Terms of Service

1. The Service

Stagex provides a platform for Australian trade businesses to manage jobs, process milestone-based escrow payments, access a contractor marketplace, and use AI-powered business tools.

• You must be at least 18 years old and capable of entering a binding contract under Australian law.
• You must provide accurate registration information including a valid ABN for business accounts.
• You are responsible for all activity under your account and for maintaining credential confidentiality.

2. Escrow Terms

2.1 How Escrow Works

Stagex provides milestone-based escrow functionality. Clients deposit milestone amounts before work begins via Stripe. Stagex holds those funds securely and does not release or apply them for its own purposes until the client signs the milestone off, which is the only event that pays them out (see Section 2.2). Stagex does not currently hold these funds through a separate, licensed third-party trustee or statutory trust account.

2.2 Milestone Release

Funds are released to the contractor when the client approves the completed milestone. Client approval is the only mechanism by which Stagex pays escrowed funds to a contractor. Automatic payment on expiry of the review period is described in the paragraph below, and is not currently in operation: it is switched off, and while it is off the review period ending does not move any money. Stagex has no mechanism that pays a contractor as the outcome of a dispute, and no mechanism that returns escrowed funds to a client as the outcome of a dispute. Nothing in the platform moves escrowed money because a dispute was determined, in either direction; a determination under Section 4 is given effect by hand, and Section 4 sets out how.

The review period for a job is stated on the quote and is fixed when the client funds it; it is not shortened afterwards. The default review period is ten (10) business days from the date work is submitted. Because automatic payment is switched off, the review period ending has no effect on the funds: they stay in escrow until the client approves the milestone. Stagex will not switch automatic payment on without first updating these terms and notifying users. While it is on, the client is notified when work is submitted, again before the period closes, and once more at the point of payment, and each notice states the date the period ends. Raising a dispute at any point before release freezes the funds for that milestone.

2.3 Evidence Requirements

To request milestone release, contractors must submit supporting evidence (photos, sign-off sheets, completion certificates) through the platform. Stagex does not independently verify the accuracy or quality of submitted evidence.

3. Fees

Stagex charges a flat transaction fee of 2.9% on all funds released through the Escrow Service, deducted from the released amount, subject to a minimum fee of $1.00 per release. The fee applies from the first dollar released; no amount is exempt and there is no threshold below which it is waived. Because of the minimum, a release below approximately $34.50 is charged the $1.00 minimum rather than 2.9%. The rate is the same on every subscription plan.

3.1 Subscription Plans

• Professional: $59/mo ($49/mo billed annually) — unlimited jobs, Xero integration. This is the entry plan.
• Business: $119/mo ($99/mo billed annually) — AI Copilot, white label, API access.
• Enterprise: custom subscription pricing with dedicated support and SLA guarantee. The transaction fee in Section 3 applies to all plans.

All prices in AUD inclusive of GST. Subscriptions are billed monthly or annually in advance. We reserve the right to modify pricing with at least 30 days written notice.

3.2 Free Trial

New organisations may start a 14-day free trial of the Professional plan. No payment method is required to begin the trial. If no payment method has been added by the end of the trial period, the subscription is cancelled — you are not charged, and the account does not continue on any no-cost plan. The transaction fee in Section 3 applies to funds released during a trial.

4. Dispute Process

If a client raises a dispute before the review period expires:

1. Release of funds is frozen.
2. Both parties have 14 calendar days to submit documentation and their position via the platform.
3. Stagex reviews submissions in good faith and issues a determination within 10 business days.
4. The determination is binding for escrow release purposes but does not constitute legal adjudication. Either party may pursue independent legal remedies.

5. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by the Australian Consumer Law (ACL):

• Stagex's total aggregate liability is limited to the greater of: (a) total subscription fees paid in the 12 months preceding the claim; or (b) AUD $100.
• Stagex is not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodwill.
• Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits rights under the ACL that cannot be lawfully excluded.

6. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the Services to:

• Violate any applicable law or regulation.
• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information including fake compliance documents.
• Reverse engineer, scrape, or create derivative works from the platform.
• Transmit malware, spam, or harmful content.
• Facilitate money laundering, tax evasion, or financial crime.
• Impersonate any person or entity.

7. Intellectual Property

The Services and all related intellectual property are owned by Stagex. You retain ownership of data you submit. By uploading content, you grant Stagex a worldwide, royalty-free licence to host and process it solely to provide the Services.

Stagex's core technology is protected by copyright and by the confidentiality obligations in these terms.

8. Termination

• You may cancel your subscription at any time. Access continues until the end of the billing period.
• We may suspend or terminate your account immediately for material breach, fraud, or non-payment after a 7-day grace period.
• After termination, data is retained for 90 days (for export), then deleted subject to legal retention requirements.
• Escrow funds held at termination are processed per the original transaction terms.

9. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Queensland, Australia. You and Stagex submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland and the Federal Court of Australia sitting in Sydney.

Before initiating legal proceedings, both parties agree to engage in good-faith negotiation for at least 30 days. If unresolved, either party may refer the dispute to mediation through the Australian Disputes Centre before commencing litigation.

10. Contact