Terms of Service

1. Agreement

These Terms apply to buyers who order catering and to kitchens (merchants) who list and fulfill orders through CaterIt. Additional guidelines posted on the Service (for example kitchen onboarding rules) may also apply and are incorporated by reference.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract to use the Service. The Service is intended for office, business, and event catering—not for children. By using the Service, you represent that you meet these requirements and that information you provide is accurate.

3. Accounts

• You may register with email and password (authentication via Better Auth). Google OAuth or other social login may be offered as an optional sign-in method when available.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials and for all activity under your account.
• Provide accurate contact information so we and kitchens can reach you about orders.
• Notify us promptly at admin@caterit.io of any unauthorized use of your account.
• We may refuse, suspend, or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or pose risk to the marketplace.

4. Marketplace Role

CaterIt is a platform, not the kitchen.

• CaterIt operates an online marketplace that connects buyers with independent kitchens that prepare and fulfill catering for pickup or delivery.
• Kitchens are independent businesses. CaterIt does not prepare food, operate restaurant facilities, or employ kitchen staff for fulfillment (unless we expressly say otherwise for a specific offering).
• Contracts for the food and fulfillment of an accepted order are between the buyer and the kitchen, facilitated through the Service.
• CaterIt is not a party to the kitchen’s food preparation or on-site service, except for providing marketplace technology, payments facilitation, and related support as described in these Terms.
• Menu descriptions, allergens, pricing, timing, and quality of food are the responsibility of the kitchen, subject to applicable law.

5. Orders

• Buyers place orders through the Service for pickup or delivery in our served areas (including Greater Philadelphia / South Jersey, as shown on the Service).
• Kitchen acceptance is required. Submitting an order does not guarantee fulfillment until the kitchen confirms acceptance through our confirmation channels.
• We notify kitchens using one or more of: Twilio voice (primary), SMS, email, in-app notification, and fax (where used).
• If a kitchen declines or cannot accept an order, we will notify you that the order cannot be accepted and may initiate human follow-up to help resolve the situation (for example finding an alternative or canceling).
• Delivery windows, prep times, and minimums are set by kitchens and shown in the Service; they may change based on capacity.
• You agree that order details you submit (address, timing, quantities, notes) are accurate.

5A. Text Messages (SMS)

Program name: CaterIt order notifications. Customers who opt in at sign-up or checkout receive order-related texts: order confirmations, status updates and reminders. Kitchen partners who opt in at kitchen sign-up receive order tickets and order status texts, including requests to reply ACCEPT or DECLINE. Consent is optional and is not a condition of any purchase; kitchens also receive orders by email, fax, or phone.

Message frequency: Message frequency varies with your orders. Rates: Msg & data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Opt out and help: Reply STOP to any message to opt out; you’ll get one confirmation and no further texts. Reply HELP for help.

Support: admin@caterit.io. See our Privacy Policy. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.

6. Pricing and Fees

• Menu prices are set by kitchens and displayed on the Service.
• CaterIt charges a platform service fee on marketplace orders. The approximate marketplace fee is on the order of ~12% (kitchens keep roughly ~88%), but exact rates may vary by arrangement and may change; the amounts shown at checkout or in kitchen agreements control. As reflected on our partner materials: 12% commission, with 2% of the subtotal going back to account customers as described below.
• Account discount: Signed-in accounts receive a 2% discount off the order subtotal, including service items such as utensils and cups. Delivery fees and tips (if offered) are not discounted. Exact discount eligibility and display at checkout control.
• Taxes, delivery fees, tips (if offered), and other charges may apply as displayed at checkout.
• Prices and fees may be updated; changes generally apply to future orders.

7. Payments, Refunds, and Cancellations

8. User Content

You may submit content such as profiles, menu text, photos, reviews, or order notes (“User Content”).

• You retain ownership of your User Content.
• You grant CaterIt a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, reproduce, and use User Content as needed to operate, promote, and improve the Service.
• You represent that you have the rights to submit User Content and that it does not infringe others’ rights or violate law.
• We may remove User Content that violates these Terms or that we reasonably believe is harmful or unlawful.

9. Prohibited Uses

You agree not to:

• Use the Service if you are under 18.
• Provide false information or impersonate others.
• Place fraudulent orders or abuse refunds/chargebacks.
• Scrape, reverse engineer, or interfere with the Service or its security.
• Use the Service to send spam, malware, or unlawful content.
• Harass kitchens, buyers, or CaterIt staff.
• Circumvent fees, confirmation flows, or payment systems.
• Use the Service for any illegal purpose, including unlawful food sales or safety violations.
• Resell access to the Service without our permission.

We may investigate and take action, including suspension or termination, for violations.

10. Intellectual Property

The Service—including branding, logos, software, design, and CaterIt-created content—is owned by CaterIt or its licensors and protected by intellectual property laws. You receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use the Service for its intended purpose. You may not copy, modify, or create derivative works of our platform except as allowed by law or written permission from us.

Kitchen names, logos, and menu content remain the property of their respective owners, used on the Service for marketplace purposes.

11. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CATERIT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Without limiting the above:

• We do not warrant uninterrupted or error-free operation.
• We do not guarantee that every order will be accepted by a kitchen or fulfilled exactly as requested.
• We do not control food preparation, allergens, or delivery drivers engaged by kitchens (unless expressly stated).
• Third-party services (including Stripe, Twilio, hosting providers, and Google if used for login) are subject to their own terms.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain disclaimers; in those places, disclaimers apply to the fullest extent allowed.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CATERIT AND ITS OFFICERS, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE OR THESE TERMS, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CATERIT’S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE OR THESE TERMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID TO CATERIT IN PLATFORM FEES FOR THE ORDER(S) GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM IN THE THREE (3) MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US $100).

These limits do not apply where prohibited by law (including certain liability for gross negligence or intentional misconduct, to the extent such exclusions are not allowed).

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless CaterIt and its officers, members, employees, and agents from and against claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Service; (b) your User Content; (c) your breach of these Terms; (d) your violation of law or third-party rights; or (e) if you are a kitchen, your food, fulfillment, or dealings with buyers, except to the extent caused by CaterIt’s willful misconduct.

14. Termination

You may stop using the Service at any time and may request account closure by contacting admin@caterit.io. We may suspend or terminate access immediately if you violate these Terms, if required by law, or if we discontinue the Service. Provisions that by their nature should survive (including intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and governing law) will survive termination.

15. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, except where mandatory consumer protection laws of your state require otherwise.

16. Disputes

• Please contact us first at admin@caterit.io so we can try to resolve concerns informally.
• Except where prohibited, disputes arising out of these Terms or the Service shall be resolved in state or federal courts located in New Jersey, and you consent to personal jurisdiction there.
• Nothing in these Terms limits either party’s right to seek injunctive or other equitable relief for intellectual property or unauthorized access issues.

17. Changes

We may update these Terms from time to time. The “Effective date” / “Last updated” line will show the current version. If changes are material, we may provide additional notice (for example by email or a notice on the Service). Continued use after the updated Terms take effect constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree, stop using the Service.

18. General

• Entire agreement: These Terms and the Privacy Policy are the entire agreement between you and CaterIt regarding the Service.
• Severability: If a provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
• No waiver: Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.
• Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them in connection with a reorganization or sale of the business.
• Force majeure: We are not liable for delays or failures due to events beyond reasonable control.

19. Contact

CaterIt (New Jersey limited liability company)
Email: admin@caterit.io
Website: https://www.caterit.io