TENDED — TERMS OF SERVICE

Effective Date: May 2026
Last Updated: May 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern the use of services provided by Tended LLC (“Tended,” “we,” “our,” or “us”).

By accessing the Tended website, submitting a questionnaire, paying an application fee, requesting or accepting introductions, participating in interviews or paid trials, or engaging in any Tended-facilitated matching process, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

These Terms apply to both Families and Caregivers unless otherwise specified.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use Tended services.

1. OVERVIEW OF SERVICES

Tended provides:

  • Values-based caregiver and family introductions

  • Personalized matching support

  • Interview preparation and onboarding guidance

  • Communication coaching and mediation support

  • Contract templates and educational resources

  • Reference coordination and placement support

  • Optional background check coordination through third-party providers

  • Ongoing relationship guidance, where applicable

Tended is an introduction and placement support service only.

Tended does not employ caregivers, supervise caregiving work, direct household operations, guarantee compatibility, or guarantee employment outcomes.

All hiring, employment, payroll, supervision, scheduling, workplace safety, tax, insurance, and legal compliance responsibilities remain solely between Families and Caregivers.

2. DEFINITIONS

“Family”
 An individual, parent, guardian, or household seeking childcare or family support services.

“Caregiver”
 A nanny, newborn care specialist, doula, family assistant, house manager, or other caregiving professional seeking opportunities through Tended.

“Introduction”
 Any instance in which Tended shares information, profiles, resumes, references, contact details, identifying information, or facilitates communication between a Family and Caregiver.

“Placement”
 A Placement occurs when a Family hires, engages, retains, books, schedules, trials, employs, or begins an ongoing working relationship with a Caregiver introduced by Tended, whether full-time, part-time, temporary, trial-to-hire, live-in, live-out, occasional, recurring, as a family assistant, for household management, or otherwise.

3. APPLICATION FEES

Families

Families pay a $200 non-refundable Family Application Fee to begin the Tended review and matching process.

This fee:

  • Covers intake review, consultation time, matching preparation, and administrative support

  • Is credited toward the final placement fee if a successful placement occurs

  • Does not guarantee introductions, interviews, trials, or placement

Caregivers

Caregivers pay a $25 non-refundable application fee to be considered for placement opportunities through Tended, unless waived by Tended.

This fee helps support:

  • Application review

  • Interview time

  • Profile creation

  • Matching coordination

  • Administrative support

Submission of an application does not guarantee interviews, introductions, or placement opportunities.

Tended may waive caregiver fees in cases of financial hardship at its discretion.

4. PLACEMENT FEES & PAYMENT TERMS

Placement Fee

Tended charges a placement fee for successful caregiver placements.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Tended’s placement fee is 10% of the Caregiver’s projected first-year gross wages, calculated from the agreed hourly rate and regular weekly schedule. A minimum placement fee applies.

Tended reserves the right to modify pricing for future placements.

When the Placement Fee Becomes Owed

The placement fee becomes owed when a Family and Caregiver introduced by Tended mutually agree to move forward with an ongoing role, whether verbally, by email, by text message, through scheduling, or through a written agreement.

The final placement fee is determined once both sides agree to move forward and confirm the role’s hourly rate and regular weekly schedule.

The placement fee becomes owed regardless of the Caregiver’s official start date.

Payment Terms

Families must sign the Placement Agreement and submit payment in full within 3 business days of mutually agreeing to move forward with a Tended-introduced Caregiver and before the Caregiver’s official first working day, unless otherwise agreed in writing by Tended.

Payments must be made through Stripe unless otherwise approved in writing.

Failure to pay constitutes a material breach of these Terms.

Late Payments

Unpaid balances accrue interest at 3% per month.

Families are responsible for any collection costs, legal fees, arbitration costs, or enforcement expenses associated with unpaid balances.

Refund Policy

Application fees and placement fees are non-refundable.

Tended may offer replacement support as outlined below, but does not provide refunds under any circumstances.

5. REPLACEMENT SUPPORT

If a placement ends within the first 30 calendar days of employment, Tended will provide replacement support for the same role, subject to availability and alignment.

Replacement support may include up to 1–2 additional caregiver introductions, at Tended’s discretion.

Replacement support:

  • Applies only once per paid placement

  • Applies only to the same role, schedule, location, compensation range, and responsibilities originally agreed upon

  • Is not a refund

  • Is not a credit

  • Is not a guarantee of a successful future placement

  • Is subject to caregiver availability and continued alignment with Tended’s placement process

Replacement support is void if the Family:

  • Violates these Terms

  • Circumvents or attempts to circumvent Tended

  • Materially changes the role, schedule, location, compensation, or responsibilities after the placement is accepted

  • Materially breaches agreements with the Caregiver

  • Underpays, mistreats, or fails to pay the Caregiver on time

  • Provides inaccurate or misleading job details

  • Fails to comply with applicable employment laws

  • Fails to communicate professionally or respectfully

  • Fails to provide timely interview, trial, or placement feedback requested by Tended

Replacement introductions are not guaranteed placements.

6. ANTI-CIRCUMVENTION

Families and Caregivers agree not to circumvent Tended.

For 12 months following any Introduction, Families may not directly or indirectly hire, employ, trial, engage, retain, refer, contract with, schedule, book, or otherwise work with any Caregiver introduced by Tended outside the Tended placement process without payment of the applicable placement fee.

Likewise, Caregivers may not accept employment, trial work, or paid work directly with a Family introduced through Tended outside the Tended placement process.

Families may not share caregiver profiles, resumes, references, contact information, or identifying details with third parties without written consent from Tended.

Any direct or indirect engagement between the introduced parties within 12 months of the Introduction is considered a Tended Placement and remains subject to Tended fees, regardless of whether the original placement proceeds.

Tended may share contact information between Families and Caregivers for scheduling, interview, trial, and placement-related logistics. Sharing contact information does not waive Tended’s placement rights or anti-circumvention protections.

7. OPTIONAL PAID TRIALS

Families may choose to schedule a paid trial before making a final hiring decision.

Trial work:

  • Must be paid directly to the Caregiver

  • Must be compensated at the agreed hourly rate

  • Does not establish employment by Tended

Tended recommends paid trials between 1 and 5 working days.

Extended trials beyond 5 working days may be treated as a Placement at Tended’s discretion.

Tended is not responsible for payroll, supervision, taxes, scheduling, transportation, household instructions, or trial-related disputes.

8. REFERENCES & BACKGROUND CHECKS

Tended may review reference information provided by Caregivers and may conduct preliminary reference conversations at its discretion.

Families remain responsible for conducting any additional reference checks, interviews, background checks, or diligence they deem appropriate prior to hire.

Tended does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of references provided by Caregivers or third parties.

Background checks may be coordinated through third-party providers upon request or as part of the placement process.

Unless otherwise stated in writing, any background check fees are the responsibility of the Family.

For California placements, Tended may guide Families and Caregivers through TrustLine registration, TrustLine verification, or another applicable screening process. Tended does not guarantee TrustLine approval, background check results, caregiver eligibility, or suitability.

Tended:

  • Is not the reporting agency

  • Does not independently verify report accuracy

  • Does not guarantee eligibility or suitability

  • Is not liable for errors, omissions, delays, or reporting inaccuracies

Caregivers must consent before any background check is initiated.

9. CAREGIVER RESPONSIBILITIES

Caregivers acknowledge and agree that:

  • They are not employees of Tended

  • They determine their own rates, schedules, and availability

  • They are responsible for taxes and legal compliance

  • They will communicate professionally and honestly

  • They will provide truthful application information

  • They will notify Tended immediately if contacted directly by a Tended-introduced Family regarding employment, trial work, scheduling, or paid work

  • They will not circumvent Tended

10. FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES

Families agree to:

  • Pay caregivers legally, ethically, and on time

  • Provide a safe and respectful working environment

  • Follow applicable employment laws

  • Communicate professionally

  • Provide accurate job details

  • Notify Tended of trial dates, offers, accepted offers, and start dates

  • Complete the requested post-interview or post-trial feedback within 24 hours

  • Keep caregiver communication, scheduling, trials, references, and next steps coordinated through Tended unless otherwise agreed in writing

Families are solely responsible for compliance with all applicable household employment laws, including payroll taxes, overtime, paid sick leave, workers’ compensation, wage/hour requirements, insurance, and workplace safety obligations.

11. CONFIDENTIALITY

Families and Caregivers agree to keep private any sensitive personal, household, financial, medical, childcare, employment, or relationship information learned through the Tended process.

Tended likewise agrees to handle personal information with reasonable care and discretion.

12. COMMUNICATION POLICY

Placement-related communication with Tended should occur primarily via email unless otherwise agreed.

Tended may provide optional coaching, mediation, onboarding support, or support calls at its discretion.

Response times are not guaranteed.

13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Tended is not liable for:

  • Caregiver performance

  • Family conduct

  • Compatibility outcomes

  • Injuries

  • Property damage

  • Theft

  • Misconduct

  • Employment disputes

  • Payroll or tax compliance

  • Background check inaccuracies

  • Third-party actions

Tended’s maximum liability shall not exceed the total amount of fees paid directly to Tended by the Family.

14. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Step 1 — Mediation

Parties agree to attempt good-faith mediation before pursuing formal legal action.

Step 2 — Binding Arbitration

If mediation is unsuccessful, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Los Angeles County, California.

Parties waive the right to trial by jury or participation in class action claims.

15. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California.

16. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

By:

  • Submitting a questionnaire

  • Paying an application fee

  • Requesting introductions

  • Participating in interviews or paid trials

  • Hiring, trialing, engaging, or otherwise working with a Tended-introduced Caregiver

  • Continuing communication through the Tended process

You acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms.

CONTACT

Tended LLC
hello@jointended.com
Tended