Bkd Local, LLC
Terms of Service
1. Agreement to Terms
Please read these Terms of Service carefully. By creating an account or accessing or using Bkd Local (available at bkdlocal.com and app.bkdlocal.com, collectively the “Platform”), you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you do not have the right to use the Platform. These Terms constitute a legal agreement between you and Bkd Local, LLC (“Bkd Local,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a Tennessee limited liability company.
2. What Bkd Local Is
Bkd Local is a two-sided marketplace that connects customers seeking custom baked goods with independent artisan bakers (“Bakers”) operating in verified service areas. Unlike a baker SaaS tool, Bkd Local facilitates transactions between customers and Bakers. When a Baker accepts an order, Bkd Local uses Stripe Connect, a third-party payment processor, to charge the customer’s payment method, with Bkd Local as the merchant of record on that charge. Bkd Local then directs a separate transfer of the Baker’s payout, net of the applicable platform fee, to the Baker’s connected Stripe account following successful order fulfillment and the close of the complaint window described in Section 7. Stripe, not Bkd Local, processes and moves these funds. Bkd Local does not itself bake, prepare, or sell food products.
3. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of forming a binding contract to use the Platform. By using the Platform you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements. The Platform is currently available to users located in the State of Tennessee. Service areas may expand, contract, or change over time at our sole discretion.
4. Baker Accounts
Bakers must register for an account and complete the onboarding process, including providing accurate business information, pricing, availability, and at least one menu item with a photo and price before their profile will appear in the customer directory. Bakers are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of their profile at all times. Bkd Local reserves the right to suspend or remove any Baker profile that contains inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete information.
Bakers represent and warrant that: (a) they will personally create and provide all baked goods listed on their profile; (b) they will comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing cottage food, home-based food production, food safety, and any required permits or licenses; (c) all goods listed are food-safe and accurately described; and (d) they will honor all confirmed orders at the agreed price, quantity, and pickup time.
5. What “Bkd Verified” Means
The “Bkd Verified” designation indicates that a Baker has completed the Bkd Local onboarding process, including profile completion with bio, city, menu items with photos and prices, and available pickup dates. Bkd Verified does NOT mean that Bkd Local has conducted background checks, inspected the Baker’s kitchen, verified compliance with cottage food laws, or independently confirmed the quality or safety of any food products. Customers should exercise their own judgment when placing orders.
6. Customer Accounts
Customers must create an account to place orders. Customers are responsible for providing accurate contact and payment information. Customers acknowledge that: (a) all food products are prepared by independent Bakers in residential or small commercial kitchens; (b) products may be prepared in facilities that handle common allergens; (c) Bkd Local does not inspect or guarantee the safety or quality of any food products; (d) it is the customer’s sole responsibility to ensure the suitability of any product for their dietary needs or restrictions; and (e) order pickup occurs at the Baker’s designated pickup location, which is often a private residence. Bkd Local does not inspect, control, or assume responsibility for the safety or condition of any pickup location, and customers assume all risks associated with traveling to and visiting a pickup location.
Care of baked goods after pickup. All products sold on the Platform are handmade, perishable, and often fragile. From the moment of pickup, the customer is solely responsible for the care, transport, and storage of their order. This includes, without limitation: securing items flat and stable in the vehicle so they cannot slide, tip, or be crushed; never leaving baked goods in a hot vehicle or outdoors in the heat, where products can melt, spoil, or become unsafe; refrigerating cakes and other perishable items promptly after pickup; and following any care instructions the Baker provides. Damage or spoilage caused after pickup, including dropped items, unsecured transport, heat exposure, or improper storage, is not the responsibility of the Baker or Bkd Local and does not qualify for a refund under Section 8.
7. Orders, Payments, and Payouts
Submitting an order request. When a customer submits an order request, the customer enters payment information and Bkd Local, through its payment processor Stripe, saves the customer’s payment method and places a temporary preauthorization of $15.00 on the customer’s card to verify it. This preauthorization is a temporary hold, not a charge. The hold is released promptly after verification, and the customer’s card is not charged unless and until the Baker accepts the order. If the card cannot be verified, the order request cannot be submitted. The Platform displays this disclosure at checkout.
Baker acceptance window. A Baker has twenty-four (24) hours to accept an order request. If the Baker does not accept within that window, the request expires, both the customer and the Baker are notified, and the customer’s card is not charged.
Charge at acceptance. When the Baker accepts the order, the customer’s saved payment method is charged the full order amount, consisting of the item subtotal plus a flat $1.50 customer service fee per transaction, through Stripe, with Bkd Local as the merchant of record on the charge. If the charge is declined, the order is not complete; both the customer and the Baker are notified, and the customer is given the opportunity to update their payment method and complete payment. The Baker’s payout is issued as a separate Stripe Connect transfer once the conditions for release described below are met. Upon acceptance, the Baker’s pickup address is shared with the customer; it is not displayed publicly or before acceptance.
Payout release and complaint window. The Baker’s payout (order subtotal minus the applicable platform fee) is released to the Baker at the earlier of: (a) the customer confirming in the app that they have received their order; or (b) two (2) hours after the scheduled pickup time. The period before release is the customer’s complaint window. Confirming receipt releases the payout and closes the complaint window. If a complaint is filed before release, the Baker’s transfer is delayed pending resolution as described in Section 8. The $1.50 customer service fee is retained by Bkd Local in all cases.
Platform fees. Charter Bakers pay 5% of the order subtotal, locked in for the life of the account. Beta Bakers pay 0% of the order subtotal for the first ninety (90) days after the Baker’s listing goes live, and 8% of the order subtotal thereafter. Standard Bakers pay 8% of the order subtotal. Charter membership is purchased for $97, which covers the Baker’s first six (6) months of Bkd Pro; thereafter, Charter membership continues at $19.00 per month, as further described in the Founding Baker Agreement. Bkd Local reserves the right to modify platform fees with reasonable advance notice to Bakers, except that the Charter lifetime 5% rate is locked and will not be increased for Bakers in good standing.
8. Complaints, Dispute Resolution, and Refunds
Customers may file a complaint at any time before the Baker’s payout is released, meaning before the earlier of (a) the customer confirming receipt in the app or (b) two (2) hours after the scheduled pickup time, by contacting Bkd Local at hello@bkdlocal.com or through the app. Filing a complaint pauses the release of the Baker’s payout pending review. Valid grounds for a complaint and refund include: (a) the Baker failed to fulfill the order; (b) the order received was materially different from, or materially less than, what was described; or (c) a documented food safety concern affecting the order, including suspected foodborne illness. Complaints based on personal preference, flavor, or change of mind do not qualify. An isolated foreign object (for example, a hair) in a single item does not entitle the customer to a refund of the order; the customer’s remedy is a review of the Baker, and Bkd Local may, at its sole discretion, issue a partial refund for the affected item only. Quality or safety issues arising from the customer’s storage or handling of goods after pickup, as described in Section 6, do not qualify for any refund. The complaint process applies regardless of the cancellation windows below: a qualifying defective order is eligible for a refund even inside the final seven days.
Bkd Local will review all complaints and make a good-faith determination, and may request photos or other documentation from both the customer and the Baker as part of that review. If a refund is approved before the Baker’s payout transfer has been initiated, Bkd Local processes the refund through Stripe and reduces the Baker’s payout accordingly. If a refund is approved after the Baker’s transfer has already been initiated, Bkd Local will seek to recover the applicable amount from the Baker’s next payout or through direct request. Bkd Local’s decision on complaints is final. After the payout is released, all sales are final. Because all products are custom-made perishable goods, baked goods cannot be returned; the complaint process in this Section is the exclusive remedy.
Cancellations. Before a Baker accepts an order request, the customer may withdraw the request at no cost, and no charge is made for withdrawn or expired requests. After acceptance, a customer may cancel for a full refund up to seven (7) days before the scheduled pickup time. Within seven (7) days of the scheduled pickup time, customer cancellations are not permitted and no refund is available for cancellation or change of mind; orders placed less than seven days before the scheduled pickup are final once the Baker accepts. This seven-day rule applies to cancellations only and does not limit the complaint process above for defective orders. If a Baker cancels an accepted order or is unable to fulfill it, the customer receives a full refund of the entire amount charged, including the customer service fee, at any time. If a Baker cancels within seven (7) days of the scheduled pickup, the affected customer may leave a public review of the experience, and repeated or late cancellations may affect the Baker’s standing on the Platform.
No-shows. If a customer does not pick up their order at the scheduled pickup time, the order is not refundable and the Baker’s payout is released as described in Section 7. Customers who anticipate missing a pickup should contact the Baker promptly; accommodating a late pickup is at the Baker’s discretion.
9. Taxes
Bakers are solely responsible for determining and paying any applicable taxes arising from sales made through the Platform, including but not limited to sales tax, income tax, and self-employment tax. Bkd Local does not collect or remit sales tax on behalf of Bakers. Customers are advised that Bakers are independent sellers responsible for their own tax obligations. Nothing in these Terms constitutes tax advice.
10. Intellectual Property
Bkd Local retains all rights, title, and interest in the Platform, its technology, software, design, branding, and content. By uploading photos or content to your Baker or customer profile, you grant Bkd Local a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and promote that content in connection with operating and marketing the Platform. You represent that you own or have the right to share any content you upload.
11. Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to: (a) use the Platform for any unlawful purpose; (b) list or sell any products containing alcohol, THC, or CBD; (c) submit false or misleading information; (d) attempt to transact with other users outside the Platform to avoid fees; (e) harass, threaten, or defraud other users; (f) interfere with the operation of the Platform; or (g) use the Platform to promote competing services.
12. Termination
Bkd Local may suspend or terminate any account at any time, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms or for any other reason at our sole discretion. You may close your account at any time by contacting hello@bkdlocal.com. Outstanding obligations, including unfulfilled orders and pending payouts, will be resolved before account closure is finalized.
13. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. BKD LOCAL DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF SECURITY VULNERABILITIES. BKD LOCAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
14. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BKD LOCAL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM OR ANY TRANSACTIONS CONDUCTED THROUGH IT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BODILY INJURY, ILLNESS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR FINANCIAL LOSS. BKD LOCAL’S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO BKD LOCAL IN THE THREE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM OR $100.
15. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes not resolved through our internal process shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Gibson County, Tennessee.
16. Changes to These Terms
Bkd Local may update these Terms at any time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
17. Contact
Questions about these Terms should be directed to: hello@bkdlocal.com
Bkd Local, LLC · bkdlocal.com · hello@bkdlocal.com · Medina, Tennessee
Also see: Privacy Policy · Founding Baker Agreement