Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the LanceGuru freelancing marketplace, websites, mobile applications and related services (collectively, the "Platform"). By creating an account or otherwise using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy.

If you are using the Platform on behalf of an organisation, you represent that you are authorised to bind that organisation to these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

2. Accounts and Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and capable of forming a binding contract to use the Platform. You agree to provide accurate, current and complete information during registration and to keep it up to date. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account.

We may suspend or restrict accounts that contain false information, fail identity verification, or are used in breach of these Terms. You may not create multiple accounts to evade restrictions or manipulate ratings.

3. Projects, Bidding and Proposals

Clients may post projects describing their requirements, budget and timeline, and freelancers may submit proposals or bids subject to the limits of their membership plan. All engagements are contracts formed directly between the client and the freelancer; LanceGuru acts as a venue and facilitator, not as a party to those contracts.

You agree that proposals, project descriptions and communications must be truthful and made in good faith. Circumventing the Platform to avoid fees, or soliciting off-platform payment for work sourced through LanceGuru, is prohibited.

4. Payments and Escrow

Client payments for awarded projects are held in escrow through our payment partners and released to the freelancer only when the client approves the completed work or an agreed milestone. This protects clients, who pay only for accepted work, and freelancers, who are assured payment for approved deliverables.

You are responsible for any applicable taxes on your earnings or purchases. Withdrawals are processed to your chosen method — bank, UPI or PayPal — subject to verification and any processing times imposed by payment providers.

5. Fees and Commissions

LanceGuru charges a service commission on completed projects and may offer paid membership plans with additional features. The commission rate depends on your plan, and applicable fees are displayed before you commit to a transaction or subscription.

We may change our fees, commission rates or plan features from time to time. Changes will not apply retroactively to transactions already in progress, and we will provide notice of material changes as required by law. See our pricing page for current rates.

6. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use the Platform to post unlawful, fraudulent, infringing, harassing or misleading content; to circumvent fees; to manipulate ratings or reviews; to distribute malware; or to scrape or misuse Platform data. You must comply with all applicable laws and third-party rights when using the Platform.

We reserve the right to remove content, limit features, and suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or that we reasonably believe pose a risk to the Platform or its users.

7. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise agreed between a client and freelancer, ownership of deliverables transfers to the client upon full payment for the relevant work. You retain ownership of content you submit but grant LanceGuru a limited licence to host, display and distribute it as necessary to operate the Platform.

The LanceGuru name, logo and Platform software are our property and may not be used without our prior written permission.

8. Disputes and Resolution

If a dispute arises between a client and a freelancer, the parties should first attempt to resolve it directly. Where they cannot, either party may request mediation through our dispute resolution process, and LanceGuru may review the evidence and make a determination regarding the release of escrowed funds.

Our determinations are made in good faith based on the information available and do not constitute legal judgments. Any dispute with LanceGuru itself shall be governed by the laws specified in the governing-law section below.

9. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. We do not guarantee the quality, safety or legality of projects, the accuracy of listings, or the ability of users to complete transactions.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, LanceGuru shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages, and our aggregate liability arising out of or relating to the Platform shall be limited to the fees you paid to us in the twelve months preceding the claim.

10. Termination

You may close your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform, with or without notice, if you breach these Terms, create risk or possible legal exposure, or if we discontinue the Platform. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination — including fees owed, intellectual-property terms and limitations of liability — will continue to apply.

11. Governing Law and Contact

These Terms are governed by the laws of India, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, and the courts of India shall have jurisdiction over any disputes, subject to any mandatory consumer-protection rights available to you.

If you have questions about these Terms, please reach out through our contact page or email legal@lanceguru.com.