Effective date: 01 June 2026

1.1. These Expert Terms / Expert Service Agreement ("Expert Terms") govern the relationship between THE COMPANY YOU NEED LTD (company number 15967968, registered office: 31 Auctioneers Way, Northampton, United Kingdom, NN1 1HF) trading as Foconta ("Foconta", "we", "us", "our") and any person or business registering, applying, onboarding, accepting assignments, preparing work, requesting payout, or otherwise providing services as an expert through foconta.co.uk and related services (the "Service").

1.2. These Expert Terms apply in addition to Foconta's Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Payment Policy, Refund / Return Policy and any specific instructions, briefs, quality standards, platform rules or written agreements provided by Foconta.

1.3. By registering as an Expert, submitting an Expert profile, selecting Specialisations, accepting an assignment, preparing a Deliverable, communicating with Foconta or a Customer through Foconta channels, or requesting payout, you agree to these Expert Terms.

1.4. If you do not agree to these Expert Terms, you must not register as an Expert, accept assignments, access Customer information, prepare Deliverables or request payout through Foconta.

For the purposes of these Expert Terms:

Account means your Expert account or profile on the Service.

Assignment means an Order, task, project or work request made available to or accepted by an Expert through Foconta.

Business Hours means Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays, unless otherwise stated or agreed in writing.

Customer means a user who purchases Tokens, places an Order or requests Services through Foconta.

Customer Data means any information, documents, files, business ideas, financial assumptions, personal data, confidential information, communications or materials provided by or about a Customer.

Deliverable means any work product prepared, reviewed, edited, enhanced or supplied by an Expert through Foconta, including business plans, reports, financial projections, market notes, pitch decks, spreadsheets, PDF files, DOCX files, presentations, research notes, edits, revisions and related materials.

Expert means an independent specialist, freelancer, contractor or business user who registers with Foconta and may provide services through the Service.

Expert Services means services performed by an Expert, including business plan writing, review, editing, research support, financial planning support, pitch deck support, revision work, quality improvement or other business planning assistance.

Order means a Customer's confirmed purchase, Token redemption or request for Services through Foconta.

Payout Balance means the internal amount that may become payable to an Expert for completed Assignments, subject to these Expert Terms, Foconta's commission, dispute status, chargebacks, fraud review and internal approval.

Specialisation means an area of expertise selected by a Customer or Expert for matching and workflow purposes.

Tokens means Foconta's internal prepaid digital credits used by Customers to access or pay for Services. Tokens are not cash, e-money, cryptocurrency, securities, bank deposits or financial instruments.

Work Product means all materials, drafts, notes, research, text, files, plans, decks, models, revisions and deliverables created or contributed by an Expert in connection with an Assignment.

3.1. Experts provide services as independent freelancers or contractors. Experts are not employees, workers, agents, partners, franchisees, representatives or legal representatives of Foconta.

3.2. These Expert Terms do not create an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, agency relationship or fiduciary relationship between Foconta and the Expert.

3.3. Experts are not entitled to employee benefits from Foconta, including salary, holiday pay, sick pay, pension contributions, redundancy pay, employment insurance, paid leave or other employee benefits, except where mandatory law provides otherwise.

3.4. Experts are responsible for organising their own work, equipment, workspace, internet access, software, tax affairs, registrations, licences, insurance and professional obligations.

3.5. Foconta may set platform rules, Customer requirements, delivery deadlines, quality standards, confidentiality obligations, data protection requirements and communication restrictions necessary to operate the Service and protect Customers.

3.6. Nothing in these Expert Terms prevents Foconta from deciding whether to make Assignments available, whether to approve an Expert for specific Specialisations, whether to accept a Deliverable, or whether to continue allowing an Expert to use the Service.

3.7. Nothing in these Expert Terms prevents an Expert from offering services outside Foconta, provided that the Expert does not misuse Foconta's Customer Data, confidential information, platform workflows, introductions, materials, branding or commercial opportunities.

4.1. You must be at least 18 years old to register or act as an Expert.

4.2. You must provide accurate, complete and current information during registration, onboarding, verification, assignment work and payout requests.

4.3. You must not register as an Expert using false details, misleading qualifications, fake experience, copied portfolio materials, unauthorised credentials, third-party identity documents or information that you are not entitled to use.

4.4. Foconta may request information including:

full name;

email address;

phone number;

country of residence;

professional background;

experience;

selected Specialisations;

language skills;

education;

certifications;

portfolio materials;

sample work;

CV or biography;

payout information;

tax or invoicing information;

identity, compliance or verification details where required.

4.5. Foconta may refuse, delay, suspend or terminate Expert registration if information is incomplete, inaccurate, unverifiable, misleading, fraudulent, unlawful or inconsistent with Foconta's standards.

5.1. Expert verification may take place after registration and may include profile review, experience review, portfolio review, quality review, communication review, identity checks or other internal checks.

5.2. A "verified" or similar status means that Foconta has completed its internal review process for that Expert at the relevant time.

5.3. Verification does not guarantee that an Expert holds any specific professional licence, regulated status, academic qualification, government approval, financial authorisation, medical authorisation or legal certification unless expressly stated and verified by Foconta in writing.

5.4. Foconta may approve, reject, suspend, revoke or update Expert verification status at any time based on quality, conduct, Customer feedback, disputes, compliance review, fraud signals, profile accuracy or platform requirements.

5.5. Experts must promptly update Foconta if any information in their profile, Specialisations, qualifications, availability or payout details changes.

6.1. Experts may select one or more Specialisations during registration or profile setup.

6.2. Available Specialisations may include:

Startup Business Plan;

Restaurant & Food Business Plan;

E-commerce Business Plan;

SaaS & Tech Business Plan;

Real Estate Business Plan;

Marketing Strategy Plan;

Financial & Investment Plan;

Franchise Business Plan;

Non-Profit Organization Plan;

Import/Export Business Plan;

Retail Business Plan;

Healthcare Business Plan.

6.3. Foconta may add, remove, rename, merge or restrict Specialisations at any time.

6.4. Experts must select only Specialisations in which they have genuine knowledge, experience or competence.

6.5. Selecting a Specialisation does not authorise the Expert to provide regulated legal, tax, accounting, medical, investment, financial advisory or other licensed professional services.

6.6. The "Financial & Investment Plan" Specialisation is limited to business planning, financial modelling, commercial assumptions and investment-readiness documentation. Experts must not provide regulated investment advice, securities advice, financial promotions approval, portfolio advice or investment recommendations.

6.7. The "Healthcare Business Plan" Specialisation is limited to business planning for healthcare-related business models. Experts must not provide medical advice, clinical advice, patient-specific advice, healthcare compliance certification or regulated healthcare services.

6.8. The "Non-Profit Organization Plan" Specialisation is limited to business planning for non-profit or mission-led organisations. Experts must not provide legal advice on charity registration, tax exemption or legal structuring unless specifically authorised by Foconta in writing and appropriately qualified.

7.1. Foconta may automatically assign or offer an Assignment to an Expert based on Customer requirements, Specialisation, availability, language, workload, quality history and operational needs.

7.2. Experts do not have a guaranteed right to receive Assignments.

7.3. Foconta does not guarantee any minimum number of Assignments, minimum earnings, minimum payout, regular workflow or continuing availability of work.

7.4. An Assignment may include Customer brief details, selected Specialisation, scope, package type, delivery expectations, file format requirements, Customer instructions and any relevant internal notes.

7.5. If an Expert is unable to perform an Assignment competently, on time, or within the stated scope, the Expert must promptly notify Foconta.

7.6. Once an Expert accepts or begins work on an Assignment, the Expert must use reasonable skill, care and diligence to complete it according to the Customer brief, Foconta's instructions and these Expert Terms.

7.7. Experts must not accept Assignments where they have a conflict of interest, lack relevant competence, cannot meet timing expectations, or cannot comply with confidentiality and data protection obligations.

8.1. Experts must provide work that is professional, original, clear, relevant, commercially realistic and aligned with the Customer's brief.

8.2. Experts must use reasonable skill and care when preparing Deliverables.

8.3. Deliverables must:

respond to the Customer's brief;

match the selected Specialisation and package scope;

be written in a professional and coherent style;

avoid obvious contradictions;

avoid unsupported claims;

avoid misleading financial assumptions;

use reasonable structure and formatting;

avoid plagiarism;

avoid unlawful or infringing material;

identify assumptions where relevant;

be suitable for digital delivery in the required format.

8.4. Experts must not provide Deliverables that are copied, recycled without meaningful adaptation, misleading, fabricated, discriminatory, unlawful, low quality, irrelevant, harmful or outside the Assignment scope.

8.5. Experts must not claim that a business plan guarantees investment, loan approval, grant approval, profitability, market success, visa approval, regulatory approval or any specific commercial result.

8.6. Experts must not include fake credentials, fake market data, fabricated sources, invented legal status, invented licences, invented financial results, false regulatory claims or misleading statements in Deliverables.

8.7. Experts must ask Foconta for clarification if the brief is unclear, incomplete, contradictory, unrealistic or requires information that has not been provided.

9.1. Some Customer packages, including the Expert 24h Plan, may have advertised delivery expectations.

9.2. For the Expert 24h Plan, the advertised delivery period is calculated in Business Hours unless otherwise stated.

9.3. The delivery period may start when the Customer places the Order and provides the information reasonably required to begin work.

9.4. Timelines may be paused or extended where the Customer fails to provide required information, does not respond to clarification requests, changes scope, submits unusable files, provides contradictory instructions, or where technical, payment, fraud, operational or force majeure issues occur.

9.5. Experts must use reasonable efforts to meet the delivery timing communicated by Foconta.

9.6. If an Expert expects delay, the Expert must notify Foconta as soon as reasonably possible and provide the reason for delay and expected completion time.

9.7. Foconta may reassign an Assignment, request partial delivery, require priority completion, adjust payout eligibility, or take other reasonable steps where an Expert delay affects Customer delivery.

10.1. Unless otherwise stated, Expert Orders include one free revision round for the Customer.

10.2. Experts may be required to complete reasonable revisions or rework where the Customer's request is within the original brief, selected Specialisation, package scope and information originally provided.

10.3. A reasonable revision may include correction, clarification, formatting adjustment, minor content improvement, or better alignment with the original Customer brief.

10.4. A revision does not include a new business idea, new industry, new market, new Specialisation, new financial model, new pitch deck concept, substantial rewriting, major scope change or work materially different from the original Assignment.

10.5. If a Customer requests work outside the original scope, the Expert must refer the matter to Foconta. The Expert must not negotiate private fees, side payments or off-platform arrangements with the Customer.

10.6. Foconta may require the Expert to complete rework without additional payout where the original Deliverable is defective, incomplete, late, outside scope, below quality standards, or inconsistent with the brief.

10.7. Foconta may provide additional compensation for extra work only where approved in writing.

11.1. All Customer-related communication must take place only through Foconta-approved channels, including the Foconta platform, Foconta-managed email workflows or other channels expressly approved by Foconta.

11.2. Experts must not contact Customers directly outside Foconta channels.

11.3. Experts must not ask Customers for private contact details, payment details, social media profiles, messaging app details or other off-platform communication methods.

11.4. Experts must not offer Customers private services, discounts, side deals, direct payment arrangements or work outside Foconta where the Customer relationship originated through Foconta.

11.5. Experts must communicate professionally, respectfully and clearly.

11.6. Experts must not harass, pressure, mislead, threaten, discriminate against or abuse Customers, Foconta staff or other Experts.

11.7. Foconta may monitor, review or retain communications for service delivery, quality control, dispute resolution, safety, security, legal compliance and fraud prevention.

12.1. Experts may use AI tools, research tools, drafting tools, spreadsheet tools or other productivity tools where appropriate and permitted by Foconta.

12.2. AI may be used only as a support tool. The Expert remains responsible for reviewing, validating, editing and quality-checking any AI-assisted work before delivery.

12.3. Experts must not submit raw, unreviewed, generic or obviously AI-generated work where expert-prepared work is required.

12.4. Experts must not enter Customer Data into external AI tools, public AI systems or third-party platforms unless authorised by Foconta and consistent with Foconta's privacy, confidentiality and data protection requirements.

12.5. Experts must not use tools that expose Customer Data to unauthorised third parties, public datasets, model training, data scraping, publication, resale or uncontrolled storage.

12.6. Experts must verify important facts, assumptions, figures and claims where reasonably possible and must not fabricate sources, statistics, credentials, market data or financial figures.

13.1. Experts must keep all Customer Data, Foconta business information, platform workflows, pricing information, internal processes, briefs, Deliverables, communications and non-public information confidential.

13.2. Experts must use confidential information only to perform the assigned work for Foconta.

13.3. Experts must not disclose confidential information to third parties unless authorised by Foconta in writing or required by law.

13.4. Experts must not use Customer Data for personal benefit, competing services, marketing, portfolio display, case studies, training materials, model training, public examples, resale or any purpose unrelated to the Assignment.

13.5. Confidentiality obligations continue after the Expert stops using the Service or after these Expert Terms end.

13.6. If an Expert receives a legal request, regulatory request or third-party request for confidential information, the Expert must notify Foconta promptly unless legally prohibited.

14.1. Experts must process personal data and Customer Data only as instructed by Foconta and only as necessary to perform the relevant Assignment.

14.2. Experts must comply with applicable data protection laws, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 where applicable.

14.3. Experts must not:

use Customer Data for unrelated purposes;

copy Customer Data unnecessarily;

store Customer Data outside approved systems without permission;

share Customer Data with third parties;

use Customer Data for marketing;

attempt to identify or contact Customers outside Foconta;

upload Customer Data to unauthorised tools;

retain Customer Data after it is no longer needed.

14.4. Experts must apply appropriate security measures, including secure devices, password protection, reasonable access controls, secure networks and safe handling of files.

14.5. Experts must promptly notify Foconta if they suspect unauthorised access, accidental disclosure, data loss, malware, device compromise, misdirected email, unauthorised download, breach of confidentiality or any other security incident involving Customer Data or Foconta information.

14.6. Experts must cooperate with Foconta in responding to data subject requests, deletion requests, access requests, complaints, investigations, audits or legal obligations.

14.7. Experts must not appoint subcontractors, assistants or other persons to process Customer Data or perform Assignments without Foconta's prior written approval.

15.1. The Expert confirms that Work Product created for an Assignment will be original to the Expert or lawfully used with all required rights, licences and permissions.

15.2. The Expert assigns to Foconta, with full title guarantee where possible, all intellectual property rights in the Work Product created for an Assignment, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

15.3. To the extent any rights cannot be assigned, the Expert grants Foconta a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, transferable, sublicensable, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, distribute, display, export, deliver, commercialise and otherwise exploit the Work Product for the purpose of operating the Service and supplying Deliverables to Customers.

15.4. Foconta may grant Customers rights to use Deliverables in accordance with Foconta's Terms and Conditions.

15.5. The Expert waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any moral rights or similar rights that may prevent Foconta or Customers from using, editing, formatting, adapting, combining or delivering the Work Product.

15.6. Experts must not reuse Customer-specific Work Product for other Customers, public examples, portfolio pieces, templates, datasets or competing services without Foconta's written approval and removal of Customer confidential information.

15.7. Experts must not include third-party copyrighted material, trademarks, images, data, templates or other protected materials in Deliverables unless lawful and properly authorised.

16.1. Customers may redeem Tokens to purchase Expert Services.

16.2. After an Expert Order is completed, Foconta may internally convert the relevant Order value into an Expert Payout Balance, subject to these Expert Terms, Payment Policy, dispute status, chargeback risk, fraud checks, quality review, Customer acceptance and internal approval.

16.3. Foconta applies a standard platform commission of 20% to Expert Orders, unless a different rate is agreed in writing.

16.4. Payout eligibility normally arises only after:

the Deliverable has been supplied;

the Assignment is marked completed by Foconta;

there is no open dispute;

there is no unresolved revision or rework request;

there is no chargeback or refund review;

payment has not failed or been reversed;

the Expert has complied with these Expert Terms;

Foconta has approved payout internally.

16.5. Experts may request payout through the process made available by Foconta. Foconta may contact the Expert by email to provide instructions, request payout information or verify details.

16.6. Payouts may be made in EUR or USD to a bank account or card, subject to availability, verification, payment-provider rules, compliance checks and Foconta's internal process.

16.7. Foconta may withhold, delay, reduce, offset or cancel payout where:

the Customer disputes the Deliverable;

the Customer receives a refund or partial refund;

the payment is charged back or reversed;

the Deliverable is late, defective, incomplete or outside scope;

rework is required;

fraud, abuse or misconduct is suspected;

the Expert breaches confidentiality or data protection obligations;

the Expert attempts to bypass Foconta;

payout details are incomplete or unverifiable;

required tax, invoice or compliance information is missing;

legal or payment-provider rules require delay or refusal.

16.8. If payout has already been made and the related Customer payment is later refunded, reversed, charged back or found fraudulent, Foconta may deduct the relevant amount from future payouts or request repayment where lawful.

16.9. Experts are responsible for any bank fees, card fees, currency conversion fees, receiving fees or intermediary fees charged by their own bank, card issuer or payout provider.

16.10. Foconta does not guarantee any minimum payout amount, minimum earnings, continuous work, recurring Assignments or payout availability.

17.1. Experts are solely responsible for determining and paying their own taxes, social contributions, insurance contributions, VAT, income tax, business registration fees and other statutory obligations.

17.2. Experts are responsible for issuing invoices or payment records where required by law or requested by Foconta.

17.3. Foconta may request tax, invoice, identity, residency, payout or compliance information before approving payout.

17.4. Foconta may withhold payout or require additional information where needed for tax, payment, anti-fraud, sanctions, accounting or legal compliance.

17.5. Experts must comply with all laws applicable to their services, residence, tax status, business status and receipt of payouts.

18.1. Foconta handles Customer disputes, refunds and chargebacks in accordance with its Terms and Conditions, Refund / Return Policy and Payment Policy.

18.2. Experts must cooperate with Foconta in investigating Customer disputes, including by providing drafts, notes, explanations, revision history, source materials and other relevant information.

18.3. Foconta may require revision or rework before deciding whether a Customer is entitled to Token credit, partial refund, full refund or other remedy.

18.4. Customer disputes may affect Expert payout eligibility.

18.5. If Foconta determines that a dispute, refund or chargeback was caused by Expert fault, misconduct, delay, poor quality, breach of scope, plagiarism, confidentiality breach, data misuse or failure to follow instructions, Foconta may reduce, withhold or cancel payout.

18.6. Foconta's decision on Customer remedy and Expert payout consequence is final within the platform process, without limiting any mandatory legal rights either party may have.

Experts must not:

misrepresent qualifications, experience or identity;

accept work outside their competence;

plagiarise or copy work unlawfully;

submit generic, low-quality or unreviewed AI output;

fabricate market data, financial figures, sources or credentials;

provide regulated legal, tax, accounting, medical, investment or financial advice unless expressly authorised and properly qualified;

contact Customers outside Foconta-approved channels;

request or accept direct payment from Customers;

bypass Foconta's platform, commission or workflow;

use Customer Data for marketing, resale, portfolio use or unrelated purposes;

share Customer Data with unauthorised persons;

upload Customer Data to unauthorised third-party tools;

harass, threaten, discriminate against or abuse Customers or Foconta personnel;

interfere with the Service's security or operation;

create fake accounts, manipulate reviews or abuse payout systems;

engage in fraud, sanctions evasion, money laundering, bribery or unlawful conduct.

20.1. Foconta may review Expert performance, Deliverables, communication quality, Customer feedback, revision rates, dispute rates, delivery speed and compliance history.

20.2. Foconta may use performance information to decide whether to assign future work, approve Specialisations, adjust Expert visibility, require training, request rework, suspend an Expert, revoke verification or terminate Expert access.

20.3. Foconta may reject, edit, revise, reassign or withhold delivery of Work Product if it does not meet Customer requirements, platform standards or these Expert Terms.

20.4. Foconta may maintain internal quality notes and performance records for operational, dispute, compliance and service improvement purposes.

21.1. Foconta may suspend or terminate an Expert account at any time where we reasonably believe the Expert:

breached these Expert Terms;

breached Foconta's Terms or policies;

submitted low-quality, defective or plagiarised work;

failed to meet deadlines repeatedly;

misused Customer Data;

breached confidentiality;

attempted to bypass Foconta;

requested or accepted direct payment from a Customer;

provided misleading profile information;

failed verification or compliance checks;

created legal, security, payment or reputational risk;

engaged in fraud, abuse or unlawful conduct.

21.2. An Expert may stop using the Service at any time, subject to completion of accepted Assignments and continuing obligations.

21.3. Termination does not affect obligations that should reasonably continue, including confidentiality, data protection, intellectual property, payment adjustments, repayment obligations, dispute cooperation, indemnity and limitations of liability.

21.4. Foconta may retain records after termination where necessary for payment, tax, accounting, dispute, fraud prevention, legal, compliance, security or legitimate business purposes.

22.1. Experts must not use Foconta to identify, solicit or establish direct paid relationships with Customers outside Foconta.

22.2. Experts must not encourage Customers to cancel Orders and pay outside Foconta.

22.3. Experts must not offer lower prices, alternative payment terms, direct invoices, discounts or private services to Customers introduced through Foconta.

22.4. If an Expert breaches this Section, Foconta may suspend or terminate the Expert account, cancel payout, recover losses, and take any other action available under law.

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

23.2. Subject to Section 23.1, Foconta is not liable to an Expert for indirect, consequential, special, incidental or punitive losses, including loss of profit, loss of business, loss of opportunity, loss of reputation, loss of data or loss of expected earnings.

23.3. Subject to Section 23.1, Foconta's total liability to an Expert in connection with these Expert Terms shall not exceed the unpaid amount properly due to that Expert for completed and approved Assignments during the three months before the event giving rise to the claim.

23.4. Foconta is not liable for lack of Assignments, Customer disputes, Customer non-payment, chargebacks, payment-provider delays, payout-provider errors, bank fees, exchange-rate changes, tax consequences, Expert account suspension or termination carried out in accordance with these Expert Terms.

24.1. The Expert agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Foconta, its directors, officers, employees, contractors, Customers, service providers and affiliates from claims, losses, damages, liabilities, penalties, costs and expenses arising from:

breach of these Expert Terms;

breach of confidentiality;

misuse of Customer Data;

data protection breach caused by the Expert;

infringement of intellectual property rights;

plagiarism or unlawful copying;

misleading, unlawful or defective Work Product;

unauthorised regulated advice;

fraud, abuse or misconduct;

direct Customer solicitation or platform circumvention;

tax, employment, contractor or business registration issues relating to the Expert.

24.2. This indemnity applies to the fullest extent permitted by law.

25.1. Foconta may retain records relating to Expert registration, verification, Specialisations, Assignments, Deliverables, revisions, disputes, Customer feedback, payment calculations, payout requests, commissions, chargebacks, compliance reviews and communications.

25.2. Records may be retained for at least 24 months and up to 6 years where required for tax, accounting, payment, dispute, legal, fraud prevention, audit or compliance purposes.

25.3. Record retention is handled in accordance with Foconta's Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.

26.1. Foconta may update these Expert Terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, platform workflow, Expert processes, payout rules, payment providers, data protection requirements, quality standards or business operations.

26.2. Material changes may be notified by email, dashboard notice or other reasonable means.

26.3. Continued use of the Service as an Expert after updated Expert Terms take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Expert Terms.

27.1. These Expert Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

27.2. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising from or relating to these Expert Terms, except where mandatory law provides otherwise.

Questions about these Expert Terms, Expert onboarding, assignments or payouts should be sent to:

THE COMPANY YOU NEED LTD
Trading as Foconta
Registered office: 31 Auctioneers Way, Northampton, United Kingdom, NN1 1HF
Company number: 15967968
Email: info@foconta.co.uk
Tel: +44 7537 166412