Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 31, 2026

Draft for attorney review. This page has not yet been reviewed by a lawyer and may change before launch.

The short version

We collect what we need to run the directory, check businesses and count votes fairly. We do not sell your personal information. When you ask for quotes, we share your details only with the businesses you choose.

1. What we collect

Homeowners and voters: name, email, home ZIP code, and the reviews, votes, nominations and project details you submit.
Businesses: business name and address, contact details, license numbers, insurance certificates, photos and profile content, plus billing details handled by our payment processor.
Automatically: device and browser data, pages viewed, and approximate location from your IP address, collected with cookies and similar tools.

2. How we use it

To run the directory and your account.
To verify businesses against public records and the documents they provide.
To confirm voters are real and count votes fairly.
To send the messages you ask for, such as quote requests, nomination updates and voting reminders.
To improve the site and prevent fraud.

3. When we share it

With businesses you choose to contact or request quotes from.
With service providers that host the site, process payments or send email for us, under contracts that limit their use.
Publicly, for content meant to be public: business profiles, published reviews (shown with your first name and last initial) and award results.
When the law requires it, or to protect people and the site.

We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

4. Your choices

Update or delete your account at any time.
Unsubscribe from emails using the link in any message.
Ask to access, correct or delete your personal information by emailing hello@topofthetrades.org. Depending on your state, you may have additional rights, and we will honor them.

5. Cookies

We use essential cookies to make the site work and analytics cookies to understand how it is used. You can block cookies in your browser, but some features may not work.

6. Security and retention

We use reasonable safeguards to protect your information. We keep it only as long as needed for the purposes above or as the law requires. Verification records are kept so we can show when a business was checked.

7. Children

The site is for adults. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

8. Changes and contact

We will post updates here with a new date. Questions: hello@topofthetrades.org.

Privacy: common questions

Do you sell my information?

No. We never sell your details.

Who sees the details I send with a project?

Only the businesses you choose from your shortlist.

How do I ask you to delete my information?

Email hello@topofthetrades.org from the address you used and tell us what you want removed. The full policy above explains what we keep and why.