Last updated: June 29, 2026
Dockhand is a marketplace that connects people in Ontario's cottage country — Muskoka, the Kawarthas, Haliburton Highlands, and Georgian Bay — with local taskers. Dockhand does not perform the services itself. By using the platform, you agree to the terms below.
The Platform is owned and operated by Dockhand Inc., a corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) ("Dockhand", the "Platform", "we", "us"). The Platform is accessible at dockhand.ca and via related apps. You can reach us at dockhandadmin@gmail.com or by phone at (416) 892-5655.
You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter into a binding contract under the laws of Ontario. You may use Dockhand as a "Customer" (posting tasks) or as a "Tasker" (performing tasks), or both. You are responsible for keeping your account credentials secure and for all activity on your account.
Dockhand is a venue. Customers and Taskers contract directly with each other for the services posted on the Platform. Dockhand is not a party to that contract. Dockhand does not employ Taskers, does not direct or supervise the work, and does not guarantee any specific outcome, quality, timing, or result.
Taskers are independent contractors. They are not employees, agents, partners, joint venturers, franchisees, or representatives of Dockhand. Taskers acknowledge that they are not entitled to any employee benefit, workplace safety insurance, employment insurance, vacation pay, severance, statutory minimum wage, or other entitlement that arises from an employment relationship.
Marketplace factors. Customers and Taskers acknowledge and agree that: (a) Taskers choose which tasks to bid on and may decline any task without penalty; (b) Taskers set their own bid prices — Dockhand does not set, suggest, or cap what a Tasker may charge; (c) Taskers supply their own tools, supplies, vehicles, and personal protective equipment; (d) Taskers set their own schedules and methods of work, and may simultaneously offer services through other platforms or directly to clients; (e) Dockhand does not provide training, uniforms, equipment, or workspace; and (f) Dockhand does not assign work to any Tasker. These factors describe the nature of the relationship and apply for the purpose of any determination of employment, contractor, or other status under any law.
Algorithmic and AI features. Dockhand uses software and AI models to rank tasker matches, draft task descriptions on request, suggest prices, recommend turnover work to Hosts, summarize activity in a daily ops digest, and assist with dispute drafting. These features are informational and assistive. The Customer always chooses which Tasker to accept, the Tasker always chooses which price to bid, and any consequential decision — account suspension, payout reversal, refund determination, or removal from the Platform — is made or signed off on by a human Dockhand operator, not by AI alone. You can request human review of any algorithmic outcome that affects you by emailing dockhandadmin@gmail.com. Dockhand does not train AI models on your personal information or task content; third-party AI providers used by Dockhand operate under terms that prohibit training on our data. See the Privacy Policy for more detail.
Customers must describe tasks accurately, including location, scope, and any conditions that affect the work. Taskers must only accept tasks they are competent and equipped to perform safely. Both parties commit to communicating in good faith and showing up at the agreed time.
Customers pay the agreed task price plus any applicable taxes through the Platform. Dockhand charges a customer service fee of 13% of the task price on each booking, plus HST on that fee. This rate is the same for every Customer and every payment method. Payment processing costs are absorbed by Dockhand out of that fee — there is no separate processing charge or card surcharge.
When you confirm a booking, Stripe charges your payment method and routes the Tasker's share to the Tasker's connected Stripe account on Stripe's standard payout schedule. Dockhand's customer service fee is collected separately from the customer and does not reduce the Tasker's payout. Dockhand does not hold customer or tasker funds in its own account and does not operate an escrow service. If a refund or dispute resolution requires reversing a payment, the reversal is processed through Stripe's standard refund and dispute flow, subject to the limits and timing of that flow.
All subscriptions, subscription prices, commissions, service charges, platform fees, transaction fees, referral fees, Community Host and partner residuals and kickbacks, promotional rates, and any other charges or amounts payable to or by you under these Terms are subject to change at Dockhand's sole discretion at any time. Where a change increases an amount you pay, or reduces an amount payable to you, it takes effect on a going-forward basis — applying to tasks posted, bookings made, and subscription or billing periods that begin after the change takes effect — and we will provide notice where required by applicable law. Your continued use of the Platform after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the change. Current rates are shown at dockhand.ca/pricing and at checkout.
Late payment. Invoices issued by Dockhand — including hourly invoices raised after work is completed and any subscription or account invoice — are due on receipt. An amount that remains unpaid 30 days after the invoice date may accrue a late payment fee of 1% per month (12% per annum, simple, not compounded) on the outstanding balance, calculated from the 31st day and pro-rated daily. We will always tell you before a late fee is applied to your account, and we may waive it at our discretion. This clause applies only to invoices issued on or after 1 September 2026; invoices issued before that date carry the terms that were in force when they were issued.
HST is charged by the Tasker on their services. Dockhand only charges HST on its platform fee.
Taskers are independent service providers and are responsible for declaring their income and for registering, charging, and remitting HST/GST on their own services where applicable.
Cancellations and refunds are governed by our Refund & Cancellation Policy, which is part of these Terms.
Taskers complete identity confirmation through Stripe Identity before they can be paid. This confirms that the person has the identity they claim to have. It is not a background check, a skills check, a licence check, an insurance check, or any assessment of suitability, competence, or safety for any specific task. Dockhand does not investigate, endorse, recommend, or vouch for any Tasker. Customers must make their own assessment before allowing a Tasker into their home, onto their property, or into contact with their family.
Self-declared credentials — the two-badge system. Taskers on the Small Business or Commercial subscription tier may voluntarily upload documents to their profile. Where a Tasker has uploaded a Certificate of Insurance, an "Insurance on File" badge may display on the Tasker's profile. Where a Tasker has uploaded a Skilled Trades Ontario Certificate of Qualification, a "Trade Certificate on File" badge may display on the Tasker's profile. A Tasker who has uploaded both documents may be described on the Platform as a "Documented Trade Business."
Each badge and the "Documented Trade Business" designation state only that Dockhand received a document from the Tasker at the date shown on the badge. They are not verifications, endorsements, warranties, or ongoing certifications. Dockhand does not confirm authenticity of any uploaded document with the issuing authority, does not confirm the document remains valid after upload, does not confirm that insurance coverage is adequate for any specific task, and does not confirm the Tasker's continued compliance with any credential shown. Documents may expire, be revoked, be replaced, or become inaccurate after upload without Dockhand's knowledge. Where an expiry date has been provided by the Tasker, Dockhand will attempt to email the Tasker approximately 30 days before that date as a courtesy reminder, but Dockhand does not guarantee delivery of any such reminder, does not remove the badge automatically on the expiry date, and takes no responsibility for the Tasker's failure to renew or update any credential.
Customers who require confirmed credentials must request current documents from the Tasker directly and verify them with the issuing authority — for example, Skilled Trades Ontario at skilledtradesontario.ca for Certificates of Qualification, or the insurer or broker of record for Certificates of Insurance.
Regulated trades. Certain trades in Ontario — including electrical, plumbing, refrigeration and air conditioning, sprinkler and fire protection, hoisting, and gas fitting — require a Certificate of Qualification issued by Skilled Trades Ontario, and electrical contracting additionally requires an Electrical Safety Authority licence. It is the Customer's responsibility to confirm that any Tasker engaged for such work holds the required credentials. Dockhand does not confirm this and does not undertake to confirm this. Engaging an unqualified provider for regulated work may be a breach of Ontario law and may void the Customer's homeowner insurance in the event of a claim.
No indicator, badge, tier, rating, or descriptor displayed on the Platform transfers responsibility for site safety, workmanship, licensing, insurance status, or legal compliance to Dockhand. Customers remain responsible for satisfying themselves before any Tasker performs work.
You agree not to use Dockhand to:
We may suspend or remove accounts that breach these rules.
Dockhand does not provide insurance coverage to Customers or Taskers. The Platform is a venue; it does not carry a master liability, property damage, personal injury, theft, or workers' compensation policy that covers work arranged through the site.
Taskers: You are an independent contractor and are responsible for your own insurance, including any general liability, commercial vehicle, tools, professional liability, and personal injury or disability coverage appropriate to the work you perform. For higher-risk categories — including contractor projects, tree work, septic, boat lifts, dock installation, full cottage open/close, snow plow, roofing, electrical, plumbing, and any category that requires a trade licence or permit — you must (a) carry general liability coverage of at least CAD $2,000,000 in force throughout the performance of the task, (b) carry any other coverage required by your trade or by law (including WSIB coverage where applicable), and (c) provide Dockhand with a current Certificate of Insurance, trade licence, or permit on request within five (5) business days. Failure to maintain or produce required coverage is a material breach of these Terms and grounds for immediate suspension or removal from the Platform, in addition to any other remedy available to Dockhand.
Customers: You are responsible for confirming that your homeowner's, cottage, or commercial property insurance covers work performed by independent contractors on your property, including any consequential damage. For higher-value work, we strongly recommend you ask your Tasker to provide a Certificate of Insurance before the work begins and that you verify your own coverage in advance. Payments are processed by Stripe: when you accept an offer you are charged in full, Dockhand's platform fee is deducted, and the Tasker's share is routed to the Tasker's Stripe account and paid out on Stripe's standard payout schedule. This is a payment-processing arrangement, not an escrow service or an insurance product. If you flag an issue within 48 hours of scheduled completion, Dockhand may refund or reverse amounts in accordance with the Refund Policy.
The Dockhand Resolution Center provides mediation and refund handling, including full or partial refunds of task payments where warranted. It does not — and is not intended to — cover property damage, personal injury, theft, consequential loss, or any amount above the task price itself.
Dockhand provides the Platform "as is" and to the maximum extent permitted by Ontario law disclaims all implied warranties. We are not responsible for the conduct, quality, safety, or legality of the services performed by Taskers, or for the accuracy of task descriptions posted by Customers.
You agree that, to the extent permitted by law, Dockhand's total liability to you for any claim arising from your use of the Platform will not exceed the greater of (a) the service fees Dockhand earned from your transactions in the 12 months before the claim, or (b) CAD $100. This cap applies regardless of the legal theory under which the claim is brought (contract, tort, statute, or otherwise).
To the extent permitted by law, Dockhand is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages — including but not limited to property damage, personal injury, lost income, loss of use, business interruption, or loss of data — arising from your use of the Platform or any task arranged through it.
Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law, including liability for fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct.
Assumption of personal injury risk. Tasker work involves real-world physical activity, often at remote or unfamiliar properties, near water, at heights, with power tools, or with equipment that carries inherent risk of injury. Taskers and any person they bring to a task site accept these risks as an ordinary incident of independent contractor work and agree that Dockhand has no role in, and bears no responsibility for, on-site safety, training, supervision, equipment selection, transportation, or the physical condition of any property at which a task is performed.
Force majeure. Dockhand is not liable for any delay, failure, or interruption of the Platform — including failure of payment processing, identity verification, messaging, task posting, or notifications — that is caused by events outside Dockhand's reasonable control, including natural disasters, severe weather, internet or telecommunications failures, outages of third-party services (including Stripe, email and SMS providers, and hosting providers), labour disruptions, government or regulatory action, public health emergencies, war, or civil unrest.
Customers and Taskers must transact through Dockhand for any work introduced or coordinated through the Platform. This includes booking, accepting, paying, receiving payment, scheduling, and resolving the task.
Why this matters: any protection, mediation, insurance coverage, or guarantee that Dockhand provides or arranges — whether currently in place or introduced in the future — applies only to tasks transacted on the Platform. If a Customer pays a Tasker directly, in cash or by e-transfer, outside the Platform; or if a Tasker accepts a job outside the Platform after being introduced through it; or if either party invoices or pays around Dockhand for any part of an introduced task, then for that specific work:
The Platform fee applies to all work introduced through Dockhand, including any continuation, expansion, or related follow-up work performed within twelve (12) months of the introduction. Customers and Taskers who suspect off-platform transactions are happening can report it confidentially at dockhandadmin@gmail.com.
This section applies in addition to the Insurance and Liability sections above; nothing here gives anyone insurance coverage that does not otherwise exist.
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Dockhand Inc., its directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents, and successors (collectively, the "Dockhand Parties") from and against any and all third-party claims, demands, actions, proceedings, losses, damages, settlements, fines, penalties, taxes, costs, and expenses — including reasonable legal fees and the costs of investigation and defense — arising from or in connection with: (a) any task you posted, accepted, or performed; (b) any personal injury, illness, property damage, theft, or financial loss alleged to have been caused by you or by any helper, subcontractor, family member, or guest you brought to a task site; (c) your breach of these Terms or any applicable law; (d) your interactions or disputes with any other user; (e) your tax, employment, WSIB, or independent-contractor obligations; (f) any claim by a person you engaged as a helper, subcontractor, or assistant for a Dockhand task, including any claim that they should have been treated as your employee; or (g) any infringement of intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights by content you posted. Dockhand may, at its option and at your expense, participate in or assume the defense and settlement of any matter for which you owe indemnity. This indemnity is in addition to any other remedy available to Dockhand and survives termination of your account.
The Dockhand name, logo, site, and software are owned by Dockhand. You may use them only to use the Platform as intended. Content you post (photos, descriptions, messages) remains yours; you grant Dockhand a non-exclusive licence to display it on the Platform for the purpose of operating the service.
You may close your account at any time by contacting us. We may suspend or close any account that breaches these Terms, that is the subject of a credible safety complaint, or that is required to be closed by law. Outstanding payment obligations survive account closure.
How we handle personal information is described in our Privacy Policy.
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated date and, where we have your email address, notified to you by email at least thirty (30) days before the change takes effect. Non-material changes (clarifications, corrections, formatting, contact updates) take effect on posting. Continuing to use Dockhand after a change takes effect means you accept the updated Terms. If you do not agree to a material change, your remedy is to stop using the Platform and close your account before the change takes effect.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada that apply in Ontario, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. Disputes will be brought in the courts of Ontario, unless small claims jurisdiction applies. Claims within the monetary jurisdiction of the Ontario Small Claims Court (currently CAD $50,000) should be brought in that court.
Informal resolution first. Before commencing any formal proceeding, you agree to send written notice of the dispute to dockhandadmin@gmail.com, including a clear description of the issue and the relief you seek, and to participate in good-faith discussion for at least thirty (30) days. The thirty-day period does not bar you from seeking interim or injunctive relief from a court where required to prevent immediate harm. Nothing in this section prevents you from exercising statutory rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (Ontario) or other applicable law that cannot be limited by contract.
Taskers are responsible for assessing site safety before accepting any task and before beginning work. Taskers should refuse, leave, or stop work at any site they consider unsafe, and notify Dockhand. Customers are responsible for disclosing material hazards on their property — including unstable docks, decks, or stairs; pets that may pose a risk; downed power lines; defective equipment; or any condition that would not be obvious to a reasonable Tasker on arrival — before a Tasker begins work.
Taskers acknowledge that they bear sole responsibility for their own bodily safety, the safe operation of their tools and vehicles, the use of personal protective equipment, compliance with all applicable workplace safety laws, and the safety of any helper they bring to a task site. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Taskers waive any claim against Dockhand for personal injury, illness, lost income, or disability arising from performance of a task, except where the injury results directly from Dockhand's own fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct.
Notices. You consent to receive notices from Dockhand electronically — by email to the address on your account, by SMS to a phone number you provided, by message inside the Platform, or by posting on dockhand.ca. Notices are deemed received on the day they are sent. You are responsible for keeping your contact information current on your account.
Commercial electronic messages (CASL). By creating an account, you consent to receive transactional and account-related messages from Dockhand — booking confirmations, payment receipts, dispute notices, account-security alerts, and similar — for as long as your account is active; you cannot opt out of these while the account is active. Promotional messages (product updates, feature announcements, newsletters, referral nudges) are sent only with your express consent, given at signup or in your account settings, and you can withdraw consent at any time by clicking unsubscribe in any promotional email or by emailing dockhandadmin@gmail.com. Withdrawing promotional consent does not affect transactional messages or your account.
Community Hosts. A Community Host is an independent contractor who introduces new clients and service providers to Dockhand through their own public outreach in community forums and groups, and who accepts the Community Host outreach agreement in-product before doing so. A Community Host must: reply only in public threads (never by private message, email or text); never collect, copy or scrape anyone’s contact information; clearly disclose that they are a paid Dockhand Community Host; and follow each community’s own rules. A Community Host earns a referral fee and residual only on businesses and service providers they bring to Dockhand that are not already registered on the Platform. A Community Host may not claim, or earn any fee on, a business or provider that is already registered on Dockhand at the time of the recommendation. A Community Host is solely responsible for their own compliance with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), the Competition Act, and each community’s rules; any penalty, claim or account action arising from their conduct is theirs to carry, and Dockhand may end their Host status at any time. The current, versioned agreement a Community Host accepts governs in the event of any conflict with this summary.
Accessibility (AODA). Dockhand is committed to providing a website and service that are accessible to people with disabilities, consistent with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and WCAG 2.1 AA where reasonably achievable. If you encounter a barrier using dockhand.ca or the Dockhand app, email dockhandadmin@gmail.com or call (416) 892-5655 and we will work with you to provide the information or service in a format that meets your needs.
Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, that provision will be limited to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or severed, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force.
Survival. Sections that by their nature should survive termination — including Insurance, Liability, No off-platform transactions, Indemnity, Intellectual property, Account suspension and termination, Tasker safety, Governing law and disputes, and these General provisions — survive expiry or termination of your account or these Terms.
Assignment. You may not assign or transfer any rights or obligations under these Terms without Dockhand's prior written consent. Dockhand may assign these Terms in whole or in part to any successor entity or affiliate — including in connection with a sale, merger, financing, or reorganization — without notice or consent.
Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Refund & Cancellation Policy and the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Dockhand regarding the Platform, and supersede any prior agreements, communications, or understandings on the subject.
No third-party beneficiaries. These Terms create rights and obligations only between you and Dockhand. No third party is a beneficiary of these Terms.
Waiver. Dockhand's failure to enforce any provision of these Terms is not a waiver of that provision or of any other provision, and Dockhand may insist on strict enforcement at any time.
Headings; interpretation. Section headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation. The words "include" and "including" mean "include without limitation" and "including without limitation" respectively. Any reference to a singular includes the plural and vice versa where context requires.
Relationship of parties. Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, agency, fiduciary, or employment relationship between you and Dockhand.
Questions about these Terms: dockhandadmin@gmail.com.