Terms of Service
Thanks for trying HassleFreeBooks! We've tried to keep this readable. Each section starts with a short, plain-English summary, followed by the full terms. The summaries are only there to help. If a summary and the full terms ever seem to differ, the full terms are what count. Please read the whole thing, especially sections 7, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 17. Those explain what you are responsible for, how our liability is limited, and how disputes are resolved (binding individual arbitration).
1. Agreeing to these Terms
The short version: HassleFreeBooks is owned and run by StepStone Realty, LLC. By creating an account or using HassleFreeBooks, you agree to these Terms with us. If you sign up for a business, you're agreeing for that business too.
These Terms of Service (the "Terms") are a binding agreement between you and StepStone Realty, LLC, which owns and operates HassleFreeBooks. They cover your use of the HassleFreeBooks website, web application, mobile apps, APIs and related services (together, the "Service"). You accept these Terms when you check the agreement box at signup, when you accept them in the app, or when you access or use the Service, whichever comes first. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.
"HassleFreeBooks," "we," "us" and "our" mean StepStone Realty, LLC, the owner and operator of the Service, and any successor that later owns or operates it. The "HassleFreeBooks Parties" means HassleFreeBooks together with its owners, members, managers, officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, affiliates, licensors, service providers, successors and assigns. Each HassleFreeBooks Party is an intended beneficiary of the disclaimers, limitations, releases and indemnities in these Terms.
"You" means the person using the Service. If you use it for a company, sole proprietorship, partnership, trust or other organization (a "Business"), "you" also means that Business. You represent that you have authority to bind it. You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into contracts. You also represent that you are using the Service for business, not personal, family or household purposes.
2. What HassleFreeBooks is, and what it isn't
The short version: we make bookkeeping software. We are not your accountant, tax preparer, lawyer or financial advisor, and nothing in the app is professional advice.
The Service is a self-service software tool for recording and organizing financial information. Its features include bank feeds, transaction categorization, invoicing, bills, reconciliation, reports, tax estimates and reminders, and AI-assisted suggestions. You use it, and you decide what to do with what it shows you.
HassleFreeBooks is not a certified public accountant, accounting firm, enrolled agent, tax preparer, tax advisor, attorney, law firm, financial planner, investment adviser, bank, money transmitter, payroll provider or fiduciary. We do not provide accounting, auditing, tax, legal, financial or investment advice, and we do not prepare, review, sign or file tax returns or other filings for you. Using the Service does not create an accountant-client, attorney-client, fiduciary or other professional or special relationship between you and any HassleFreeBooks Party. That remains true if you contact support, if someone on our team answers a question, or if the Service displays a suggestion, estimate, deadline, reminder, explanation or "next best action."
Some features use automation and artificial intelligence. These include categorization suggestions, rules, receipt reading (OCR), chat answers, report explanations and matching. Automated and AI output can be incomplete, out of date or simply wrong, even when it sounds confident. Treat it as a starting point that you must check, never as a conclusion.
3. The Beta Tester Program
The short version: you're one of our beta testers. It's free while you're in the beta, and we'd love your honest feedback in return. If we ever end free access, we'll email you at least 60 days ahead. You can then pick a paid plan or export your data and go. We'll never charge you unless you choose to pay.
3.1 Free access
HassleFreeBooks is currently offered as a beta. Accounts created during the beta are enrolled in our Beta Tester Program ("Beta") and receive access to the Service at no charge ("Free Beta Access"). We decide which features are included and may change them over time. Free Beta Access is a courtesy we extend to testers. It is not a purchased subscription, it has no fixed term, and it does not entitle you to free access for any particular length of time.
3.2 Feedback is the deal
In exchange for Free Beta Access, we ask that you actually use the Service and tell us how it's going. That means what works, what's confusing, what's missing and what breaks. From time to time we may invite you to answer a short survey, report a problem, or join a brief call. Taking part is how you help shape the product, and we genuinely appreciate it. How much feedback a tester provides is one of the things we may consider when deciding whether to continue anyone's Free Beta Access (see section 3.4).
3.3 Beta means rough edges
Beta software is still being built. Features may be incomplete, may change or be removed without notice, and may contain errors that produce wrong figures, lose or duplicate data, or make the Service unavailable. You agree to use the Beta with that understanding. You agree to keep your own records and backups (see section 5) and to independently verify anything you rely on (see section 7).
3.4 If free access ends: 60 days' notice, and the choice is yours
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to end Free Beta Access. We may do so for everyone or for some testers only, at any time and for any reason or no reason. If we do, we will give you at least 60 days' written notice by email to the address on your account (the "Notice Period"). We may also show the notice in the app. The notice will tell you the date free access ends and the paid plan(s) and price(s) available to you.
During the Notice Period you keep your access, and you can export your data at any time. When the Notice Period ends, you may either:
- stay by choosing a paid plan and providing a payment method, on the terms and pricing stated in the notice or then in effect; or
- leave by exporting your data and closing your account.
Whether a paid plan is offered to you, and on what terms, is at our discretion. We will never charge you unless you choose a paid plan and give us a payment method. If you do neither by the end of the Notice Period, we may limit your account to read-only or export-only access, suspend it, or close it. We may then delete its data as described in section 5. Anything we say about future pricing, discounts or features during the Beta is not a binding commitment unless it is in a written notice that expressly says it is.
3.5 Exceptions
The 60-day Notice Period does not apply where we suspend or terminate an account under section 15 (for example, for a breach of these Terms, fraud, abuse or a security risk), or where the law, a court or a government authority requires otherwise. If we discontinue the Service entirely, we will try to give the same 60 days' notice. If events outside our control make that impossible, such as a legal requirement or the loss of an essential provider, we will give as much notice as we reasonably can so you can export your data. We will not use a change to these Terms to shorten the Notice Period for anyone already enrolled in the Beta.
4. Your account
The short version: keep your login safe. You're responsible for what happens under your account, including anything done by people you invite.
You must give accurate information when you sign up and keep it current, especially your email address, because that is where we send notices. You are responsible for keeping your credentials confidential, for turning on and maintaining multi-factor authentication where offered, and for all activity under your account. That includes activity by any owner, bookkeeper, accountant or other user you invite or grant access to, and by anyone using an API key you create. Choosing who has access, and at what role, is your decision and your responsibility. Tell us promptly at support@hasslefreebooks.com if you believe your account has been compromised. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the HassleFreeBooks Parties are not liable for any loss caused by unauthorized use of your credentials.
5. Your data
The short version: your financial data is yours. We use it to run the Service for you. Please keep your own backups, because this is a beta.
You keep ownership of the data you put into or connect to the Service ("Your Data"). You grant the HassleFreeBooks Parties a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, copy, process, transmit and display Your Data as needed to provide, secure, support and improve the Service. You also grant the license needed to create de-identified, aggregated information that does not identify you or your Business. How we handle personal information is described in our Privacy Policy, which is part of these Terms.
You are responsible for Your Data. That includes its accuracy and legality, and having every right and consent needed to provide it, including information about your customers, vendors and employees. You are solely responsible for keeping your own independent backups and copies of all records you are required to keep, including records required by tax authorities. The Service is not a records-retention system, and you should not rely on it as your only copy of anything. We may delete Your Data after your account is closed, after a Notice Period ends without you choosing a plan, or after a long period of inactivity. We are not required to keep or return it afterward, except where the law requires.
6. Bank connections and other services
The short version: bank feeds and integrations come from other companies. They can be late, incomplete or wrong, and we can't control them.
The Service connects to services we don't operate ("Third-Party Services"). These include Plaid Inc. for bank connections, your banks and card issuers, payment and commerce platforms such as Stripe, PayPal, Square and Shopify, email delivery providers and AI model providers. By connecting one, you authorize us and the provider to access and transfer your information as needed to provide the connection. You agree to the provider's own terms, including Plaid's End User Privacy Policy. Third-Party Services may be unavailable or delayed. They may also deliver data that is incomplete, duplicated, mis-dated or incorrect, and they may change or stop working at any time. The HassleFreeBooks Parties do not control or endorse them and are not responsible or liable for them or for any data they provide. You are responsible for reviewing imported transactions and balances against your actual statements.
7. Your books, your taxes, your responsibility
The short version: you're in charge of your books and everything you file or pay. Before you rely on a number, check it, and have a qualified professional review your returns. We aren't responsible for audits, penalties or other consequences.
You alone are responsible for your books and records and everything you do with them. This includes the accuracy and completeness of every transaction, category, rule, reconciliation, invoice, bill, journal entry and report. It also includes your compliance with every law, regulation and obligation that applies to you or your Business, and all decisions you make based on information in the Service. Without limiting that, you alone are responsible for:
- preparing, reviewing, signing, filing and paying, accurately and on time, every tax return, information return, report and payment you owe. These include federal, state and local income, franchise, sales and use, payroll and employment, property and excise taxes; estimated taxes; and forms such as 1099 and 1098;
- knowing and meeting every filing and payment deadline. Deadlines, reminders and "set-aside" or tax estimates in the Service are approximate, general and may be incomplete or wrong. They are not a substitute for your own calendar or professional advice;
- keeping the books and records the law requires, for as long as it requires, independently of the Service;
- anything you send to, or represent to, a lender, investor, landlord, insurer, partner, buyer, customer, vendor, employee, court or government agency using information from the Service; and
- engaging and relying on a qualified, licensed professional (such as a CPA, enrolled agent or attorney) for any accounting, tax or legal question, and before filing anything or making any significant financial decision.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the HassleFreeBooks Parties is responsible or liable for any audit, examination, inquiry, notice, investigation, assessment or proceeding by the Internal Revenue Service, any state comptroller or revenue department, or any other governmental, regulatory or law-enforcement authority, or for any tax, interest, penalty, addition to tax, fine, forfeiture, sanction or other consequence, whether civil or criminal, including prosecution, conviction or imprisonment, that results in any way from your books, records, filings, payments, omissions, conduct or use of the Service, even if it is alleged to have been caused by an error, bug, outage, inaccurate data, suggestion, estimate or other act or omission of the Service or any HassleFreeBooks Party.
8. Acceptable use
The short version: use HassleFreeBooks for legitimate bookkeeping, and don't misuse it.
You agree not to, and not to let anyone else:
- use the Service for anything unlawful, fraudulent or deceptive. This includes falsifying records, evading taxes, laundering money, financing illegal activity, and misleading a lender, investor, auditor or government agency;
- upload data you do not have the right to use, or malware or harmful code;
- access another person's account or data, probe, scan or test the Service's security without our written permission, or bypass any limit or protection;
- overload, disrupt or interfere with the Service or its infrastructure, or access it by automated means except through our published API within its limits;
- copy, resell, sublicense, reverse engineer or decompile the Service, or use it to build a competing product, except as the law expressly permits despite this restriction; or
- use the Service in violation of sanctions or export-control laws.
9. Feedback and ideas
The short version: thank you for your ideas! We may use them to improve HassleFreeBooks, without owing you anything for them.
"Feedback" means any suggestion, idea, bug report, survey answer, comment or other input you give us about the Service. You grant the HassleFreeBooks Parties a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid, transferable and sublicensable license to use, copy, modify, publish and commercialize Feedback for any purpose, without compensation, attribution or any obligation to you. Feedback is not confidential. If we want to quote you by name publicly, we'll ask first. Free Beta Access is the full consideration for your Feedback.
10. Our software
The Service, including its software, design, text, graphics and trademarks, belongs to StepStone Realty, LLC and its licensors and is protected by law. Subject to these Terms, we give you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable right to use the Service for your Business's internal bookkeeping while your account is in good standing. We reserve all rights not expressly granted.
11. No warranties
The short version: we work hard to make HassleFreeBooks good, but it's a beta and we can't promise it's perfect, accurate or always available.
THE SERVICE, INCLUDING ALL BETA FEATURES, CONTENT, CALCULATIONS, REPORTS, ESTIMATES, SUGGESTIONS, AI OUTPUT AND THIRD-PARTY DATA, IS PROVIDED "AS IS," "AS AVAILABLE" AND "WITH ALL FAULTS." TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE HASSLEFREEBOOKS PARTIES DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. THESE INCLUDE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND THOSE ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE OR ERROR-FREE. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT ANY FIGURE, REPORT, CATEGORIZATION, RECONCILIATION, TAX ESTIMATE OR DEADLINE WILL BE ACCURATE, COMPLETE OR SUITABLE FOR ANY FILING OR PURPOSE, THAT DATA WILL NOT BE LOST OR CORRUPTED, OR THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION FROM US OR THROUGH THE SERVICE CREATES ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THESE TERMS.
12. Limitation of liability
The short version: if something goes wrong, our responsibility is very limited. For a free beta tester, the most you could recover from us is $50.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL ANY HASSLEFREEBOOKS PARTY BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, HOWEVER CAUSED: LOST PROFITS, REVENUE, SAVINGS, DEDUCTIONS, CREDITS, REFUNDS OR GOODWILL; BUSINESS INTERRUPTION; LOSS, CORRUPTION OR DISCLOSURE OF DATA; COSTS OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES; TAXES, INTEREST, PENALTIES, ADDITIONS TO TAX, FINES OR SANCTIONS; COSTS OF RESPONDING TO OR DEFENDING ANY AUDIT, EXAMINATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING, INCLUDING ACCOUNTANTS' AND ATTORNEYS' FEES; BANK, OVERDRAFT, LATE OR CHARGEBACK FEES; DENIAL OR LOSS OF CREDIT, FINANCING OR INSURANCE; CIVIL OR CRIMINAL LIABILITY, PROSECUTION OR IMPRISONMENT; OR REPUTATIONAL HARM.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE TOTAL LIABILITY OF ALL HASSLEFREEBOOKS PARTIES COMBINED, FOR ALL CLAIMS OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE OR THESE TERMS, WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU ACTUALLY PAID US FOR THE SERVICE IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) $50 (US). WHILE YOU HAVE FREE BETA ACCESS, (A) IS ZERO.
THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY TO EVERY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, STATUTE OR OTHERWISE. THEY APPLY EVEN IF A HASSLEFREEBOOKS PARTY WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE LOSS, EVEN IF THE LOSS WAS FORESEEABLE, AND EVEN IF A LIMITED REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. THEY ARE AN ESSENTIAL BASIS OF OUR AGREEMENT, AND WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD NOT OFFER THE SERVICE, LET ALONE FOR FREE.
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain warranties to be excluded or certain liability to be limited. In those places, the exclusions and limits in sections 7, 11, 12 and 13 apply to the greatest extent the law allows, and nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot lawfully be limited.
13. Assumption of risk and release
The short version: you understand the risks of using beta bookkeeping software, and you agree not to hold us responsible for them.
You understand that using beta financial software carries real risks. These include errors in figures, missed or incorrect deadlines, lost data, incorrect bank data and wrong suggestions, any of which could contribute to errors in your filings, payments or business decisions. You voluntarily assume all of those risks. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release, waive and forever discharge each HassleFreeBooks Party from all claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses of every kind, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising out of or relating to the Service, Your Data, Third-Party Services, or anything described in section 7.
You waive the benefit of California Civil Code section 1542, and of any similar law in any jurisdiction. Section 1542 says: "A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party."
14. Indemnification
The short version: if someone comes after us because of your books, your filings or how you used HassleFreeBooks, you'll cover it.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, you will defend, indemnify and hold harmless each HassleFreeBooks Party from and against all claims, demands, suits, audits, investigations and proceedings, and all resulting losses, liabilities, damages, judgments, settlements, taxes, interest, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys', accountants' and experts' fees). This applies to anything brought or imposed by any person or authority, including a taxing or regulatory authority, your customers, vendors, employees, contractors, lenders, investors, partners or co-owners, or any user you invite, that arises out of or relates to: (a) Your Data; (b) your books, records, returns, filings, payments or omissions; (c) your use or misuse of the Service or any Third-Party Service; (d) your breach of these Terms; (e) your violation of any law or of anyone's rights; or (f) anything done under your account. We may take over the defense of any claim at your expense, and you will cooperate with us. You may not settle any claim that affects a HassleFreeBooks Party without our prior written consent.
15. Suspension and termination
The short version: you can leave whenever you like. We can suspend or close accounts that break these Terms or put the Service at risk.
You may stop using the Service and close your account at any time. Please export anything you want to keep first. We may suspend, limit or terminate your access immediately, with or without notice, if we believe you have breached these Terms, if your use creates legal, security or financial risk for us or others, if required by law or a Third-Party Service, or if your account has been inactive for an extended period. Ending Free Beta Access for other reasons follows section 3.4. Sections 1, 2, 3.4, 3.5, 5, 6, 7 and 9 through 19, and any other terms that by their nature should survive, survive termination.
16. Changes to these Terms
The short version: if we change these Terms in a meaningful way, we'll let you know and ask you to accept the new version.
We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make a material change, we will notify you by email or in the app before it takes effect, and we may ask you to accept the updated Terms before you continue using the Service. Changes take effect on the date stated in the notice. Your continued use of the Service after that date, or your acceptance in the app, whichever comes first, means you accept them. If you don't agree to a change, stop using the Service and close your account. Changes do not apply to a dispute that arose before the change took effect. As promised in section 3.5, no change will shorten the Notice Period for anyone already enrolled in the Beta.
17. Resolving disputes and arbitration
The short version: if we ever disagree, let's talk first. If we can't work it out, we'll use private, individual arbitration instead of court, with no class actions and no juries. You can opt out of arbitration within 30 days of signing up.
Please read this section carefully. It affects your legal rights, including your right to go to court.
Talk to us first. Before starting any claim, you agree to email a written description of the dispute to support@hasslefreebooks.com and to try in good faith to resolve it informally for at least 30 days.
Binding individual arbitration. Any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service, including questions about whether this section applies or is enforceable, will be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, before a single arbitrator. This section is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act. The arbitration will take place in Harris County, Texas, or by video or written submissions if the arbitrator allows. The arbitrator may award only individual relief, and only to the extent these Terms allow, including sections 11 through 14. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction.
Exceptions. Either party may bring an individual claim in small-claims court if it qualifies. Either party may also ask a court for an injunction to protect its intellectual property or to stop unauthorized access to or misuse of the Service.
CLASS ACTION AND JURY WAIVER: YOU AND HASSLEFREEBOOKS EACH AGREE THAT CLAIMS MAY BE BROUGHT ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. YOU AND HASSLEFREEBOOKS EACH WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY.
If the class-action waiver is found unenforceable for a particular claim, that claim (and only that claim) will be heard in court under section 18, and the rest of this section still applies to everything else.
Time limit. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim must be filed within one (1) year after it arose. Otherwise it is permanently barred.
Opting out. You may opt out of arbitration by emailing support@hasslefreebooks.com within 30 days after you first accept these Terms. Include your name, your account email and a clear statement that you opt out of arbitration. Opting out does not affect any other part of these Terms.
18. Governing law
These Terms and any dispute between us are governed by the laws of the State of Texas and applicable U.S. federal law, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. For any matter that is not arbitrated, you and we consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Harris County, Texas.
19. General terms
Electronic notices. You agree to receive agreements, notices and other communications from us electronically, by email to your account address or in the app. A notice is considered given when we send it, and electronic notice satisfies any legal requirement that it be in writing. You are responsible for keeping your email address current and for checking it, including your spam folder.
Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any written notice under section 3.4, are the entire agreement between you and us about the Service. They replace any earlier terms, understandings or statements, including anything said in marketing, support or Beta communications.
Severability and waiver. If any provision is found unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible and the rest of these Terms will remain in effect. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.
Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our written consent. We may assign them, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization or sale of assets.
Things outside our control. We are not responsible for any delay or failure caused by events beyond our reasonable control. These include outages or failures of Third-Party Services, internet or hosting providers, cyberattacks, natural disasters, labor disputes, government action and pandemics.
No other beneficiaries. Except for the HassleFreeBooks Parties, no one else has rights under these Terms. Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, employment or agency relationship.
20. Contact us
HassleFreeBooks is owned and operated by StepStone Realty, LLC. Questions, feedback or legal notices? Email support@hasslefreebooks.com or visit our contact page. We'd love to hear from you, and that's kind of the whole point of the Beta.