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Terms of Service

Terms of Service

Last Updated

These terms were last updated on January 15, 2025. Please review them carefully before using our services.

1. Introduction

Welcome to Worms for Gold ("we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website, services, and any related applications (collectively, the "Service"). By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

2. Service Description

Worms for Gold provides sustainable waste management solutions through vermicomposting technology. Our services include:

  • Business waste management partnerships
  • Residential composting services (coming soon)
  • Investment opportunities in sustainable infrastructure
  • Educational programs and community events
  • Premium organic products (compost, worm castings, etc.)

3. Business Partnership Services

Service Agreement

• Business partnerships are subject to separate service agreements

• Services include waste collection, processing, and revenue sharing

• Performance metrics and targets are outlined in individual contracts

Revenue Sharing

• Business partners receive 50% of revenue from products created from their waste

• Revenue sharing begins after operational targets are met

• Payouts are processed monthly through secure payment systems

Service Requirements

• Businesses must provide adequate space for composting operations

• Regular waste collection schedules must be maintained

• Compliance with local waste management regulations is required

4. Investment Program

Investment Disclaimer

  • • All investment returns are projections based on current business models
  • • Actual returns may vary significantly from projections
  • • Past performance does not guarantee future results
  • • Investments are not registered securities
  • • No guarantee of investment returns or principal protection

Investment Terms

• Investment period: 5 years from date of investment

• Revenue share: 20% of location revenue for full 5-year period

• All investments are final and non-refundable

• Payouts processed through Stripe Connect

Investor Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older and legally competent

• Must provide valid government-issued identification

• Must have verified Stripe account

• Must pass company compliance checks

5. Residential Services

Service Availability

• Residential services are currently in development

• Waitlist registration available for priority access

• Service areas will be announced as they become available

Pioneer Program

• Limited to first 55 Founding Members

• 60% revenue share in Year 1, transitioning to 50% thereafter

• Monthly earnings of $66-138 starting Month 4

6. User Accounts and Registration

Account Creation

• You must provide accurate and complete information

• You are responsible for maintaining account security

• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

Account Responsibilities

• You are responsible for all activities under your account

• You must comply with all applicable laws and regulations

• You may not transfer your account to another person

7. Payment Terms

Payment Processing

• All payments processed through Stripe

• Investment payouts processed through Stripe Connect

• Service fees are billed according to service agreements

Refund Policy

• Investment amounts are non-refundable after approval

• Service fees are non-refundable unless otherwise specified

• Rejected investments will be refunded within 5 business days

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Data Collection

• We collect information necessary to provide our services

• Financial information is processed securely through Stripe

• We do not sell your personal information to third parties

Data Security

• We implement industry-standard security measures

• Your data is protected during transmission and storage

• We regularly review and update our security practices

9. Intellectual Property

Our Rights

• All content on our website is owned by Worms for Gold

• Our vermicomposting technology and processes are proprietary

• You may not copy, modify, or distribute our content without permission

Your Rights

• You retain ownership of content you submit to us

• You grant us license to use your content for service provision

• You may use our services for their intended purpose

10. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

  • Use our services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
  • Interfere with or disrupt our services or servers
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
  • Share confidential business information with third parties
  • Violate any applicable laws or regulations
  • Engage in any activity that could harm our reputation

11. Limitation of Liability

Liability Limitations

  • • Our maximum liability is limited to amounts paid for services
  • • We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
  • • We are not liable for lost profits or business interruption
  • • Force majeure events may suspend or terminate services

12. Dispute Resolution

Arbitration

• All disputes must be resolved through binding arbitration

• Arbitration will be conducted in Kirkland, Washington

• You waive any right to jury trial or class action

Governing Law

• These terms are governed by Washington State law

• Jurisdiction: Kirkland, Washington

13. Changes to Terms

Modifications

• We may modify these terms at any time

• Changes will be effective immediately upon posting

• Continued use constitutes acceptance of modified terms

Notification

• We will notify users of significant changes

• Users should regularly review these terms

14. Referral Program Terms

Special Introductory Program

This referral program is a limited-time introductory offer as we expand our services. The $500 food service bonus applies to the first 16 restaurants at each location.

Eligibility Requirements

  • • Participants must be 18 years or older and legal residents of the United States
  • • Participants must have a valid account with complete name and email information
  • • Participants must set up a Stripe Connect account to receive payouts
  • • Exclusions: Employees, contractors, and immediate family members of Worms for Gold are not eligible to participate
  • • Self-referrals, creating multiple accounts, or fraudulent activity is strictly prohibited
  • • Participants must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws

FTC Disclosure & Material Connection

FTC Disclosure Requirement: This referral program involves financial incentives. Participants receive compensation for successful referrals, which creates a material connection between the referrer and Worms for Gold.

Participants must disclose this material connection when making referrals, including that they may receive compensation if the referred party becomes a customer. This disclosure must be clear, conspicuous, and made before or at the time of the referral.

Income Disclosure Statement

This is NOT a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) or Pyramid Scheme.This referral program is a simple referral incentive program where participants earn commissions only on direct referrals they make. There are no downlines, no recruitment requirements, and no obligation to purchase products or services.

  • Participants earn commissions only on partners they directly refer
  • There is no requirement to recruit other participants
  • There is no requirement to purchase products or services to participate
  • Earnings are based solely on referred partners' actual purchases and net profit
  • The average participant may earn $0 to several hundred dollars per month, depending on referral success
  • Most participants earn less than $100 per month, and many earn $0
  • High earnings are not typical and require successful referrals of active, high-volume partners

⚠️ Referral Attribution & Important Limitations

IMPORTANT: Participants may refer multiple different retail partners (garden centers, nurseries, landscape companies). Each unique partner location can generate commission earnings for the referrer.

However, if multiple participants refer the same partner location: Only the first referralthat qualifies (by time of signup/activation) will be credited. The first referrer whose referral code is associated with that partner location when they complete signup and activate service or place their first qualifying order will receive all commissions and bonuses for that partner.

No Exclusivity Guarantee: Making a referral does not guarantee that Worms for Gold was not already pursuing that company through its own sales and marketing efforts. Worms for Gold may be working with companies independently and concurrently, regardless of referral submissions. The referral program is designed to supplement, not replace, our direct sales efforts.

All subsequent referrals to the same partner location will not count, even if they qualify. This prevents duplicate referral credits for the same business location.

Commission Structure

Retail Partners (Nurseries, Garden Centers, Landscape Companies):

  • Commission Rate: 5% of wholesale purchase amount
  • Important: Commission is calculated on the wholesale purchase price of products ordered by the referred partner
  • Commission earned as long as the referred partner continues to order products
  • Monthly earnings depend entirely on the partner's ordering volume and frequency
  • Retail partners may not consistently order the same amount each month, or may not order at all in some months
  • Payouts processed monthly via Stripe Connect

Example Commission Calculations:

  • • Partner orders $5,000 → You earn $250
  • • Partner orders $10,000 → You earn $500
  • • Partner orders $20,000 → You earn $1,000

⚠️ No Guarantee of Earnings

IMPORTANT: Participation in this referral program does NOT guarantee any specific amount of earnings, bonuses, or commissions.All earnings, bonuses, and commissions are subject to actual partner performance, order volume, net profit margins, and various market conditions. There is no guarantee that you will earn any money from this program.

No warranties or guarantees are made regarding the amount, frequency, or continuation of any referral earnings. Past performance or estimated earnings do not guarantee future results.

Important Disclaimers

  • • All earnings are estimates only and may vary significantly based on actual partner performance, volume, and market conditions
  • • Earnings are NOT guaranteed. Participation in this program does not guarantee any specific amount of earnings or that you will earn any money at all
  • • Commissions are calculated on wholesale purchase amounts made by referred retail partners
  • • Monthly commissions will vary and may be zero in any given month based on:
    • Order volume and frequency from referred partners
    • Retail partner ordering patterns (may not order consistently each month or may not order at all)
    • Seasonal fluctuations in demand
    • Actual net profit margins, which may vary based on costs
    • Whether referred partners remain active customers
    • Whether referred partners actually place orders
  • • Program provided "as is" without warranties. This referral program is provided "as is" and "as available" without any express or implied warranties, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
  • • Referral bonuses and commissions are considered taxable income
  • • If you receive $600 or more in referral bonuses in a calendar year, we will issue an IRS Form 1099-MISC
  • • Participants are responsible for reporting all referral income on their tax returns
  • • We reserve the right to modify or terminate this referral program at any time without prior notice
  • • Program terms may vary by location and are subject to change
  • • No guarantee of program continuation. The referral program may be discontinued at any time, and participants have no right to continued participation or earnings

Program Availability & Market-Based Termination

This referral program is part of our special introductory expansion campaign. We may modify or discontinue this program as we meet our target partner goals in each market. The program may be stopped at any timeonce we have determined we have reached our expansion targets for a given area.

Missed the program? Stay tuned—we may restart the referral program during our next expansion window as we enter new markets or expand to additional locations.

Prohibited Activities

  • • Self-referrals using alternate identities or email addresses
  • • Creating multiple accounts to generate additional referral codes
  • • Using the program to violate any laws or regulations
  • • Fraudulent activity or misrepresentation
  • • Violation of these terms will result in immediate termination and forfeiture of all pending and future earnings

Referral Attribution & Tracking System

Referrals are tracked and attributed through our automated referral code system. The following methods ensure proper attribution:

Method 1: Referral Link with Code in URL
  • Participants can share a referral link that includes their unique referral code in the URL (e.g., yoursite.com/retail-partners?ref=ABC12345)
  • When a referred party clicks this link and visits our website, the referral code is automatically captured from the URL
  • The referral code is stored in the browser's local storage and remains associated with that visitor's session
  • If the referred party signs up or submits an inquiry while the referral code is active in their session, the referral is automatically attributed to the referrer
  • The referral code persists across pages on our website until the referred party completes signup or clears their browser data
Method 2: Manual Referral Code Entry
  • Referred parties can manually enter or mention the referral code during the signup process
  • The referral code can be entered in the signup form or mentioned during initial contact with Worms for Gold
  • The referral code must be entered exactly as provided (case-insensitive, but must match the code format)
  • If a referral code is provided via email, phone, or other communication, it must be entered during signup or included in the initial partner inquiry form
How Attribution Works
  • Timing: Attribution occurs when the referred party completes signup and activates their account or places their first qualifying order
  • First-Come Basis: If multiple referral codes are associated with the same partner location, only the first referral code (by time of signup/activation) will be credited
  • Verification: We verify that the referral code is valid, active, and belongs to an eligible participant before crediting the referral
  • Persistence: Referral codes from links are stored in browser local storage and will be automatically applied if the referred party signs up within the same browser session
  • Manual Override: If a referral code is manually entered during signup, it takes precedence over any code stored from a referral link
⚠️ Important Attribution Rules
  • Referrals are only credited when the referred party completes signup and activates their account (for food service partners) or places their first qualifying order (for retail partners)
  • For Food Service Partners: The $500 sign-up bonus is paid only when the referred company completes signup, activates service, and pays the required 3-month setup cost and deposit. Simply referring a company or having them sign up does not guarantee the bonus
  • Simply clicking a referral link or visiting the website does not constitute a qualified referral
  • If the same partner location is referred by multiple participants, only the first referral (by time of qualification) will be credited
  • No Exclusivity Guarantee: Making a referral does not guarantee that Worms for Gold was not already pursuing that company through its own sales and marketing efforts. Worms for Gold may be working with companies independently and concurrently, regardless of referral submissions
  • We reserve the right to verify referrals and may reject fraudulent, invalid, or ineligible referrals
  • Referral codes must be used in good faith and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations

Required Disclosure & Ethical Guidelines

  • • Required Disclosure: When making referrals, participants must clearly disclose that they may receive compensation if the referred party becomes a customer. This disclosure must be made before or at the time of referral
  • • Referrals must be made in good faith and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
  • • Participants may not use deceptive, misleading, or false statements when making referrals
  • • Participants may not manipulate the referral system, use automated tools to generate referrals, or engage in any fraudulent activity

Commission Calculation & Payout Terms

  • When Commission is Calculated:
    • Commission (5%) is calculated when the referred retail partner's payment is received for their wholesale order
    • Unpaid orders or pending invoices do not generate commission until payment is received
    • Commission is based on the actual amount paid, excluding shipping costs, taxes, and any discounts applied
  • When Commission is Paid:
    • Commissions are paid 30 days after the month in which the payment was received
    • Example: Orders paid in January are paid out at the end of February
    • This 30-day holding period accounts for potential returns, refunds, or order issues
  • Minimum Payout Threshold: $50 minimum commission balance required for payout. Balances below $50 roll over to the next month until threshold is met
  • Payment Method: All payouts processed via Stripe Connect to your linked bank account
  • Returns & Refunds: If a referred partner returns products or receives a refund, the corresponding commission will be deducted from your next payout
  • Verification Required: Payouts are subject to verification of referred partner's active status and order fulfillment
  • No Exclusivity: Referrals do not guarantee that Worms for Gold was not already pursuing that company through its own sales efforts. We may be working with companies independently and concurrently
  • Fraud Prevention: We reserve the right to withhold payouts pending investigation of suspicious activity or potential violations of these terms

Tax Obligations

All referral bonuses and commissions are considered taxable income. Participants are responsible for reporting all referral income on their tax returns. If you receive $600 or more in referral bonuses in a calendar year, we will issue an IRS Form 1099-MISC. Please consult with a tax professional regarding your specific tax obligations.

Independent Contractor Status

  • • Participants in this referral program are independent contractors, not employees, agents, or representatives of Worms for Gold
  • • Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to create any partnership, joint venture, agency, employment, or fiduciary relationship between the participant and Worms for Gold
  • • Participants are not entitled to any employee benefits, including but not limited to health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, or workers' compensation
  • • Participants are responsible for their own business expenses, taxes, and insurance
  • • Participants have no authority to bind Worms for Gold to any contract, proposal, or commitment
  • • Participants shall not make any representations or warranties on behalf of Worms for Gold
  • • Participants are free to engage in other business activities and are not required to work exclusively for Worms for Gold

Confidentiality

  • • Participants agree to maintain the confidentiality of any proprietary or confidential information received during their participation in the referral program
  • • Confidential information includes, but is not limited to, business strategies, pricing information, customer data, and operational procedures
  • • Participants shall not disclose confidential information to any third party without Worms for Gold's prior written consent
  • • This confidentiality obligation survives termination of participation in the referral program

Termination of Participation

  • • Worms for Gold reserves the right to terminate a participant's involvement in the referral program at any time, with or without cause, upon written notice
  • • Participants may terminate their participation at any time by providing written notice to Worms for Gold
  • • Upon termination, participants will receive payouts for all valid referrals that were completed prior to the termination date
  • • Termination does not affect the participant's obligation to maintain confidentiality or any other ongoing obligations under these terms
  • • Worms for Gold may immediately terminate participation for violation of these terms, fraudulent activity, or any conduct that harms the company's reputation

Limitation of Liability

  • • Worms for Gold's liability to participants is limited to the amount of referral bonuses and commissions actually earned and payable
  • • Worms for Gold is not liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from participation in the referral program
  • • Participants acknowledge that referral earnings are estimates and actual earnings may vary based on partner performance and market conditions
  • • Worms for Gold is not responsible for the actions, performance, or decisions of referred partners

Governing Law and Disputes

  • • These referral program terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, United States
  • • Any disputes arising from participation in the referral program shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Kirkland, Washington
  • • Participants waive any right to a jury trial or to participate in a class action lawsuit

15. Contact Information

Get in Touch

For questions about these terms or our services, please contact us:

• General Inquiries: info@wormsforgold.com

• Investment Questions: investments@wormsforgold.com

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