BLKBARStylist AgreementBLKBARStylist AgreementThis Agreement makes you a self-employed independent contractor. It does not make you an employee or worker of BLKBAR Ltd. Read it carefully in full before signing.
This Agreement is between:
(1)BLKBAR Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company number: 17036840), registered office at 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX ("BLKBAR", "we", "us" or "our"); and
(2)[STYLIST FULL LEGAL NAME] of [ADDRESS] ("you" or "your", also called the "Stylist" in the Schedules and signature page).
Together, the "Parties".
BLKBAR runs a marketplace app that connects independent hairstylists and barbers with clients who want to book hair care services. We're starting with university and campus communities in the UK.
BLKBAR is a technology platform, not a hairdressing business. We don't provide styling or barbering services ourselves. Every service booked through the platform is provided by you, directly to the client, under a separate contract formed between you and that client.
You want to be listed on the platform and to take bookings from clients on the terms in this Agreement.
"Booking" a request for Services made by a Client through the Platform and accepted by you.
"Cancellation Window" the notice period before a Booking, set by you (for example 24, 48 or 72 hours), within which a Client cancelling triggers your Deposit.
"Client" someone who uses the Platform to book Services from you.
"Commission" the percentage we keep from the Fees a Client pays for each completed Booking, as set out in Schedule 1.
"Content" any photos, videos, text, descriptions, portfolio items or other material you upload to the Platform.
"Deposit" the amount you set (a flat fee, a percentage of the Booking value, or the full Booking value) charged to a Client who cancels within your Cancellation Window, as described in clause 7.1.
"Fees" the total amount a Client pays for Services booked through the Platform.
"Payout" the amount due to you after we deduct Commission and any other adjustments allowed under this Agreement.
"Platform" the BLKBAR app and related services.
"Services" hairstyling, barbering or related personal care services you offer and perform for Clients.
Headings are for convenience only and don't affect how this Agreement is read. "Including" means "including but not limited to".
2.1 You are self-employed. You're in business on your own account. Nothing in this Agreement makes you an employee, worker, agent or partner of BLKBAR, and nothing creates a joint venture between us.
2.2 Because you're self-employed, you're not entitled to employment rights or benefits from BLKBAR — including the National Minimum Wage, paid holiday, sick pay, pension auto-enrolment, redundancy pay, or protection from unfair dismissal.
2.3 No obligation either way. We don't have to offer you any particular amount of work, and you don't have to accept any Booking we offer. Whether you take a Booking is entirely up to you.
2.4 You can send a substitute. If you can’t personally do a Booking, you may arrange for another suitably qualified person to do it in your place, as long as: they meet the same verification and safety requirements that apply to any Stylist; you tell us and the Client in advance through the Platform; and you stay responsible for their work and conduct. You don’t need our approval to send a substitute — advance notice to us and the Client through the Platform is enough.
2.5 You decide how you work. You choose your own techniques, products and equipment, and how you carry out each Booking. We don't supervise or direct how you do the job.
2.6 You're free to work elsewhere. You can take on clients through any other means — other apps, direct bookings, or your own existing business — and nothing in this Agreement stops you, except the limited restriction in clause 13.
2.7 You carry your own business risk. You provide your own tools, products, and (where relevant) your own premises or travel, at your own cost. If a Service needs putting right, that's your responsibility and cost, not ours.
2.8 Tax and National Insurance are your responsibility. We don't deduct tax or National Insurance from your Payouts. You're responsible for registering as self-employed with HMRC (if you haven't already) and for paying any income tax, National Insurance and VAT due on what you earn through the Platform.
2.9 The label in this Agreement doesn't override reality. UK law looks at how a working relationship actually operates, not just what a contract calls it. Both Parties intend, and believe, that this Agreement reflects a genuine self-employed relationship, based on how we actually work together in practice under clauses 2.1 to 2.8. If the way we actually work together stops matching what this Agreement says, either Party can raise that, and what the law says applies will apply — the label in this document won't override it.
3.1 We provide the technology that lets you list your Services and lets Clients find and book them. We handle the Booking process and arrange Payouts to you. We don't provide the Services ourselves, and we're not a party to them.
3.2 The contract for the Services in each Booking is between you and the Client, not us. You're responsible for the quality, safety and legality of the Services you provide, including hygiene and health and safety standards, and for complying with the law that applies to your trade (including, where relevant, equality law in how you treat Clients).
3.3 We're not liable for anything you do or fail to do in providing Services, and we're not a party to any dispute between you and a Client, except where the law says otherwise.
3.4 We may set reasonable minimum standards for listings, conduct, hygiene and safety ("Platform Standards"). We'll make these available to you and give you reasonable notice of any update.
4.1 Everything you tell us when you sign up — including your identity, qualifications and portfolio information — must be true, accurate and not misleading. Tell us promptly if anything changes.
4.2 We may carry out reasonable verification checks before or during your time on the Platform, and may pause your access until we're satisfied.
4.3 You confirm you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and to carry on business as a self-employed Stylist.
5.1 We're entitled to keep the Commission set out in Schedule 1 from the Fees a Client pays for each completed Booking. What's left is your Payout.
5.2 We may run pricing trials, or offer different Commission tiers to different Stylists. If we change the standard Commission rate that applies to you generally, we'll give you at least 30 days' written notice, and the change won't apply to Bookings you've already completed.
5.3 You set your own prices within any parameters the Platform allows. We don't currently charge Clients a separate booking fee on top of Commission, but we may introduce one in future — doing so won't reduce your Payout under clause 5.1.
6.1 Clients pay Fees through the Platform's payment processor (currently Stripe, via Stripe Connect), by card authorisation or hold, at the time of Booking.
6.2 Once a Booking is complete, we’ll arrange your Payout to your connected Stripe account. Payouts are processed and managed by Stripe: they normally arrive within 2 business days of Booking completion. Your first Payout may take longer — usually 7 to 14 days — while Stripe completes its security and identity checks on your account. Payout timing is set by Stripe and is outside our control.
6.3 We may hold back a Payout where: a Booking is subject to an open dispute, chargeback or fraud check; you haven't completed required verification; or we reasonably suspect a breach of this Agreement or the Platform Standards — until that's resolved.
6.4 Keeping your payout account details correct is your responsibility. We're not liable for a failed or delayed Payout caused by incorrect details you've given us.
6.5 Nothing in this Agreement affects any right you have to statutory interest on a late qualifying payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, to the extent it applies.
7.1 Client cancellations. You set your own cancellation policy for Bookings through the Platform — a Cancellation Window (the notice period before a Booking, for example 24, 48 or 72 hours) and a Deposit (a flat fee, a percentage of the Booking value, or the full Booking value). We’ll show your policy to each Client before they book. If a Client cancels within your Cancellation Window, the Deposit is charged to them and paid to you as your Payout, less Commission. If a Client cancels outside your Cancellation Window, they won’t be charged and no Payout arises for that Booking.
7.2 Client no-shows. If a Client fails to attend a confirmed Booking without reasonable notice, they'll be charged in full under the Platform's policy, and you'll still receive your Payout (less Commission) as if the Booking had gone ahead — as long as you attended and were ready to provide the Services.
7.3 Your cancellations. If you cancel a confirmed Booking without reasonable notice, or don't attend, the Client won't be charged, and we may take the steps in clause 9 if this happens repeatedly or unreasonably.
7.4 Refunds and disputes. We may, acting reasonably and after hearing your account of events, give a Client a full or partial refund where the Services weren't provided, were materially misdescribed, or there's a valid complaint — and deduct the corresponding amount from your current or future Payouts. We'll tell you why.
8.1 You own everything you upload to the Platform (photos, descriptions, portfolio material and other Content).
8.2 By uploading Content, you give us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable licence to host, store, show and distribute it (and adapt it for formatting or technical purposes only) to run, promote and market the Platform — including on your profile, in search and discovery, and in our own marketing such as social media — for as long as you're on the Platform and for a reasonable period afterwards to allow removal.
8.3 You confirm you own the Content, or have all necessary rights and permission to use it (including from anyone shown in it), and that it doesn't infringe anyone else's rights or break the law.
8.4 You can ask us to stop actively promoting specific Content at any time. We'll action this within a reasonable time, though we can't remove it from marketing material already published at that point.
8.5 Our branding, software and platform technology remain ours. This Agreement doesn't transfer any rights in them to you.
9.1 We may suspend or remove your access to the Platform immediately, without prior notice where reasonably necessary, if: (a) you breach this Agreement or the Platform Standards; (b) we reasonably believe you pose a safety, safeguarding or fraud risk to Clients or the Platform; (c) there's a pattern of substantiated Client complaints against you; (d) required verification lapses; or (e) the law or a payment processor's requirements mean we have to.
9.2 Where reasonably practical, we'll tell you why and give you a chance to respond before removing you permanently, except where we suspect fraud, a safety issue or a safeguarding concern, where we may act immediately without prior notice.
9.3 Either of us can end this Agreement for any reason by giving the other 14 days' written notice.
9.4 Either of us can end this Agreement immediately by written notice if the other commits a serious breach of it that (if it can be fixed) isn't fixed within 14 days of being asked to fix it.
9.5 If this Agreement ends, your profile and listings will be deactivated, any Bookings not yet completed may be cancelled under clause 7, and any Payout you're owed for completed Bookings will still be paid, subject to clauses 6.3 and 7.4.
9.6 Clauses that are meant to continue after this Agreement ends (including clauses 3.3, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 14) will keep applying.
10.1 To the extent the law allows, our total liability to you under or in connection with this Agreement — whether for breach of contract, negligence or otherwise — is capped at the total Commission we've kept from your Bookings in the 3 months before the event giving rise to the claim.
10.2 Nothing in this Agreement limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or anything else the law doesn't allow us to limit.
10.3 You agree to indemnify us in full against any losses, claims, costs or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or connected with your provision of Services — including injury, damage, an allergic reaction, or a Client complaint caused by your negligence, breach of law, or breach of this Agreement — except to the extent caused by our own fault. This applies whether or not you hold insurance.
10.4 You must hold and maintain, for the whole time you offer Services through the Platform, valid insurance appropriate to the Services you provide — including cover for the treatments you carry out (treatment or professional liability) as well as public liability. This is a requirement of using the Platform, not a recommendation, and applies whether or not such insurance is required by law. We may reasonably specify or approve the type and level of cover.
10.5 You’ll provide evidence of your insurance — insurer, policy number, cover type and expiry date — promptly on request, and in any event within 7 days. We may request this at any time. Failing to hold the required insurance, or to provide evidence when asked, is a material breach and may lead to suspension or removal from the Platform.
10.6 Where you upload evidence and we review it, we may show a “Verified” badge on your profile confirming we reviewed your insurance as at the date shown. To qualify, your cover must include treatment or professional liability and public liability of at least £1,000,000. The badge reflects a point-in-time review only, is tied to the policy expiry date you give us, and may be removed automatically on or before that expiry. We’re under no obligation to verify, and the absence of a badge does not mean a Stylist is uninsured.
11.1 Each of us will comply with our obligations under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 for personal data processed under this Agreement.
11.2 We're the controller for personal data we collect to run the Platform (like Client and Stylist account data). You're an independent controller for any Client personal data you receive to fulfil a Booking (like a Client's name and contact details for that appointment) — you must only use it to fulfil that Booking, keep it secure, and not use it for unrelated marketing without the Client's separate consent.
11.3 More detail on how we handle personal data is in our Privacy Policy, updated from time to time.
12.1 Each of us will keep confidential any non-public business, technical or financial information the other shares under this Agreement, and won't disclose it to anyone else except as required by law or to our professional advisers, or use it for anything beyond this Agreement.
13.1 To protect the marketplace, you agree not to encourage a Client you met through the Platform to book or pay for the same or similar Services outside the Platform, for the purpose of avoiding Commission, for 6 months after that Client's first Booking with you through BLKBAR. This doesn't stop you continuing to serve your own existing clients who didn't come through the Platform, or using any other platform or channel generally.
14.1 Whole agreement. This Agreement (including its Schedules and any Platform Standards or policies it refers to) is the entire agreement between us on this subject, and replaces any earlier discussions or agreements. Neither of us is relying on anything said before signing that isn't written down here.
14.2 We can update this Agreement. We may update this Agreement or the Platform Standards to reflect operational, legal or regulatory changes, by giving you reasonable written notice (at least 14 days for anything material) through the Platform or by email. Carrying on using the Platform after that notice period means you've accepted the change. Any Commission rate change is governed by clause 5.2.
14.3 Passing this Agreement on. You can't transfer this Agreement or your rights under it without our written consent. We can transfer it if our business is merged, reorganised, or sold, and we'll give you notice if that happens.
14.4 If part of this Agreement is unenforceable. The rest of the Agreement continues to apply in full.
14.5 No waiver. If either of us doesn't enforce a term straight away, that doesn't stop us enforcing it later.
14.6 Notices. We can give you notice through the Platform, or to the email address on your account. You can give us notice in writing to our registered office address.
14.7 No third-party rights. This Agreement is only between you and us. Nobody else — including a Client — gets any right to enforce it under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
14.8 Governing law and disputes. This Agreement is governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from it. We'd both rather resolve a dispute informally, or through mediation, before going to court.
1.Commission rate: 0% for now — BLKBAR is not currently charging Commission. Any Commission introduced in future will be applied as a change to the standard rate on at least 30 days’ written notice (clauses 5.1 and 5.2).
2.Payout timing: normally within 2 business days of Booking completion, processed by Stripe. Your first Payout may take 7–14 days while Stripe completes its account security checks.
3.Cancellation policy: you set your Cancellation Window and Deposit in the Platform; shown to Clients before booking (clause 7.1).
4.No-show: the full Fee is charged if a Client doesn’t attend a confirmed Booking without cancelling, and paid to you less Commission (clause 7.2).
5.Notice period to end this Agreement without cause: 14 days (clause 9.3).
BLKBAR may update this Schedule from time to time in line with clauses 5.2 and 14.2 of the Agreement.
By signing below, the Stylist confirms they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Agreement, and confirm they are entering into it as an independent contractor, not as an employee or worker of BLKBAR Ltd.
Signed for and on behalf of BLKBAR Ltd:
Signature:
Signed by the Stylist:
Signature: _______________________________