pets and anyone vulnerable in your home.
Pay the agreed price, groceries and any other agreed costs.
Treat the Cook with respect. A Cook may refuse or stop a Service if the kitchen or situation is unsafe, or if they are treated with abuse or harassment.

5. No responsibility for services, injury, theft or damage

Because Cheffr only connects customers and Cooks, to the maximum extent permitted by law, Cheffr is not responsible or liable for anything that happens before, during or after a Service, including, without limitation:

Food allergies, intolerances or reactions to any food or ingredient. You must tell the Cook about every allergy and dietary restriction before the Service. Cooks work in your kitchen, often with your ingredients, and cannot guarantee food that is free of allergens or cross-contamination;
Injuries or illnesses to any person, including cuts, burns, falls, food poisoning, foodborne illness or death;
Any damage or loss in your kitchen or home, including broken dishes, cookware, appliances, countertops or furniture, fire, smoke, water or spills, and theft or lost items;
The acts, omissions, words, conduct or negligence of any Cook, customer or third party;
The quality, safety, timing or outcome of any Service or food;
Cancellations, no-shows, delays or disputes between customers and Cooks.

Any claim relating to a Service is between the customer and the Cook. If something goes wrong, contact the other person directly and, where appropriate, the police, your insurer or emergency services. Cheffr may (but is not required to) help by sharing information we are legally allowed to share, or by removing a user from the platform.

6. Plans, fees and payments

Cooks pay a subscription to be listed: Home Cook (CA$14.99/month or CA$149/year) or Pro (CA$29.99/month or CA$299/year). Plans renew automatically until cancelled. You can cancel any time; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period, and fees already paid are not refunded except where required by law.
Customers do not pay a subscription. When booking through Cheffr, customers pay the Cook's price plus an 8% service fee.
Cheffr keeps a 10% commission from the Cook's price for bookings paid through Cheffr.
How booking payments work. The customer adds a card when booking. The card is charged 24 hours before the scheduled start time, when free cancellation ends. Cheffr holds the payment and releases the Cook's share (the Cook's price minus Cheffr's 10% commission) to the Cook's bank account 1 to 2 business days after the Service, unless a problem has been reported. Cooks must connect a payout account through Stripe to receive payments.
Check-in. Cooks tap "I've arrived" in the app when they arrive, and customers confirm when the Service is done. If the customer does not confirm or report a problem within 12 hours, the Service is treated as completed. These records, along with in-app messages, are used to resolve disputes.
Payments are processed by our payment provider, Stripe. Cheffr does not store your full card number. Stripe's terms also apply.
Prices are in Canadian dollars and may change. We will give notice before a price change affects your next renewal. Applicable taxes may be added.
No off-platform bookings. If a Cook and a customer meet through Cheffr, all Services between them must be booked and paid through Cheffr for 12 months after their last contact on Cheffr. Arranging or paying for a Service outside Cheffr to avoid Cheffr's fees is not allowed. If a Cook does so, the Cook agrees to pay Cheffr the fees Cheffr would have earned on each such Service (the 10% commission plus the 8% service fee), and Cheffr may suspend or remove the Cook's account and cancel any rewards, tier or founding offer.

7. Cancellations and refunds

24-hour cancellation policy. Customers can cancel a booking free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time and receive a full refund.
Late cancellations and no-shows. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time, or not being available when the Cook arrives (including not giving access to a usable kitchen), are not refunded, and the Cook is paid for the booking. The Cook's in-app check-in is used as proof of arrival.
Groceries already bought by the Cook for a booking cancelled late must be reimbursed by the customer, based on the receipts.
Cancellations and no-shows by the Cook. If a Cook cancels, the customer receives a full refund, including the 8% service fee. A Cook who cancels less than 24 hours before the start time, or does not show up, receives a strike. After 3 strikes in 12 months, the Cook may be removed from Cheffr. Cancellations for a documented emergency may be excused at Cheffr's discretion.
Refunds go back to the original payment method, usually within 5 to 10 business days. Completed Services are not refunded for reasons of taste or preference. Please report any problem to hello.cheffr@gmail.com within 48 hours of the Service.
Exceptions, such as emergencies or severe weather, may be made at Cheffr's discretion.

8. Referrals, tiers and reviews

Referral program: a new Cook who signs up with a referral code gets 10% off their first payment, and the referring Cook gets 10% off their next payment after the new Cook's first payment is completed. Self-referrals, fake accounts and abuse are not allowed and may lead to loss of rewards.
Cook tiers: Starter, Rising Star (4.5★ and 10+ reviews) and Top Cook (4.8★ and 25+ reviews). Top Cooks can get 15% off their next yearly subscription. Tiers are calculated by Cheffr and may be reviewed for fraud.
Reviews must be honest and based on a real Service. Cheffr may remove reviews that are fake, abusive or break these Terms.
Free month for Cooks: every approved Cook can get a 30-day free trial on the monthly plan. A payment method is required, and the subscription starts automatically after 30 days unless cancelled before the trial ends. One free trial per Cook.
Cheffr may change or end these programs at any time. Rewards have no cash value.

9. Intellectual property

Cheffr's property. The Cheffr name, logo, website design, text, graphics, software and other content created by Cheffr are owned by Cheffr and protected by copyright, trademark and other laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell or use them, or create a similar service from them, without our written permission.

Your content. You keep ownership of the photos, descriptions, reviews and other content you upload ("Your Content"). By uploading it, you give Cheffr a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, display, reproduce, adapt (for example, resizing photos) and use Your Content to operate, promote and improve Cheffr, for as long as it is on Cheffr and for a reasonable time after. Private documents such as police checks, diplomas and reference letters are used only for verification and are never published.

You confirm that you own Your Content or have permission to use it, and that it does not infringe anyone's rights. Recipes, menus and photos posted by Cooks belong to the Cooks; customers may not republish them commercially without the Cook's permission.

To report content that you believe infringes your rights, email hello.cheffr@gmail.com.

10. Code of conduct

Both customers and Cooks are expected to maintain a respectful and safe environment before, during and after every Service. Any harassment, discrimination or inappropriate behaviour may lead to removal from the platform.

Treat each other with courtesy and respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or background.
No harassment, threats, bullying, sexual comments or unwanted physical contact.
No alcohol or drug impairment while providing or receiving a Service.
Respect privacy: do not photograph or record people or homes without permission, and do not share anyone's personal information.
Communicate honestly, and be on time and available as agreed.
Report any unsafe or inappropriate behaviour to hello.cheffr@gmail.com. In an emergency, call 911.

You also may not: break any law; post false, misleading or offensive content; impersonate anyone; upload fake documents; scrape, copy or overload the website; try to access other accounts or our systems; or use Cheffr for anything other than its intended purpose.

11. Suspension and termination

You can close your account at any time by emailing us. Cheffr may suspend, refuse or remove any account, profile, review or content at any time, with or without notice, if we believe these Terms were broken, if there is a safety concern, or to protect Cheffr or its users.

12. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

Cheffr is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, availability or that the website will be error-free.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Cheffr and its owners will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, property or goodwill, arising from or related to your use of Cheffr or any Service. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Cheffr's total liability for any claim is limited to the greater of (a) the fees you paid to Cheffr in the 12 months before the claim, or (b) CA$100.

Some laws do not allow certain limitations, so some of the above may not apply to you. Nothing in these Terms limits any rights you have under applicable consumer protection law that cannot be limited.

13. Indemnity

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Cheffr and its owners from any claims, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of Cheffr, any Service you provide or receive, Your Content, or your breach of these Terms or of any law.

14. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada that apply there. You agree that the courts located in Ottawa, Ontario have jurisdiction, unless consumer protection law where you live says otherwise. Before starting any legal claim, please contact us so we can try to resolve the issue informally.

15. Changes and contact

We may update these Terms. If the changes are important, we will post the new date above and, where appropriate, let you know by email. Continuing to use Cheffr after the update means you accept the new Terms.

Questions? Email hello.cheffr@gmail.com.