Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the JoinNow platform at joinnow.io (the "Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy. These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and JoinNow FZCO ("JoinNow", "we", "us", or "our").

If you are using the Platform on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms. In such cases, "you" refers to both you individually and the entity you represent.

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. We will notify registered users of material changes via email or a prominent notice on the Platform. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Platform Description

JoinNow operates as a B2B talent matching platform connecting companies in DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and internationally with pre-vetted Indian technology professionals who have verified experience working on DACH projects.

JoinNow is not an employment agency. We do not employ the talent ourselves. Talent is employed or contracted by our Bangalore partner, a separate company, which is their legal employer or contracting counterparty in India. JoinNow FZCO sources and matches talent, contracts with the client, and manages the ongoing commercial relationship as an intermediary or managed service provider. JoinNow FZCO has no Indian entity of its own.

We offer six services:

• Staff augmentation: Individual contributors employed or contracted by our Bangalore partner, embedded in your team at your direction.
• Dedicated teams: Assembly and ongoing management of an exclusive team for a single client.
• Employer of Record (EOR): For a candidate the client has sourced itself, our Bangalore partner becomes that person's legal employer in India and JoinNow invoices the client a flat monthly fee per person.
• Freelancer placement: Introduction and contracting of independent Indian professionals for time-bound engagements.
• Compliance & payroll: Operational coordination of contracts, data-protection documentation and Indian payroll for engagements arranged through JoinNow, together with our Bangalore partner and our legal and payroll partners. This is an operational service and does not constitute legal or tax advice.
• Relocation: Recruitment and relocation support for clients hiring an Indian professional into their own DACH entity, including coordination with the client's immigration counsel.

3. Talent Accounts

Eligibility:

To register as a talent member, you must be an individual professional with demonstrable, verifiable experience working on projects for companies based in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. This experience may have been delivered in-country or remotely. JoinNow reserves the right to verify stated experience and to reject or remove profiles that do not meet this criterion.

Profile accuracy:

You are solely responsible for ensuring that all information in your profile — including work history, skills, certifications, and availability — is accurate, complete, and kept up to date. Misrepresentation of qualifications or DACH experience is grounds for immediate removal from the Platform and may give rise to claims for damages.

Account conduct:

• You may hold only one talent account on the Platform.
• You must not share your account credentials with any other person.
• You must notify us promptly of any unauthorised access to your account.
• You must not use the Platform in any manner that circumvents JoinNow's matching process (e.g., by soliciting direct introductions outside the Platform from contacts discovered through it).

4. Company Accounts

Usage restrictions:

Company accounts may only be used by authorised representatives of the registered entity for the purpose of evaluating and engaging talent through the Platform. Company accounts must not be shared with competitors of JoinNow or used for any purpose other than the legitimate procurement of technology talent.

Confidentiality of talent profiles:

All talent profiles, anonymised or otherwise, shared with your company through the Platform are confidential and provided solely for the purpose of evaluating potential engagements. You agree to:

• Not disclose talent profile information to any third party without our prior written consent.
• Not use profile data to solicit, recruit, or contact talent through channels outside the Platform.
• Not retain copies of profile data beyond what is necessary for your internal evaluation process.
• Implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect profile data in your possession.

Breach of these confidentiality obligations may result in immediate suspension of your company account and may give rise to claims for damages and injunctive relief.

5. Fees & Payment

Staff augmentation fees:

For staff augmentation engagements, JoinNow charges a monthly or hourly service fee as agreed in a separate Order Form or Master Service Agreement. Fees are payable upon commencement of an engagement. Specific rates and structures vary by role, experience level, and engagement type and are set out in the applicable commercial agreement.

Dedicated team retainers:

Dedicated team engagements are subject to a monthly retainer, invoiced in advance on the first business day of each month. Retainer amounts are agreed in writing prior to team assembly. A minimum commitment period of three months applies unless otherwise agreed.

Payment terms:

• Invoices are issued by JoinNow FZCO in EUR, USD or AED, as agreed with the client before the first invoice.
• Invoices are due within 14 days of the invoice date unless a different term is specified in the applicable agreement.
• Late payments accrue interest at the statutory rate from the due date.
• All fees are quoted exclusive of VAT, which will be added at the applicable rate.
• JoinNow reserves the right to suspend services in the event of overdue invoices exceeding 30 days.

JoinNow is free for talent. We do not charge talent members any registration, subscription, or placement fees.

6. Service Levels & Replacement Guarantee

Where a staff augmentation, dedicated team or freelancer engagement is arranged through JoinNow and the placed professional leaves the engagement, or the client determines that they are not a suitable fit, within the first 30 days of their first working day, JoinNow will source a replacement at no additional placement cost. A replacement shortlist is provided within 10 business days of the client's written notice.

The guarantee applies once per placement. It requires the client to give written notice within the 30-day window and to have paid all invoices then due. It does not apply where the engagement ends because the client's requirement, budget or project scope has changed, or where the professional is prevented from working by circumstances outside JoinNow's control.

The guarantee covers the sourcing of a replacement only. Fees already invoiced for work performed remain payable, and the guarantee gives no right to a refund, credit, or damages.

Shortlist turnaround times stated on our website, including the 48-hour shortlist, are targets for standard requirements and are not warranties.

7. Term, Termination & Notice

Unless the applicable Order Form or Master Service Agreement provides otherwise, the following applies:

• Staff augmentation and freelancer engagements run month-to-month. Either party may terminate an individual engagement on 30 days' written notice, expiring at the end of a calendar month.
• Dedicated team engagements are subject to a minimum commitment of three months from the start date. After the minimum term they continue month-to-month and may be terminated on 30 days' written notice.
• Standalone Employer of Record engagements may be cancelled on 30 days' written notice, subject to any longer notice period owed to the individual under their Indian employment contract.
• Either party may terminate immediately for a material breach that is not remedied within 14 days of written notice, or on the other party's insolvency.
• JoinNow may suspend or close a Platform account where these Terms are breached. Talent members and referrers may close their account at any time by writing to us.
• Termination does not affect fees for services already delivered, or any provision intended to survive — including confidentiality, IP assignment, and limitation of liability.

8. Referral Programme

These terms govern the referral bonus advertised on our Refer a Friend page. They apply to every referral submitted through that form.

• The total bonus is €500 per successful referral, paid in two instalments of €250.
• The first €250 becomes payable once the referred professional has completed their first full month of paid work arranged through JoinNow, and is paid within 14 days of that date.
• The second €250 becomes payable only if the placement is still active six months after the referred professional's first working day. If the engagement has ended before that date, for any reason, the second instalment is not payable.
• Attribution is first touch: if the referred person is already in our pipeline when your referral reaches us, no bonus is payable. JoinNow determines attribution and our records are conclusive.
• To qualify, the referred person must be currently based in India, must have at least one year of DACH work experience, must be in a technical role, and must not already be in our network.
• You must have the referred person's permission before sharing their details with us.
• There is no limit on how many people you may refer, but a bonus is payable only once per referred person.
• Bonuses are paid by bank transfer in EUR, or in INR at the exchange rate applying on the payment date where a EUR transfer is not practicable. Payment is made to the referrer personally.
• Bonuses are gross amounts. Any income tax, social security or other levy arising on a bonus is the referrer's own responsibility, as is declaring it where required.
• JoinNow may vary, suspend or discontinue the referral programme at any time. Changes apply to referrals received after the change is published; bonuses already earned are unaffected.

9. Intellectual Property & Confidentiality

Work product ownership:

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in a written agreement, all code, deliverables, and other work product created by talent during an engagement for a client company shall be owned by the client company upon full payment of the applicable fees. Talent must not reuse, reproduce, or disclose client work product without explicit written consent.

NDA obligations:

JoinNow signs a mutual non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with all registered companies as a condition of access to talent profiles. Talent members are bound by confidentiality obligations in relation to all client information accessed during engagements. These obligations survive termination of the engagement or account.

Platform IP:

All intellectual property in the Platform — including software, design, trademarks, and content — is owned by or licensed to JoinNow FZCO. Nothing in these Terms grants you any licence to use, copy, or distribute Platform IP except as strictly necessary to use the Platform for its intended purpose.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, JoinNow shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages — including loss of profits, loss of data, loss of business opportunity, or business interruption — arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform or any engagement facilitated through it.

JoinNow's total aggregate liability to any party in connection with these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the total fees paid by or on behalf of that party to JoinNow in the twelve months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

JoinNow does not warrant that talent profiles are error-free or that any placement will result in a successful long-term engagement. Client companies are responsible for conducting their own due diligence on talent prior to commencing an engagement.

11. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates and the regulations applicable in the Emirate of Dubai.

The exclusive jurisdiction for all disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms shall be the courts of Dubai, UAE.

12. Contact

For any questions or notices relating to these Terms, please contact:

• Email: [email protected]
• Post: JoinNow FZCO, DSO-IFZA, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, UAE