Privacy & Terms

Privacy Policy

This policy explains how GroLocal collects, uses, and shares information when you browse the site, create an account, manage a listing, purchase services, or use business and community features. It applies to information handled through GroLocal; independently operated websites have their own policies.

1. Information we collect

• Account and contact information: your name, email address, account credentials, and information you provide when contacting us or requesting support.
• Business and community information: organization names, categories, descriptions, contact details, addresses, service areas, websites, logos, review links, and community associations. This may come from you, an authorized team member, or publicly available business and community sources.
• Assessment and activity information: website addresses, assessment results, roadmap progress, verification requests, quote requests, offers, events, and information entered into available platform features.
• Survey information: answers you submit and account or browser identifiers used to recognize a response and limit repeat submissions.
• Billing information: plan details, subscription status, transaction identifiers, and payment records. Stripe processes payment information through its payment interfaces.
• Technical information: IP addresses, browser and device information, timestamps, cookies, and request or security logs used to operate and protect the service.

2. Why we use information

We use information to provide accounts and dashboards, display directory profiles, verify listing claims and organizational relationships, deliver assessments and roadmaps, process subscriptions, respond to requests, and keep the platform working securely. We also use relevant information to investigate errors, prevent abuse, and understand how platform features are used.

Account, service, verification, and billing messages support the features you use. If you choose to receive promotional messages, you can withdraw that choice using the instructions in the message or by contacting us.

3. What may be public

Business and community profiles can display their published organization details, contact options, descriptions, locations, services, affiliations, offers, events, and linked websites. Unclaimed listings may contain information gathered from public sources. A listing is not proof of ownership, current membership, or endorsement.

A business's overall Digital Health Score is displayed according to the platform's eligibility and visibility settings. Detailed assessment findings and roadmaps are intended for authorized dashboard users rather than general public display.

Individual survey answers are not displayed on public profiles. Combined results may be shown when the survey's settings allow it. Guest responses can be recognized through their browser; this does not mean they are anonymous in every context.

4. Information shared through features

When you send a quote request, request access, or ask a community organization to verify a relationship, the recipient may receive the business and contact details and other information included in that request. Authorized team members may access information available to their role. Community reporting may include summary information about participating businesses and assessment results.

5. Service providers and external content

We use service providers for functions such as hosting, security, email delivery, payments, website assessments, mapping, and website previews. Providers receive information relevant to the service they perform. Examples include Stripe for payments, SiteShield assessment technology, Google mapping and address features where available, and website screenshot services.

Using an embedded map, address lookup, website preview, or external link can send information such as your IP address, browser details, a submitted website address, or a location query to the relevant provider. Review its privacy information before using that feature if you have concerns. Information may be processed outside Canada and may be subject to the laws of the country where it is processed.

We may also disclose information where required by law, to respond to a lawful request, or where reasonably necessary to investigate fraud, security incidents, or misuse. Any business transfer involving personal information must remain subject to applicable privacy requirements.

6. Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies and browser storage can support sign-in, security, preferences, and features such as recognizing guest survey responses. Some pages or integrations may use analytics or similar technologies where enabled. You can manage cookies through your browser and use any privacy controls presented by the relevant feature. Blocking essential cookies can prevent sign-in or other functions from working.

This policy does not replace any notice or consent that applicable law requires for a particular collection, use, or optional tracking feature.

7. Retention and safeguards

We retain personal information for the purposes described here, including providing requested services, maintaining account and transaction records, addressing disputes, and meeting legal obligations. The appropriate period depends on the information and the purpose. When information is no longer required for those purposes, it should be deleted or de-identified, subject to applicable recordkeeping requirements.

Access controls and other technical and administrative measures help protect information. No online service can guarantee complete security. Keep account credentials private and contact us if you suspect unauthorized access.

8. Your choices, access, and corrections

You can update information available in your dashboard and contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information, or to raise a concern about an unclaimed listing. We may need to verify your identity or authority before acting on a request.

You may withdraw consent where applicable, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. This may affect features that require that information. Closing an account does not necessarily remove public business information obtained independently from public sources, and some billing, security, or dispute records may need to be retained. Contact us to discuss the specific information involved.

Send privacy questions and requests through our Contact Us page. You may also raise a concern with the applicable privacy regulator, including the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Terms of Use

These Terms apply to your use of GroLocal. Review them before creating an account, managing an organization, submitting content, or purchasing a service. Purchase-specific terms shown at checkout also apply. Nothing in these Terms removes rights or protections that applicable law does not allow us to exclude.

1. Accounts and authority

Provide accurate account information and protect your sign-in credentials. You must have the legal capacity to enter into an agreement and authority to act for any business or community organization you manage. Do not claim a listing, verify a relationship, or submit information on someone else's behalf without appropriate authority.

We may request supporting information before approving a claim or granting access. Access and verification decisions may be reviewed when ownership or authority is disputed.

2. Listings, associations, and public information

Keep information you manage accurate and current. Public listings may be incomplete or out of date, particularly where they have not been claimed. Contact the business or organization directly to confirm important details.

A directory listing, community association, verification status, or specialist profile is not a general certification or guarantee of a business's quality, qualifications, membership, or services. GroLocal may correct, restrict, or remove content to address inaccurate information, conflicting claims, misuse, or legal obligations.

3. Your content and permissions

You retain rights you hold in the content you submit. You grant GroLocal a non-exclusive permission to host, process, reproduce, and display that content as needed to operate the features you choose, including publishing a profile or delivering an assessment. This permission is limited by your settings, these Terms, and applicable privacy requirements.

Only upload content you have the right to use. Obtain any permissions needed for logos, photographs, third-party material, and other people's personal information. Do not submit confidential or sensitive information to a public field.

4. Website assessments and implementation help

Only request an assessment for a website you own or are authorized to assess. Assessment features may reject social media pages, unsupported websites, or addresses that cannot be accessed reliably.

Reports, scores, previews, and roadmaps reflect the information and conditions available at the time of assessment. They may not identify every issue and are not a certification of security, accessibility, legal compliance, or search-engine performance. Use qualified professional advice where the decision requires it.

Implementation specialists operate independently. A match or quote request does not form a service contract or guarantee availability or results. Agree directly with the provider on scope, fees, qualifications, timing, and responsibility for the work.

5. Subscriptions, payments, and cancellation

Free listings and paid features have different eligibility and access requirements. Subscriptions are associated with the business shown in the purchase flow. Review the plan, billing frequency, currency, taxes, and any add-on charges before confirming a purchase.

Initial scan and setup fee

The first paid subscription for each business includes a one-time $60 initial scan and setup fee. This covers the business's first Digital Intelligence Report and initial setup. It is included in the initial plan payment, not charged on top of the advertised plan price.

• Initial $60 payment: the full $60 is the one-time initial scan and setup fee and includes the first three months of subscription access. This initial payment is non-refundable, except where required by applicable law.
• Initial $180 annual payment: $60 of the annual payment is allocated to the one-time initial scan and setup fee and is non-refundable, except where required by applicable law. The annual payment includes twelve months of subscription access.

The initial scan and setup fee applies once per business and is not an additional fee on subscription renewals. Refunds or credits relating to any remaining subscription amount are governed by the purchase terms and applicable law; this allocation does not itself promise a refund of that balance.

Where you agree to recurring billing, the subscription renews at the frequency disclosed during purchase unless cancelled in accordance with the applicable plan terms. Price or plan changes are subject to the notices, consent, and other requirements that apply to the transaction.

Use the Subscription area of the business dashboard and the available billing-management links to review, modify, or cancel a subscription. If you cannot access those controls, use our Contact Us page. The cancellation flow should identify when the change takes effect.

Refunds, credits, and the effect of a cancellation are governed by the purchase terms provided to you and applicable law. Contact us if a charge appears incorrect or a paid service is unavailable. These Terms do not waive any mandatory cancellation or refund rights.

6. Acceptable use

Do not use GroLocal to impersonate another person, submit misleading claims, publish unlawful or infringing content, send unsolicited or abusive requests, manipulate surveys, or interfere with the platform. Do not attempt unauthorized access, bypass access controls, or use assessment features against websites without permission.

7. Availability, changes, and account restrictions

Features may change, and maintenance, technical issues, or external providers may interrupt access. We may restrict an account or content to address misuse, security concerns, disputed authority, or legal requirements. Where appropriate, contact us to discuss a restriction or correct the underlying issue.

Changes affecting an existing paid commitment remain subject to the applicable agreement and law. Account closure does not automatically cancel outstanding payment obligations or override data-retention requirements.

8. Responsibility and third-party services

You are responsible for the information you submit and decisions you make using the platform. Third-party websites, payment interfaces, mapping tools, and independent providers have their own terms and privacy practices.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, GroLocal does not warrant uninterrupted or error-free operation or a particular business outcome. Any limitation of responsibility is subject to rights and liabilities that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

9. Changes and questions

We may update this page to reflect changes to the platform, practices, or applicable requirements. The date above identifies the latest revision. Material changes requiring notice or consent will be handled as required by applicable law; publication alone does not replace that requirement.

If you have a question or dispute, contact us with the relevant account, business, transaction, or listing details so we can investigate.