Terms of Service

Effective: November 2026 • Corte Technologies LLC (DBA CORTE) • https://corteapp.net

1. Agreement

These Terms govern your use of the CORTE website, apps, and services (the "Services") provided by Corte Technologies LLC ("CORTE," "we"). By using the Services you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. "Client" means a person booking an appointment; "Barber" means an individual barber, including a Student Barber; "Barbershop" means a shop entity listing chairs on CORTE.

2. Our Role

CORTE is a technology platform that connects Clients with Barbers and Barbershops. Barbers and Barbershops are independent businesses responsible for their services, licensing, and conduct. CORTE does not provide haircut services.

3. Accounts and Eligibility

You must be at least 18 to hold an account. Kids Cuts appointments must be booked by a parent or legal guardian. You are responsible for accurate information and for activity under your account.

4. Stripe Connect & Limited Payment Collection Agent (Agent of the Payee Clause)

Each Barber and Barbershop appoints Corte Technologies LLC as its limited payment collection agent solely for the purpose of accepting the $5.00 Chair Deposit and applicable chair payments from Clients via Stripe Connect. Payment by a Client to Corte Technologies LLC constitutes payment directly to the Barber/Barbershop, extinguishing the Client's payment obligation to the Barber/Barbershop for that deposit amount. Payments are processed by Stripe and are also subject to the Stripe Connected Account Agreement and Stripe Services Agreement. Barber payouts are made to the Barber's connected Stripe account.

5. Deposit, Reschedule (12-Hour Cutoff), Rollover Credit & Refund Rules

  • Charges: A booking requires a $5.00 Chair Deposit plus a $1.50 non-refundable platform booking fee ($6.50 total at checkout). The remaining service balance is paid to the Barber at the chair by Cash, Zelle, or Tap-to-Pay.
  • Reschedule: Clients may reschedule up to 12 hours before the appointment start time. The $5.00 Chair Deposit rolls over to the new time. A maximum of one (1) rollover is permitted per booking.
  • Barber rollover credit: A Barber may, at their discretion, grant a 30-day $5.00 deposit rollover credit for a missed or late-cancelled appointment.
  • No-shows and late changes: Cancellations or changes inside the 12-hour cutoff, and no-shows, forfeit the Chair Deposit to the Barber unless the Barber grants a credit.
  • Barber-initiated cancellations: If a Barber cancels, the Client automatically receives a 100% refund of the $5.00 Chair Deposit and, as an exception to the non-refundable fee, the $1.50 booking fee ($6.50 total). Refunds are issued to the original payment method with reverse_transfer: true, so the transferred funds are reversed from the Barber's connected account. Refunds typically appear within 5 to 10 business days.

6. Illinois Barber Act Compliance (225 ILCS 410)

Barbers using CORTE must hold any license required under the Illinois Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act (225 ILCS 410). Student Barbers are restricted to verified barber school clinic hour tracking and apprenticeship recruiting. Student Barbers may not accept unlicensed residential or house-call bookings, and CORTE may remove any listing that violates this section.

7. Transactional SMS Terms

By providing your mobile number and consenting, you agree to receive transactional SMS from CORTE (Corte Technologies LLC): One-Time Passcodes, appointment confirmations, running-behind updates, and Slot Watch waitlist alerts. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out at any time or HELP for assistance. Consent is not a condition of purchase. For support contact founder@corteapp.net or 331-322-3594. See our Privacy Policy for how mobile data is protected.

8. Barber Plans and Boosts

The CORTE Brotherhood Tier is $0.00 per month. CORTE PRO is $19.99 per month and a 48-Hour Local Discovery Boost is $4.99, billed through Stripe. CORTE PRO may be cancelled at any time and remains active until the end of the paid period. Milestone bonuses are subject to the program rules shown in the app.

9. Acceptable Use

You may not misuse the Services, post unlawful or misleading content, upload photos you lack rights to, circumvent payments, or harass others. We may suspend accounts that violate these Terms.

10. Content License

You keep ownership of content you upload and grant CORTE a non-exclusive license to host and display it to operate and promote the Services.

11. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The Services are provided "as is." To the fullest extent permitted by law, CORTE is not liable for services performed by Barbers or Barbershops, and our total liability for any claim is limited to the fees you paid to CORTE in the 12 months before the claim. Nothing here limits liability that cannot be limited by law.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. Disputes will be brought in the state or federal courts located in DuPage County, Illinois, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

13. Changes and Contact

We may update these Terms and will post the new date here. Questions: Corte Technologies LLC, 92 Olesen Dr Apt 301, Naperville, IL 60540 • 331-322-3594 • founder@corteapp.net