Sauna Operator Agreement

Version 2.0 — July 2026

1. Purpose

Saunafinder operates an online booking platform at saunafinder.fi that connects international tourists and English-speaking visitors with authentic Finnish sauna experiences. This agreement sets out the terms under which the Operator may list their sauna on the platform and receive bookings through it.

2. The Operator's Listing

2.1 The Operator agrees to provide Saunafinder with accurate information about their sauna, including name, location, description, pricing, availability, and photographs.

2.2 The Operator warrants that all information provided is truthful, current, and legally compliant, and agrees to notify Saunafinder promptly of any changes (within 48 hours).

2.3 Saunafinder reserves the right to edit listings for clarity, presentation, and compliance with platform standards, and may remove listings that contain inaccurate information, violate platform policies, or fail to meet operational standards.

2.4 The Operator retains ownership of all photographs and original content they provide. By submitting content, the Operator grants Saunafinder a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display the photos on the platform, use them in marketing, email newsletters, social media and promotional materials, and crop or adjust them for layout purposes only.

The licence terminates 90 days after the agreement ends, at which point Saunafinder will cease active marketing use (archived copies may be retained for legal and accounting purposes). Saunafinder will not licence, sell, or transfer photos to third parties, will not use them to promote competing sauna operators, and will not modify them beyond cropping or resizing for layout.

3. Bookings and Payment

3.1 When a customer makes a booking through Saunafinder, payment is collected from the customer by Saunafinder via Stripe at the time of booking. The customer's card is authorised but not charged until the Operator confirms the booking. Saunafinder maintains the Stripe merchant account and bears all payment processing risk (fraud, chargebacks, declined cards) except where the Operator provided false booking details or cancelled fraudulently.

3.2 The Operator agrees to confirm or decline each booking within 24 hours of receiving the booking notification email. The Operator may request a single 24-hour extension by replying to the booking email within the initial 24-hour window. If no response is received within 24 hours (or requested extension), the booking will be automatically cancelled and the customer's card will not be charged.

3.3 Upon confirming a booking, the Operator is committing to honouring that booking on the agreed date and time. If the Operator must cancel after confirmation, the cancellation must be communicated to Saunafinder as soon as possible, the customer will receive a full refund, and Saunafinder will not charge a commission for that booking. Repeated cancellations (3 or more per month) may result in suspension or removal of the listing per section 6.4.

3.4 Saunafinder retains a commission of 12% from the total booking value (inclusive of any applicable taxes). The remaining 88% will be paid out to the Operator.

3.5 Payouts will be made by bank transfer on a weekly basis (Fridays), covering all confirmed bookings from the preceding 7-day period. The Operator must provide valid Finnish bank account details (IBAN) and an account holder name. Saunafinder will only process payouts if the Operator's balance exceeds €50; balances below €50 are held and combined with the following week's earnings for a single payout. The Operator may request an immediate payout for any amount at any time, and Saunafinder may deduct €5 for processing fees. If a payout is late by more than 7 days, Saunafinder will pay 2% monthly interest (24% annualised) on the overdue amount. If a payout is more than 14 days late, the Operator may suspend their bookings without penalty until payment is received.

3.6 Saunafinder will hold 10% of each booking payout in reserve for 30 days after the experience date, to cover customer refund requests or disputes, chargebacks or reversals, operator-initiated cancellations, and disputed bookings. If no dispute arises within 30 days, the holdback is paid out in the following week's payout.

4. Operator Responsibilities

4.1 The Operator is solely responsible for the operation, safety, and quality of the sauna experience provided to customers. Saunafinder is an intermediary platform only.

4.2 The Operator must hold all licences, permits, and insurance required by Finnish law to operate their sauna commercially. Specifically: commercial liability insurance with minimum coverage of €1,000,000 per occurrence; property or equipment insurance where applicable; and, within 14 days of acceptance, a Certificate of Insurance from the insurer, which must either name Saunafinder.fi as an "additional insured" or waive subrogation rights. The Operator must renew and re-submit proof of insurance before expiration each year, and Saunafinder may verify insurance directly with the insurer. Failure to provide or maintain insurance may result in immediate suspension of the listing.

4.3 The Operator must ensure their sauna complies with all applicable Finnish health, safety, and hygiene regulations, including facility inspections where required, water safety and treatment standards, ventilation and air quality, emergency procedures and safety equipment, and cleanliness and sanitation standards.

4.4 The Operator agrees to treat all customers with courtesy, professionalism, and respect, regardless of nationality, language, background, or other status. Discrimination of any kind is grounds for immediate termination.

4.5 The Operator agrees to provide a reasonably English-friendly experience, or to clearly indicate on their listing any language limitations. Customers should be informed of language barriers before booking.

4.6 The Operator is responsible for securing their Saunafinder login credentials and account access, and must notify Saunafinder immediately if they suspect unauthorized access. Saunafinder is not liable for unauthorized bookings resulting from compromised credentials.

4.7 The Operator is an independent contractor, not an employee of Saunafinder, and is solely responsible for all applicable taxes, social contributions, business registration, and legal compliance.

5. Saunafinder's Responsibilities

5.1 Saunafinder will list the Operator's sauna on the platform, display it in search results for customers in the Operator's region, and include it in promotional channels where appropriate. Saunafinder does not guarantee a minimum number of bookings, impressions, or exposure level — marketing efforts are at Saunafinder's sole discretion.

5.2 Saunafinder will process customer payments securely via Stripe and provide the Operator with relevant booking information promptly (within 24 hours of booking confirmation).

5.3 Saunafinder will pay out the Operator's share of confirmed bookings on a weekly basis as described in section 3.5.

5.4 Saunafinder will handle customer communications in English on behalf of the Operator where appropriate.

6. Cancellations and Refunds

6.1 If a customer cancels a confirmed booking more than 48 hours before the booking time, a full refund will be issued to the customer.

6.2 If a customer cancels within 48 hours of the booking time, the customer receives a 50% refund.

6.3 If the Operator cancels a confirmed booking for any reason, the customer receives a full refund, Saunafinder does not charge a commission for that booking, and the Operator forfeits their 88% payout for that booking.

6.4 In the event of repeated cancellations by the Operator (3 or more per month), Saunafinder reserves the right to suspend or remove the listing without further notice. The Operator may request reinstatement after demonstrating commitment to fulfilling bookings.

Section 6 of the full Operator Agreement sets out how each type of cancellation is treated between Saunafinder and the Operator, including how the amount retained under 6.2 is divided. Please read it in full before accepting.

7. Data and Privacy

7.1 Saunafinder will share the customer's name, email address, phone number, booking date and time, and any special requests or accessibility needs with the Operator, solely for the purpose of fulfilling the booking.

7.2 The Operator agrees to handle all customer personal data in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): store it securely, use it only to fulfil and communicate about the booking, delete all customer data within 30 days after the booking date, notify Saunafinder immediately of any data breach or unauthorized access, and not share it with third parties without explicit customer consent.

7.3 The Operator indemnifies Saunafinder for any GDPR fines, penalties, or customer claims arising from the Operator's mishandling, improper storage, or unauthorized disclosure of personal data.

7.4 Saunafinder's full Privacy Policy is available at saunafinder.fi/privacy.html.

8. Termination

8.1 Either party may terminate this agreement after the initial 12-month commitment period by giving 14 days' written notice via email to the address on file.

8.2 The Operator agrees to maintain their listing for a minimum of 12 months from the date of acceptance. Termination within the first 12 months requires 30 days' written notice (except for cause per section 8.3).

8.3 Saunafinder may terminate this agreement immediately if the Operator: breaches sections 4.2–4.3 (fails to maintain required licences, permits, or safety compliance); receives substantiated customer safety complaints (2 or more per month); provides materially false information in their listing; posts false or defamatory statements about Saunafinder on public platforms; engages in illegal activity; fails to handle customer data in compliance with GDPR; or treats customers with discrimination or disrespect. Termination grounds must be objective and documented — one negative review, one complaint, reputational concerns, or subjective reasons are not grounds for termination.

8.4 If a serious issue arises, Saunafinder may suspend the listing while investigating. Suspension typically lasts up to 14 days. If the issue is resolved the listing is reactivated; if it is not, the agreement is terminated per section 8.3.

8.5 Upon termination, any outstanding payout owed to the Operator for confirmed bookings already fulfilled will be paid within 14 days. The 10% holdback under section 3.6 is paid out if no disputes arise within the 30-day dispute window.

9. Liability and Indemnification

9.1 Saunafinder acts as an intermediary platform only and is not liable for the quality, safety, legality, or delivery of the sauna experience provided by the Operator.

9.2 The Operator indemnifies and holds harmless Saunafinder against any claims, lawsuits, damages, or liabilities arising from the Operator's failure to provide a safe, legal, or lawful sauna experience; injury, illness, or property damage caused by the Operator's facility or conduct; the Operator's breach of this agreement; the Operator's violation of applicable Finnish laws or regulations; or the Operator's mishandling of customer personal data.

9.3 Saunafinder's total liability to the Operator under this agreement shall not exceed the total commissions earned by Saunafinder from that Operator's bookings in the preceding 3 months. This cap does not apply to willful misconduct or gross negligence by Saunafinder.

9.4 If Saunafinder incurs a chargeback fee, payment reversal, or fraud loss related to an Operator's booking where the Operator provided false details or cancelled fraudulently, Saunafinder will deduct the chargeback fee (typically €15–25) from the Operator's next payout.

10. Force Majeure

10.1 Neither party is liable for failure to perform under this agreement if caused by events beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, pandemic or epidemic, government orders or lockdowns, war, terrorism or civil unrest, and utility or internet failures beyond the party's control.

10.2 If a Force Majeure event prevents the Operator from fulfilling bookings, the Operator may request suspension (not termination) of their listing without penalty. Bookings scheduled during the event are cancelled with full refunds to customers, and Saunafinder retains no commission. Once the event is resolved, the Operator may resume with 7 days' notice.

10.3 If suspension exceeds 90 consecutive days, Saunafinder may terminate the agreement without penalty to either party.

10.4 If a Force Majeure event affects Saunafinder's platform, Saunafinder will make reasonable efforts to restore service. Booking confirmations and payouts may be delayed, and neither party is liable for those delays.

11. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

11.1 If a dispute arises between Saunafinder and the Operator, either party sends a written complaint email describing the dispute, and both parties have 14 days to resolve it through direct discussion in good faith.

11.2 If the dispute is unresolved after 14 days, either party may request binding arbitration under the rules of the Finnish Arbitration Institute. A single arbitrator will be appointed (or three arbitrators for disputes exceeding €50,000). The arbitrator's decision is final and binding and cannot be appealed. Each party bears their own legal costs unless the arbitrator rules otherwise.

11.3 This process applies only to disputes between Saunafinder and the Operator.

11.4 If a customer files a complaint about the Operator's service, Saunafinder will notify the Operator within 24 hours, the Operator has 48 hours to respond with their version of events, and Saunafinder will investigate and attempt to resolve it. If it is unresolved, or if a pattern emerges (2 or more per month), Saunafinder may issue a warning or suspend the listing per section 8.4.

12. Tax Obligations

12.1 The Operator is an independent contractor and is solely responsible for all income taxes owed to Finnish tax authorities (Vero), VAT registration and reporting where applicable, social contributions and self-employed insurance, business registration and licensing, and any other taxes or levies required by Finnish law.

12.2 The 88% payout to the Operator is a gross amount before any taxes owed by the Operator.

12.3 If the Operator is VAT-registered: the 12% commission is calculated on the net (post-VAT) booking price, and the Operator is responsible for remitting VAT to Vero. If the Operator is not VAT-registered: the 12% commission is calculated on the gross booking price (before any VAT the customer may owe).

12.4 Saunafinder will issue a monthly summary report of all payouts to the Operator, for the Operator's records and tax reporting. Saunafinder is not responsible for filing tax reports on the Operator's behalf.

12.5 The Operator must report all Saunafinder earnings to Vero in their annual tax return.

13. Terms Modifications

13.1 Saunafinder may modify the terms of this agreement by giving 30 days' written notice via email to the Operator's registered email address.

13.2 The Operator may reject any proposed modification by sending written notice within the 30-day notice period. If rejected, the Operator may continue operating under the current terms (if Saunafinder allows), or terminate the agreement without penalty if the modification is material.

13.3 If the Operator does not respond within the 30-day notice period, continued use of the Saunafinder platform constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

14. Seasonal Closures and Temporary Suspension

14.1 The Operator may request a temporary suspension of their listing for up to 90 days per calendar year, with 14 days' written notice.

14.2 No fees are charged during the suspension period, and Saunafinder will reactivate the listing within 24 hours of written notice.

14.3 Any bookings scheduled during the suspension period must be cancelled, with a full refund to customers and no commission charge.

14.4 If a suspension exceeds 90 days in a calendar year, or extends beyond 180 consecutive days, Saunafinder may terminate the agreement.

15. Acceptance

15.1 By listing their sauna on Saunafinder.fi, the Operator confirms that they have read and understood this agreement, had an opportunity to seek legal advice, and agree to all terms and conditions.

15.2 To finalise acceptance, the Operator must complete the Saunafinder Onboarding Form and reply to the acceptance email sent by Saunafinder, with the subject line "OPERATOR AGREEMENT ACCEPTANCE", containing the text: "I have read, understood, and agree to the Saunafinder.fi Operator Agreement (Version 2.0). I accept these terms and authorize Saunafinder to list my sauna." — signed with the Operator's full name.

15.3 Saunafinder will reply with a countersigned copy of the agreement for the Operator's records. This email exchange constitutes a binding contract.

15.4 The agreement becomes effective on the date Saunafinder sends the countersigned acceptance email.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This agreement is governed by the laws of Finland. Disputes are resolved according to the process in section 11 (negotiation and arbitration). If litigation becomes necessary, it will be in the courts of Finland.

17. Entire Agreement and Severability

This agreement, together with Saunafinder's Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, and representations. If any provision is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be severed and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Saunafinder.fi
Ricky Knowles
info@saunafinder.fi
+358 40 484 2960