Between Afrihelps LLC (a Georgia limited liability company) and the Service Provider identified at registration This Marketplace Agreement (“Agreement”) governs a Service Provider’s use of the Afrihelps website, mobile application, and related services (collectively, the “Marketplace”). By registering a listing or offering services through the Marketplace, the Service Provider (“Provider,” “you”) agrees to be bound by this Agreement, the Afrihelps Terms of Service, the Provider Code of Conduct, and the Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Agreement, you may not use the Marketplace.
1. Relationship of the Parties
Provider is an independent business, not an employee, agent, partner, or joint venturer of Afrihelps LLC (“Afrihelps”).
Afrihelps does not control the manner or means by which Provider performs services, does not set Provider’s prices, and does not supervise Provider’s work. Provider is solely responsible for its own taxes, business licences, permits, insurance, and legal compliance.
Afrihelps is not a party to any agreement between Provider and a Consumer.
2. Purpose of the Marketplace
Afrihelps provides a culturally focused digital directory that enables Consumers to discover and contact Service Providers within the African and diaspora community. Afrihelps does not participate in, supervise, or guarantee any transaction between a Consumer and a Provider.
3. Eligibility
To list on the Marketplace, Provider must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Provide accurate information
- Comply with all applicable laws
- Not impersonate any person or entity
- Complete identity verification under Section 4
4. Identity Verification
4.1 Government-Issued ID
Before a listing is published, Provider must submit a valid government-issued identification document (such as a driver’s licence, passport, or national ID). This verification confirms only that the individual is a real, identifiable person.
Identification documents are never displayed publicly or shared with Consumers. They are handled as described in the Privacy Policy.
4.2 No Background Checks at This Time
Afrihelps does not currently conduct criminal background checks, professional background checks, employment or education verification, or licence or certification verification.
Provider is solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all laws, licensing requirements, and professional standards applicable to the services offered.
4.3 Reservation of Rights
Afrihelps may introduce background checks or additional verification procedures in the future. If it does, Providers will receive at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice, updated terms will be posted, and continued use after the effective date will constitute acceptance.
5. Listing Content and Licence
Provider is responsible for the accuracy of its listing and must keep it current.
Provider retains ownership of the photographs, text, and other content it submits. Provider grants Afrihelps a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable licence to host, store, reproduce, resize, reformat, publish, and display that content on the Marketplace and in Afrihelps promotional and marketing materials, for as long as the content remains on the Marketplace and for a reasonable period afterward for materials already produced.
Provider represents and warrants that it owns the content submitted or has permission to use it, that the photographs depict Provider’s own work, and that the content does not infringe the rights of any third party.
6. Consumer Contact and Inquiries
Provider telephone numbers and messaging contacts are not displayed publicly on the Marketplace. They are shared with a Consumer only when that Consumer has registered an account and requested to connect with Provider. Afrihelps records each such disclosure.
Provider agrees to respond to Consumer inquiries in a timely manner, or to mark itself unavailable when it is not accepting work.
Provider may not use contact details received through the Marketplace for unsolicited marketing, bulk outreach, or any purpose other than responding to the Consumer’s inquiry, and may not sell or transfer those details to any third party.
7. Reviews
Consumers may publish reviews of Provider on the Marketplace. Provider agrees that:
- Afrihelps does not remove reviews merely because Provider disagrees with them
- Provider may publicly respond to any review about it
- Provider may not post, solicit, incentivise, or purchase fake or fraudulent reviews, including reviews of competitors
- Provider may not threaten, harass, or retaliate against a Consumer in connection with a review
Afrihelps may remove reviews that violate its policies and may suspend Providers who manipulate reviews.
8. Payments
Afrihelps does not process payments. All payments for services are arranged and made directly between Provider and the Consumer, outside the Marketplace.
Provider is solely responsible for its own pricing, invoicing, payment collection, refunds, cancellations, and any disputes arising from them. Provider must communicate its refund and cancellation policy to Consumers clearly and in advance, and must honour it.
9. Fees and Future Fees
9.1 No Fees at This Time
Afrihelps currently provides listings at no cost.
9.2 Future Fees
Afrihelps may introduce fees in the future, including subscription fees, listing fees, activation fees, premium feature fees, advertising fees, or transaction fees. Providers will receive at least thirty (30) days’ notice before any fee takes effect.
9.3 Founding Provider Commitments
Where Afrihelps has made a written commitment to a Provider under a founding, early-access, or similar programme, Afrihelps will honour that commitment according to its stated terms, and that commitment takes precedence over Section 9.2 for that Provider.
9.4 No Guarantee of Free Access
Except as stated in Section 9.3, current free access does not guarantee free access in perpetuity.
10. Provider Conduct
Provider agrees not to:
- Provide false or misleading information
- Engage in fraud, harassment, or abusive behaviour
- Post unlawful, harmful, or discriminatory content
- Attempt to circumvent identity verification
- Create multiple accounts to manipulate listings or reviews
- Scrape, harvest, or bulk-collect data from the Marketplace
- Interfere with Marketplace operations
- Misuse Afrihelps branding or intellectual property
Detailed standards are set out in the Provider Code of Conduct, which forms part of this Agreement.
11. No Guarantees
Afrihelps does not guarantee any number of inquiries, leads, customers, bookings, or revenue. Afrihelps does not guarantee the accuracy of listings, the availability of any Provider, or the outcome of any engagement.
12. Intellectual Property
All Afrihelps trademarks, logos, branding, content, and platform features are the exclusive property of Afrihelps LLC. Provider may not copy, reproduce, or distribute any part of the Marketplace without written permission. Section 5 governs content submitted by Provider.
13. Privacy
Use of the Marketplace is subject to the Afrihelps Privacy Policy. By using the Marketplace, Provider consents to the collection and use of information as described in that policy.
14. Disclaimers
The Marketplace is provided “as is” and “as available.” Afrihelps disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, accuracy of listings, and safety of interactions. Afrihelps does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.
15. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law:
- Afrihelps is not liable for any damages arising from interactions between Providers and Consumers.
- Afrihelps is not liable for any injury, loss, fraud, misconduct, or dispute arising from services rendered.
- Afrihelps is not liable for lost profits or for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages.
- Afrihelps’ total liability shall not exceed one hundred US dollars ($100) or the amount paid by Provider to Afrihelps in the preceding twelve (12) months, whichever is greater.
16. Indemnification
Provider agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Afrihelps from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, or expenses arising from Provider’s content, conduct, services, interactions with Consumers, or violations of this Agreement.
17. Suspension and Termination
Afrihelps may suspend or remove Provider’s listing for violation of this Agreement, the Terms of Service, or the Provider Code of Conduct; for failure to complete identity verification; for fraud or unsafe conduct; for review manipulation; or for a sustained pattern of Consumer complaints.
Provider may deactivate its listing at any time by contacting Afrihelps or through account settings.
Sections 5, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 19 survive termination.
18. Modifications
Afrihelps may update this Agreement at any time. Providers will be notified of material changes. Continued use of the Marketplace after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Agreement.
19. Governing Law and Disputes
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Fulton County, Georgia, and the parties consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.
20. Contact Information
Afrihelps LLC 1870 The Exchange SE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30339 hello@afrihelps.com | (404) 620-7545