Independent Contractor (1099) Handbook: Dog Groomer

1. Welcome to OffTorque

OffTorque is a mobile services marketplace that connects independent dog groomers with customers who need pet grooming services at their home or property. We provide the platform, the technology, and the customers, you provide the skills, equipment, and service.

This handbook outlines the terms, expectations, and processes for dog groomers operating on the OffTorque platform. Please read it carefully before activating your account.

2. Your Status as an Independent Contractor

You are an independent contractor, not an employee of OffTorque LLC. This means:

• You are self-employed and responsible for your own business operations
• OffTorque does not control how, when, or where you perform grooming services
• You set your own hours and decide which jobs to accept or decline
• You supply your own tools, vehicle, and equipment
• OffTorque will issue a Form 1099-NEC at year-end if your earnings exceed $600
• You are not entitled to employee benefits (health insurance, workers' comp, PTO, retirement plans)
• You are responsible for your own business insurance and liability coverage
• You are responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes on your earnings

This handbook is an addendum to the OffTorque Independent Contractor Agreement you signed when you activated your account. It does not replace that Agreement, it adds Dog Groomer-specific terms that apply once you enable Dog Groomer as a service category on your profile.

3. How the Platform Works

1. Create your profile, Set up your grooming profile with service area, services offered, and availability on OffTorque.com
2. Get verified, Complete ID verification and background check clearance (see Section 6)
3. Receive admin approval, OffTorque reviews your profile and verification before activating your account
4. Accept jobs, Browse open grooming requests in your area and accept the ones that match your services
5. Complete the job, Travel to the customer's location, perform the work, and update the job status in the app
6. Get paid, Send the customer a payment link through the app; funds are deposited to your connected bank account

4. Earnings & Payments

• You set your own rate, OffTorque does not dictate what you charge for services
• Payment is processed through Stripe, you must connect a valid U.S. bank account to receive payouts
• Payouts are deposited within 2 business days of a completed payment
• You are responsible for collecting payment from the customer through the platform, OffTorque does not guarantee payment collection outside the platform
• All transactions must be processed through OffTorque, off-platform solicitation of customers is a violation of platform terms and grounds for immediate removal

5. Platform Fee

OffTorque charges a platform service fee on each completed job. This fee is automatically deducted before your payout is deposited. The current fee rate is posted in your account dashboard. The fee covers:

• Platform technology and infrastructure
• Customer acquisition and marketing
• Payment processing
• Verification and compliance costs
• Customer support

6. Verification Requirements

All dog groomers must complete the following before accepting jobs:

6.1 Identity Verification (Stripe)

• Identity verification happens as part of connecting your Stripe payout account, the same step that sets up how you get paid
• You must submit a valid, government-issued photo ID and your bank account details during Stripe's onboarding flow
• OffTorque does not receive or store your identity documents, they are processed entirely by Stripe
• OffTorque receives only the result: connected or not yet connected

6.2 Background Check

• All dog groomers are required to obtain and submit an Ohio BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) and/or FBI Identity History Summary background check
• You are responsible for initiating and paying for your own background check
• Results must be submitted to OffTorque for review before account activation
• Background checks must be renewed every 2 years or upon request
• Professionals with disqualifying criminal history (see Section 6.3) will not be approved

6.3 Disqualifying Background Check Results

The following will result in denial or removal from the platform:

• Felony conviction within the past 7 years
• Any conviction for violent crimes, sexual offenses, or crimes against children
• Fraud, theft, or financial crimes within the past 5 years
• Any conviction for animal cruelty or animal abuse
• Active warrants or pending criminal charges

7. Licensing & Compliance

• You are solely responsible for holding any business license, certification, or pet-care permit required by your state or local jurisdiction before accepting jobs there
• You must perform all work in compliance with applicable animal-handling, sanitation, and safety standards
• You must not misrepresent your licensing status or hold yourself out as licensed if you are not

8. Code of Conduct

All dog groomers on the OffTorque platform are expected to:

• Be professional, treat every customer and their pet with respect regardless of the situation
• Be honest, accurately represent your skills, experience, and the work performed
• Be punctual, arrive at the agreed time or communicate delays promptly through the app
• Be safe, handle every animal gently and humanely and follow applicable equipment safety practices when performing grooming work
• Communicate through the platform, keep all customer communication inside the OffTorque chat
• Not solicit off-platform, do not ask customers to pay outside the platform or contact you directly for future work
• Not misrepresent credentials, do not claim certifications or licenses you do not hold
• Maintain your equipment and vehicle, arrive prepared and equipped to complete the job you accepted

9. Customer Relations

• Always introduce yourself and confirm the scope of work and the dog's temperament with the customer before starting
• Take before-and-after photos of the groom for your own records
• If a job is beyond the agreed scope, the dog shows signs of aggression, or the work requires equipment you do not have, communicate this to the customer and update the job status accordingly, do not abandon a job without notification
• Disputes between dog groomers and customers are reviewed by the OffTorque admin team; decisions are final

10. Insurance & Equipment

• You are solely responsible for maintaining appropriate liability insurance for your work as a mobile dog groomer, including pet-care/bailee liability coverage for the time an animal is in your care
• OffTorque does not provide equipment insurance, vehicle insurance, or general liability coverage
• You are responsible for any damage to a customer's property, or injury or harm to a customer's pet, caused by your work
• It is strongly recommended that you carry general liability insurance and an equipment policy

11. Tax Responsibilities

As an independent contractor, you are responsible for:

• Paying self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) on your net earnings
• Making quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS if you expect to owe $1,000 or more
• Filing a Schedule C with your federal income tax return
• Keeping records of all income earned and business expenses incurred
• Reporting all OffTorque earnings even if you do not receive a 1099-NEC (earnings below $600 are still taxable income)

OffTorque recommends consulting a licensed tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

12. Account Suspension & Termination

OffTorque may suspend or permanently remove a dog groomer from the platform for:

• Violation of any term in this handbook or the Contractor Agreement
• Off-platform solicitation of customers
• Fraudulent activity (fake reviews, inflated charges, misrepresented work)
• Repeated customer complaints or low ratings
• Failure to renew background check clearance
• Criminal conviction or newly discovered disqualifying history
• Mistreatment, neglect, or unsafe handling of an animal in your care
• Performing unlicensed or unpermitted work in violation of Section 7
• Abandonment of accepted jobs without communication

Removed dog groomers forfeit access to the platform and any pending payout subject to dispute resolution.

13. Acknowledgment

By activating your OffTorque dog groomer account, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms outlined in this handbook and the OffTorque Independent Contractor Agreement.