Terms of Service

What Ranch Hero is

Ranch Hero is a software platform providing storefronts, herd management tools, breeding records, and a verified marketplace for miniature cattle breeders and other small livestock breeders. We verify sellers and provide tools for safe transactions, but we are not a party to any sale between a buyer and seller. Transactions are between you and the other party.

Seller responsibilities

Sellers must provide accurate identity and farm information during verification. Listings must accurately describe the animal — age, sex, color, health status, and documentation on file. Misrepresentation is grounds for immediate removal and may be reported to appropriate authorities.

Sellers agree to respond to buyer inquiries within 5 business days. Sellers who list animals no longer available within 24 hours of a sale will be flagged.

Buyer responsibilities

Buyers agree to keep all communications on the Ranch Hero platform. Moving a transaction off-platform (to personal email, Venmo, Facebook, etc.) voids Ranch Hero's buyer protection and dispute resolution.

Buyers agree not to file false or bad-faith disputes. Verified false disputes will result in account termination.

Trust Score and verification

Trust Scores are calculated by Ranch Hero based on the factors described at ranchhero.com/trust. Scores are informational — a high score indicates verified information but is not a guarantee of a perfect transaction. Ranch Hero is not liable for seller conduct regardless of Trust Score.

Disputes

Ranch Hero provides dispute resolution for transactions conducted through the platform. We will investigate and issue findings within 10 business days of a filed dispute. Our findings are final for the purposes of the platform (refunds, account status). They do not constitute legal rulings.

Prohibited conduct

You may not: create fake listings or seller profiles, misrepresent an animal's condition, attempt to defraud buyers or sellers, use Ranch Hero to facilitate transactions for animals you do not own or have authority to sell, or attempt to circumvent our verification systems.

Violation of any of the above results in permanent platform removal and may be reported to law enforcement.

Limitation of liability

Ranch Hero is a platform, not a party to your transaction. We are not liable for losses arising from transactions between users, including misrepresented animals, non-delivery, or transport damage. Our buyer protection process is a good-faith service, not a financial guarantee.

Founding Rancher Program

The first fifty (50) Ranch Hero accounts to (a) claim a Founding Rancher seat during the program window, (b) complete seller identity and ranch-address verification, and (c) publish at least three (3) listings within thirty (30) days of claim, qualify as "Founding Ranchers."

Founding Ranchers receive Ranch Hero Pro, at no subscription cost, for as long as the account remains active and in good standing. This grant applies to features included in the Pro tier at general availability and to features subsequently added to that tier, except as limited below.

What is included: All self-service software features of the Pro tier as they exist from time to time, including unlimited listings, seller subdomain, buyer CRM, analytics, pedigree PDF, priority placement below sponsored slots, and the Verified Rancher badge, subject to continued eligibility.

What is NOT included: (i) transaction take-rates, commissions, or marketplace fees charged on sales of cattle or other goods; (ii) transport coordination fees, hauler booking fees, or any percentage of transport charges; (iii) payment processing fees charged by third-party processors (e.g., Stripe); (iv) optional add-ons such as sponsored placements, insurance affiliate products, or live-event tickets; (v) features reserved for a higher tier Ranch Hero may introduce in the future.

Transaction take-rates on cattle sales and transport coordination fees are expressly excluded from the Founding Rancher grant.

Good standing means the account has not been suspended or terminated for (a) material violation of these Terms of Service, (b) verified fraud, misrepresentation, or undisclosed material defects in a listing, (c) non-payment of transaction or transport fees actually owed, (d) a sustained pattern of buyer complaints resulting in upheld disputes, or (e) inactivity exceeding twelve (12) consecutive months with no published listings and no buyer communication.

Ranch Hero may add, remove, rename, split, merge, or reprice features within the Pro tier in its reasonable discretion, provided that the Founding Rancher grant will continue to cover the substantially equivalent successor tier if Pro is renamed or restructured. Ranch Hero will provide thirty (30) days' email notice before any material reduction of Pro-tier features.

Ranch Hero may terminate a Founding Rancher grant for material breach only, with thirty (30) days' written notice and an opportunity to cure. The Founding Rancher grant is tied to the ranch/operator that claimed it and is non-transferable except with Ranch Hero's written consent. The program is limited to the first fifty (50) qualifying accounts.

Changes to these terms

We may update these terms as the platform grows. We'll notify active users by email. Continued use after notification constitutes acceptance.