Terms of Service

1. About Backdrop

Backdrop is a marketplace platform that connects event organizers ("Organizers" or "Users") with event service providers ("Event Partners" or "Vendors") for booking event rentals and services. We facilitate the discovery, booking, and payment process but do not directly provide, execute, or guarantee any event services.

Backdrop acts solely as an intermediary. We are not a party to any agreement between Organizers and Event Partners, nor do we endorse, certify, or guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any services offered through the Platform.

All payments are processed securely through Stripe, a trusted payment processor used by millions of businesses including Airbnb, Lyft, and Shopify.

2. Eligibility

To use the Backdrop Platform, you must:

• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement
• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a business or other legal entity, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind such entity to these Terms. By creating an account and using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet all eligibility requirements.

3. Account Registration

To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. When creating an account, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

You may delete your account at any time from within the Platform (on the web, under Account → About Me → Account management; in the mobile app, under Edit Profile → Account management → Delete account), subject to the conditions described below. Deletion is final once confirmed and cannot be reversed by Backdrop. After deletion, the email address previously associated with your account may be used to create a new account, but the new account will not inherit any history, bookings, listings, payment methods, reviews, or other data from the deleted account.

You may not delete your account while you have any active bookings, whether as an Organizer or as an Event Partner. An “active booking” is one that is pending vendor response or has been accepted but is not yet completed or cancelled. Event Partners may also not delete their accounts while a deposit or final payout is pending or processing. If you wish to delete your account but have an active booking or pending payout, you must first wait for the booking to be completed, cancelled, or refunded, and for the payout to settle.

Backdrop reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or for any other reason at our discretion.

4. Platform Services

Backdrop provides technology and services that enable:

Backdrop handles payment transactions through Stripe but does not directly execute any event services.

Platform Protections:

All platform protections — including payment protection, dispute resolution, refund eligibility, and verified reviews — apply exclusively to bookings and transactions completed through Backdrop. If you arrange, negotiate, or complete any transaction outside the Platform, Backdrop's protections do not apply and Backdrop is not responsible for any disputes, losses, or damages that arise.

5. Terms for Event Organizers

As an Organizer using Backdrop, you agree to:

Your Responsibilities:

• Provide accurate and up-to-date information about your event requirements
• Communicate clearly and professionally with Event Partners
• Review and understand each Event Partner's pricing, deposit requirements, and cancellation policy before booking
• Honor bookings made through the Platform
• Pay all amounts due in accordance with the payment terms

Booking Commitments:

When you complete a booking on Backdrop, you are entering into a direct agreement with the Event Partner to receive their services according to the terms of that booking. Backdrop facilitates this transaction but is not a party to the service agreement between you and the Event Partner.

Snapshot Pricing:

Once you complete a booking, the pricing, deposit amount, and cancellation policy in effect at the time of booking are locked in ("snapshot pricing"). Even if the Event Partner later changes their pricing or policies, your booking will be honored at the original terms.

Platform Integrity:

Organizers agree not to knowingly solicit or complete any booking or payment outside the Backdrop platform. If an Event Partner attempts to move communication or payment off-platform, please report it to support@hellobackdrop.com. Backdrop is not responsible for any disputes, losses, or damages arising from off-platform transactions.

6. Terms for Event Partners

As an Event Partner using Backdrop, you agree to:

Your Responsibilities:

• Provide accurate and up-to-date information about your services
• Set clear pricing, deposit requirements, and cancellation policies
• Fulfill your obligations for each booking according to the agreed-upon details
• Maintain clear communication and professionalism with all Organizers
• Respond to booking requests within 48 hours
• Maintain all necessary licenses, permits, and insurance required for your services
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

Listing Standards:

• All service listings must accurately represent the services offered
• Photos and descriptions must be truthful and not misleading
• Pricing must be transparent with no hidden fees
• Misleading or fraudulent listings are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate account termination

Cancellation by Event Partners:

If you cancel a confirmed booking: the Organizer receives a full refund (including deposit and service fees), any payout already made to you will be reversed via Stripe, the event date is automatically unblocked from your calendar, and frequent cancellations may affect your vendor standing and visibility on the Platform.

Platform Integrity:

Event Partners agree not to solicit, encourage, or facilitate any transaction, payment, or communication that circumvents the Backdrop platform. This includes but is not limited to:

• Sharing personal contact information (phone numbers, email addresses) with Organizers for the purpose of completing a booking outside the Platform
• Directing Organizers to contact or pay you directly rather than through Backdrop
• Offering discounts or incentives to complete bookings off-platform

To protect both parties, Backdrop automatically filters personal contact information (phone numbers and email addresses) from platform messages. Filtered content is replaced with [hidden by Backdrop]. Repeated attempts to share contact information may result in administrative review, immediate suspension, permanent removal, or forfeiture of promotional benefits including the zero-fee promotional period.

Promotional Programs:

Backdrop may offer promotional incentives to Event Partners, including but not limited to sign-on bonuses, referral bonuses, and revenue share programs. These programs are promotional benefits offered at Backdrop's sole discretion and are not contractual obligations. Backdrop reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate any promotional program at any time without prior notice.

The following rules apply to all promotional programs unless otherwise stated:

• Sign-on bonuses are limited to one per individual, regardless of the number of businesses or accounts operated by that individual.
• Referral bonuses are awarded for referring new, genuinely independent, unaffiliated vendors to the platform. Self-referrals are strictly prohibited — including referring businesses owned, operated, managed, or significantly influenced by the same individual — regardless of whether a different email address, business name, or role is used.
• All promotional bonuses are subject to review and approval by the Backdrop team and may be withheld or revoked if the spirit of the program is not being met.
• Abuse of promotional programs, including but not limited to creating multiple accounts, misrepresenting referral relationships, or attempting to claim duplicate bonuses, may result in forfeiture of all promotional benefits, account suspension, or permanent removal from the platform.
• Any bonus paid as a result of a fraudulent or ineligible referral must be returned to Backdrop upon request.

Account Deletion:

If you delete your Event Partner account, your active listings will be removed from circulation on the Platform and will no longer be bookable. Past reservations, reviews, and messages associated with those listings will remain in our records and will continue to appear in the booking history of the Organizers you have transacted with, attributed to “Former user.” See our Privacy Policy for details on what data is removed and what is retained.

7. Fees and Pricing

For Event Organizers:

Organizers pay a 10% service fee on top of the Event Partner's listed price at checkout. This fee covers secure Stripe payment processing, platform maintenance and development, customer support and dispute resolution, and booking protection and secure transactions.

Example: If an Event Partner's price is $500, you pay $500 + $50 (10% service fee) = $550 total.

For Event Partners:

During the Promotional Period: 0% platform fee - you keep 100% of your listed price. Backdrop covers all Stripe payment processing fees. The promotional period lasts a minimum of 6 months from when you join.

After the Promotional Period: A 3% vendor fee may be introduced to help cover cancellations, refunds, and secure payment processing. You will receive advance notice before any fee changes take effect.

No Hidden Fees: No listing fees, no monthly subscriptions, no upfront costs. All fees are disclosed transparently before you accept a booking.

8. Booking and Payment

Payment Options:

Organizers can choose between two payment methods when booking:

Payment Authorization:

When you submit a booking request, your payment method is authorized (not charged) for the deposit or full amount. The Event Partner has up to 48 hours to accept or decline. If accepted, payment is captured immediately. If declined or no response within 48 hours, the authorization is released.

Deposits:

Event Partners set their own deposit requirements, which may be fixed (a flat amount or percentage) or dynamic (scaling based on hours, guests, or other factors). Deposit amounts and policies are displayed clearly before you complete a booking.

9. Saved Payment Methods

When you book on Backdrop, your payment method is securely saved with our payment processor (Stripe) so you can complete future bookings faster and so we can collect any remaining balance owed for your event. Card details are tokenized and stored by Stripe — Backdrop never sees or stores your full card number, expiration date, or CVC.

You can view, add, remove, or change your default saved payment method at any time from the Payment tab in your account settings. Removing a card detaches it from your Stripe customer record and deletes Backdrop's local copy immediately.

If you remove your default card and have other cards on file, Backdrop automatically promotes another card to default so future charges are not interrupted. If a saved card is needed to collect a remaining balance and the charge fails, we will notify you and provide a way to retry with a new card.

10. Cancellations and Refunds

Event Partner Cancellation Policies:

Each Event Partner sets their own cancellation policy, including whether deposits are refundable or non-refundable, and a grace period during which full refunds are available (typically 2-8 weeks before the event). You can view each Event Partner's cancellation policy on their listing page before booking.

Organizer-Initiated Cancellations:

Important: The 7-day no-refund window is a platform-wide policy that applies to all bookings, regardless of the Event Partner's grace period. This protects vendors who have committed time and resources to your event.

Event Partner-Initiated Cancellations:

If an Event Partner cancels your booking, you receive a full refund, including the deposit and service fee. Refunds are processed automatically via Stripe.

Refund Processing:

All refunds are processed through Stripe and typically appear in your account within 5-10 business days, depending on your bank or card issuer.

11. Payouts for Event Partners

Payout Timeline:

Note: First-time payouts through Stripe may take 3-5 business days while your account completes verification.

12. Disputes and Chargebacks

Dispute Resolution Process:

If a dispute arises regarding a booking: (1) First, attempt to resolve the issue directly with the other party through the Platform's messaging system. (2) If you cannot resolve the dispute, contact support@hellobackdrop.com for assistance. (3) Backdrop may provide limited mediation support but does not guarantee outcomes beyond each party's stated policies.

Chargebacks:

For Organizers: Initiating a chargeback without first following Backdrop's dispute process may result in account suspension. Unauthorized chargebacks may result in permanent removal from the Platform.

For Event Partners: If an Organizer initiates a chargeback, Stripe may place a hold on the disputed amount. If the chargeback is successful, the disputed amount will be deducted from your future payouts. Backdrop will provide transaction records to help you contest fraudulent chargebacks.

13. Intellectual Property

Backdrop's Intellectual Property: The Platform, including all content, features, functionality, software, text, displays, images, video, audio, design, trademarks, logos, and the selection and arrangement thereof, are owned by Backdrop Events, Inc., its licensors, or other providers of such material and are protected by United States and international intellectual property laws. These Terms do not grant you any right, title, or interest in the Platform or any content therein.

User Content: You retain ownership of any content you submit through the Platform, including profile information, messages, and reviews. By submitting content, you grant Backdrop a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, distribute, and display such content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

Event Partner Content: Event Partners retain ownership of their service listings, photos, and descriptions. By submitting content, Event Partners grant Backdrop a license to use such content as described above. This license continues for a reasonable period after content is removed to allow for archival purposes.

Feedback: If you provide feedback, suggestions, or ideas regarding the Platform, you assign all rights in such feedback to Backdrop, which may use it without compensation or attribution.

14. Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Platform, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

15. SMS Communications

By providing a phone number on the Platform, you consent to receive automated SMS text messages from Backdrop Events, Inc. related to your account, bookings, and messages from other Platform users. These messages may be sent using an automated system.

Message Frequency: Message frequency varies based on your account activity and booking volume.

Rates: Message and data rates may apply. Check with your mobile carrier for details.

Opt-Out: Reply STOP to any SMS message to opt out of SMS notifications at any time. You may also manage your notification preferences in your account settings. Opting out of SMS will not affect transactional emails or your ability to use the Platform.

Help: Reply HELP to any SMS message for assistance. For additional support, contact support@hellobackdrop.com.

No Guarantee of Delivery: Backdrop is not responsible for any delays or failures in SMS delivery, which may be affected by your mobile carrier, network conditions, or device settings.

Backdrop will not share your phone number with third parties for their marketing purposes. For more information on how we handle your data, see our Privacy Policy.

Consent at Point of Collection: When users add or update their phone number on the Platform, the following disclosure is displayed directly beneath the phone number field: "By providing your phone number, you agree to receive SMS notifications from Backdrop Events, Inc. about booking requests, booking updates, and new messages. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out at any time. Reply HELP for help."

16. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BACKDROP DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

BACKDROP DOES NOT WARRANT THAT: (A) THE PLATFORM WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS; (B) THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE; (C) THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE PLATFORM WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE; OR (D) ANY ERRORS IN THE PLATFORM WILL BE CORRECTED.

17. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL BACKDROP BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BACKDROP'S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF: (I) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SERVICE FEES PAID BY YOU TO BACKDROP IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM; OR (II) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).

THE LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY IN THIS SECTION REFLECT THE ALLOCATION OF RISK BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND ARE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE BASIS OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

18. Indemnification

For Organizers: You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Backdrop Events, Inc. and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your breach of these Terms; (c) your violation of any law or third-party rights; (d) any dispute with an Event Partner; or (e) any content you provide through the Platform.

For Event Partners: You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Backdrop Events, Inc. and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) your services provided through the Platform; (b) your breach of these Terms; (c) your violation of any law, regulation, or license requirement; (d) any dispute with an Organizer; (e) any content or listings you provide; (f) any injury, property damage, or harm arising from your services; or (g) any tax obligations related to your earnings.

19. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

Agreement to Arbitrate: You and Backdrop Events, Inc. ("Backdrop") agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be determined by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") in accordance with its applicable rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in San Francisco County, California, unless otherwise agreed.

CLASS ACTION WAIVER: YOU AND BACKDROP AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

Opt-Out: You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to legal@hellobackdrop.com within thirty (30) days of first accepting these Terms. Include your name, mailing address, account email, and a clear opt-out statement.

Exceptions: Either party may bring claims in small claims court or seek injunctive relief for intellectual property violations.

20. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for delays or failures in performance due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, strikes, or internet/power outages. If a force majeure event affects an Event Partner's ability to fulfill a booking, the Organizer shall receive a full refund.

21. General Provisions

Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Jurisdiction: Subject to the arbitration agreement, legal proceedings shall be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in San Francisco County, California.

Electronic Communications: By creating an account, you consent to receive electronic communications from us, including account notifications, booking confirmations, payment receipts, and policy updates.

Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without Backdrop's consent. Backdrop may assign these Terms without restriction.

Severability: If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions continue in full force.

Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any booking-specific terms, constitute the entire agreement between you and Backdrop.

Changes to Terms: Backdrop may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by posting updated Terms with a new "Last Updated" date. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

Termination: Either party may terminate with notice. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Outstanding balances must be settled before termination.

22. Contact Us