Chef Partner Agreement

1. Independent Contractor Relationship

The Chef is an independent contractor and not an employee, agent, partner, or joint venture partner of COQUUS. Nothing in this Agreement creates an employment relationship between COQUUS and the Chef. The Chef is solely responsible for:

• Their own taxes, social security contributions, and insurance
• Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations governing their work
• Providing their own equipment, and supplies unless otherwise agreed with the customer
• Maintaining any required professional licences or certifications

2. Platform Bookings

COQUUS provides the Chef with access to the Platform to receive booking requests from customers. The Chef agrees to:

• Maintain an accurate and up-to-date profile on the Platform
• Respond to booking requests in a timely manner
• Honour all confirmed bookings
• Deliver services to the professional standard represented in their profile
• Communicate with customers exclusively through the Platform messaging system prior to the booking

3. Non-Circumvention and Off-Platform Bookings

The Chef agrees that all bookings with customers introduced through the COQUUS Platform must be conducted through the Platform for a period of 24 months from the date of first introduction. "Introduction" means any case where a customer first discovers, contacts, or connects with a Chef through the COQUUS Platform, regardless of whether a booking was completed. The Chef agrees not to:

• Solicit, accept, or arrange bookings directly with COQUUS customers outside the Platform
• Exchange personal contact details with customers for the purpose of arranging off-platform bookings
• Redirect customers to a competing platform, personal website, or other channel to avoid Platform fees
• Encourage customers to cancel Platform bookings and re-book off-platform

This restriction applies for 24 months from the date of first introduction between the Chef and that customer through COQUUS, regardless of whether the Chef subsequently leaves the Platform.

4. Platform Fees

COQUUS charges the following fee: Customer service fee: A 12% service fee is added to the customer's total at checkout. This 12% service fee is the only platform fee charged by COQUUS, and it is paid entirely by the customer. No commission or percentage-based fee is deducted from the Chef's booking subtotal or payout. Chefs receive the full booking amount paid for their services, subject only to any applicable payment processing fees or other charges expressly stated in the applicable agreement. The 12% customer service fee is calculated at checkout and clearly displayed to the customer before payment is completed.

COQUUS reserves the right to update its service fee by providing customers and Chefs with 30 days' notice. Continued use of the Platform following such notice constitutes acceptance of the updated fee structure.

5. Circumvention Damages

If the Chef arranges or accepts an off-platform booking from a COQUUS customer in violation of Section 3, COQUUS is entitled to claim liquidated damages equal to 3 times (3×) the platform fee that would have been charged had the booking been made through the Platform. For the purpose of calculating damages, the platform fee is estimated based on:

• The Chef's standard hourly rate at the time of the circumventing booking
• A minimum assumed booking duration of 3 hours
• The applicable commission rate at the time

COQUUS also reserves the right to immediately suspend or permanently terminate the Chef's account without notice upon discovery of circumvention. The Chef acknowledges that circumvention causes significant harm to COQUUS that would be difficult to quantify precisely, and that the 3× fee represents a genuine pre-estimate of loss.

6. Cancellations

If the Chef needs to cancel a confirmed booking:

• The Chef must notify COQUUS and the customer as soon as possible through the Platform
• Repeated cancellations may result in account suspension or termination
• COQUUS reserves the right to apply cancellation penalties where the Chef cancels within 48 hours of a confirmed booking

Customer cancellations are governed by the COQUUS Cancellation Policy.

7. Food Safety Compliance

The Chef is solely responsible for compliance with all applicable food safety laws and hygiene regulations, including but not limited to:

• Holding any required food handler certificates or licences
• Following safe food handling, preparation, and storage practices
• Accurately disclosing allergens and dietary information to customers
• Complying with all requirements of the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) or equivalent authority

COQUUS may request evidence of food safety certifications at any time and may suspend the Chef's account pending verification.

8. Liability

COQUUS maintains comprehensive business liability insurance, including business liability and product liability coverage. The insurance provides protection in the event of covered claims involving personal injury, property damage, and product-related liability arising in connection with COQUUS' insured activities. If a covered claim occurs, our insurer handles the assessment of liability, negotiations, legal defence where applicable, and covered compensation.

9. Refunds and Chargebacks

If a customer is issued a refund following a booking where the Chef has been paid out, COQUUS reserves the right to:

• Deduct the refund amount from a future payout to the Chef
• Recover the amount via invoice or other means

Refunds resulting from the Chef's failure to attend, gross negligence, or food safety failures are the Chef's financial responsibility. Refund decisions made by COQUUS in good faith are final.

10. Ratings and Reviews

Customers may leave ratings and reviews following completed bookings. The Chef agrees that:

• COQUUS may display ratings and reviews publicly on the Chef's profile
• The Chef may not solicit fake reviews or attempt to manipulate their rating
• COQUUS may remove reviews that violate platform guidelines
• Consistently low ratings (below 3.5 average) may result in account review or suspension

11. Account Suspension and Termination

COQUUS may suspend or permanently terminate a Chef's account, with or without notice, in the event of:

• Breach of this Agreement, including circumvention of the Platform
• Repeated cancellations or failure to honour bookings
• Food safety incidents or complaints
• Fraudulent activity or misrepresentation
• Abuse or harassment of customers
• Failure to maintain required certifications or standards
• Persistently low customer ratings

Upon termination, the non-circumvention obligation in Section 3 remains in force for the remainder of the 24-month period applicable to each customer introduced through the Platform.

12. Intellectual Property

The Chef grants COQUUS a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use content uploaded to the Platform (including photos, descriptions, and videos) for the purpose of operating and marketing the Platform.

The Chef confirms they own or have the right to use all content they upload. COQUUS's intellectual property, including the COQUUS brand and Platform software, may not be used without written permission.

13. Safety and Respect

COQUUS is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all chefs using the Platform. Customers and their guests must treat the chef professionally and must not engage in threatening, abusive, discriminatory, sexually inappropriate or otherwise unsafe behaviour.

14. Chef's Right to Leave

If a chef reasonably believes that their safety, wellbeing or dignity is at risk, the chef has the right to stop the service and leave the premises immediately. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Threats, aggression, intimidation or physical violence
• Harassment, discrimination or sexually inappropriate behaviour
• Illegal activity at the premises
• Dangerous, severely unhygienic or materially unsuitable working conditions
• Intoxicated or disorderly behaviour that creates a safety risk
• The presence of undisclosed animals, individuals or other circumstances that create a reasonable safety concern

Leaving under such circumstances will not automatically be treated as a chef cancellation. If there is an immediate danger, the chef should leave the premises first and contact the emergency services where necessary. The chef should then notify COQUUS as soon as reasonably possible through the Platform or by contacting info@coquus.se.

15. Chef Compensation

Where COQUUS determines, following a reasonable review, that the chef was justified in ending the service due to unsafe conditions, harassment or serious customer misconduct:

• The chef will remain entitled to the full agreed chef payout for the booking.
• The chef will not be penalised or receive a cancellation mark against their account.
• The customer will not normally be entitled to a refund for the interrupted or uncompleted service.
• COQUUS may suspend or permanently remove the customer's account.

If the available information does not allow COQUUS to confirm the circumstances fully, COQUUS will assess compensation and any refund individually, taking into account the work already performed, ingredients purchased, and all available evidence.

16. Reporting an Incident

The chef should report the incident as soon as reasonably possible and provide any relevant information available, such as:

• A description and timeline of what occurred
• Messages exchanged through the Platform
• Photographs, receipts or other supporting documentation
• Contact details for any witnesses
• A police report or incident number, where applicable

A chef is never expected to remain in an unsafe situation or place themselves at further risk in order to collect evidence.

17. Customer Complaints and Refund Requests

A customer complaint or refund request will not automatically result in money being withheld or deducted from the chef's payout. Before making a decision, COQUUS will conduct a reasonable and impartial review. This may include:

• Requesting a written account and supporting information from both the customer and the chef
• Reviewing messages, booking details, photographs and other available evidence
• Considering the timing, consistency and credibility of the information provided
• Giving the chef a reasonable opportunity to respond to the complaint

While a complaint is being reviewed, COQUUS may temporarily hold the disputed portion of the payout where reasonably necessary. The chef will be informed of the complaint and the amount being held. No final deduction or customer refund will be made until the review has been completed, except where required by law, a payment provider or a formal chargeback process. COQUUS will aim to complete the review and notify both parties of its decision within 10 business days after receiving the necessary information. Complex cases may require additional time, in which case both parties will be informed. COQUUS may issue a full refund, partial refund or no refund depending on the circumstances and evidence. COQUUS will not assume that the chef is responsible solely because a customer has submitted a complaint.

18. Governing Law

This Agreement is governed by the laws of Sweden. Any disputes arising under this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Swedish courts, with Stockholm as the agreed venue.