Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Trade Agent. We provide an AI-powered business management platform designed specifically for tradespeople to streamline their operations and protect their profitability. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect information about you when you use our website at thetradeagent.com, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Services").

Our mission is to relieve administrative burden while fostering trust and transparency. Protecting your data is fundamental to that mission. We believe your business information belongs to you—we're simply trusted custodians helping you run your business more efficiently.

Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways

Information You Provide to Us

Account & Business Information

• Registration details: name, email, phone number, password
• Business profile: trade type, services offered, business name, logo, hourly rates, service areas
• Team member accounts and permissions you create
• Tax identification numbers and business licenses (optional)

Customer & Job Data

• Customer information: names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses
• Job details: descriptions, locations, schedules, status updates
• Project documentation: contracts, permits, notes, job history

AI Estimating Data

• Photos of job sites and project areas
• Voice notes describing project scope
• PDFs of plans, blueprints, or specifications
• Text descriptions and material lists
• Real-time pricing data queries for materials

Financial Information

• Invoice and quote details
• Payment schedules and history
• Financial reports you generate
• Payment card and bank details (processed securely through Stripe—we never store full card numbers)

Information We Collect Automatically

Usage & Analytics

• Features used, actions taken, time/frequency/duration of activities
• AI model interactions and estimate generation patterns
• Error logs and performance metrics
• Search queries within the platform

Device & Technical Information

• Device type, operating system, browser type and version
• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Mobile network information
• Unique device identifiers

Location Data (with permission)

• Geographic location for region-specific features like:
  • Local material pricing
  • Permit requirements
  • Building codes and regulations
  • Weather-related scheduling

How We Use Your Information

To Provide Our Core Services

• Generate AI-powered estimates from your inputs
• Schedule jobs and manage team calendars
• Create and send invoices, quotes, and contracts
• Process payments through integrated payment systems
• Provide customer relationship management tools

To Improve Your Experience

• Personalize features based on your trade and usage patterns
• Develop new features based on user needs
• Train and improve our AI models (using anonymized, aggregated data only)
• Provide proactive tips and recommendations

To Communicate With You

• Send service updates and system notifications
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Send billing and account information
• Share product updates and new features (with your permission)

For Business Operations

• Ensure platform security and prevent fraud
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
• Analyze aggregated usage trends to improve our Services
• Conduct research and development

How We Share Your Information

We DO NOT sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

We share information only in these limited circumstances:

Service Providers

We work with trusted third parties who help us operate our Services:

• Cloud Infrastructure: AWS or Google Cloud (data hosting)
• AI Processing: OpenAI, Google Gemini, or similar (estimate generation)
• Payment Processing: Stripe (secure payment handling)
• Communications: Email and SMS providers for notifications
• Analytics: Tools to understand platform usage (anonymized data only)

All service providers are contractually required to protect your information and use it only for providing services to Trade Agent.

At Your Direction

• When you send quotes, invoices, or contracts to customers
• When you share job information with team members
• Future integrations you authorize (e.g., QuickBooks, calendar sync)

Legal & Safety Requirements

We may disclose information if required to:

• Comply with valid legal processes or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Trade Agent, our users, or the public
• Detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues
• Enforce our Terms of Service

Business Transfers

If Trade Agent is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We'll notify you before any transfer and ensure continued protection under this Privacy Policy.

Data Security

We take your security seriously and implement industry-standard safeguards:

Technical Measures

• End-to-end encryption for sensitive data in transit
• Encryption at rest for stored information
• Regular security audits and vulnerability testing
• Secure cloud infrastructure with redundancy and backups
• PCI DSS compliance for payment processing

Organizational Measures

• Limited access controls based on role and necessity
• Regular security training for all team members
• Incident response procedures
• Vendor security assessments

While we work hard to protect your information, no system is 100% secure. Please use strong, unique passwords and protect your account credentials.

Your Rights and Choices

Access & Control

• View & Update: Access and modify your account information anytime
• Download: Export your data in common formats (CSV, PDF)
• Delete: Remove specific records or your entire account
• Correct: Fix any inaccurate information

Communication Preferences

• Opt out of marketing emails (transactional emails will continue)
• Manage in-app notification settings
• Control SMS alerts for job updates

Data Portability

Export your business data to move to another service or for your records.

Do Not Track

We respect browser "Do Not Track" signals where technically feasible.

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our Services and comply with legal obligations:

• Active Accounts: Data retained while account is active
• Financial Records: 7 years per legal requirements
• Deleted Accounts: Most data removed within 30 days, except as legally required
• Anonymized Data: May be retained indefinitely for analytics

Children's Privacy

Trade Agent is a business platform not intended for children under 18. We don't knowingly collect information from minors. If we discover we've collected data from a child, we'll delete it immediately.

International Data Transfers

Trade Agent operates from the United States. By using our Services from outside the US, you consent to the transfer and processing of your information in the US. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for all international data transfers.

California Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under the CCPA:

• Right to know what personal information we collect, use, and share
• Right to delete personal information (subject to exceptions)
• Right to opt-out of sales (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact privacy@thetradeagent.com

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as our Services evolve. We'll notify you of material changes via:

• Email notification to your registered address
• Prominent notice within the Services
• Updated "Last Updated" date

Continued use after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

We're here to help with any privacy questions or concerns:

privacy@thetradeagent.com