Legal
HandShakesClub is an online marketplace that enables business owners and prospective purchasers to connect and communicate regarding potential business opportunities.
By creating an account, submitting a listing, or otherwise using HandShakesClub (the "Platform", "we", "us"), you ("User", "you") agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.
HandShakesClub operates a listing and discovery service that connects prospective buyers, sellers, and franchisors of businesses. We provide the technology, hosting, and directory functionality that allows Users to publish and browse listings and to make contact with one another. We are not a party to any negotiation, agreement, or transaction that Users enter into as a result of using the Platform.
The Platform does not provide financial, investment, legal, tax, valuation, or business advisory services of any kind. Nothing on the Platform — including listing content, search rankings, or any communication from HandShakesClub — constitutes advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, invest in, or otherwise transact in respect of any business or franchise. Users should obtain independent professional advice before making any decision to buy, sell, invest in, or enter into any transaction relating to a listing.
Any valuation, asking price, financial multiple, or projected figure shown in a listing is supplied by the User who created it and reflects that User's own estimate or asking terms — it is not an appraisal, opinion of value, or guarantee of worth prepared or endorsed by HandShakesClub. We do not verify, benchmark, or certify that any listed valuation is fair, accurate, or achievable, and no valuation shown on the Platform should be treated as a substitute for an independent professional valuation.
We do not guarantee that any listing will result in a completed transaction, that a transaction will close on the terms advertised or negotiated, or that a buyer or seller will achieve any particular price, return, or other outcome. Use of the Platform, including any "verified" or similar designation applied to a listing, is not a representation that a transaction involving that listing will be successful.
The Platform does not facilitate, broker, execute, or otherwise deal in the buying or selling of shares, equity interests, securities, or other regulated financial instruments. Any listing that references a business's shares, equity, or ownership structure is provided for informational purposes only. Where a transaction contemplated by Users involves the transfer of securities or equity interests, Users are solely responsible for ensuring that transaction is structured, documented, and executed in compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, including engaging appropriately licensed intermediaries where required by law.
We merely provide a venue for Users to list, discover, and make initial contact regarding businesses and franchises. We are not involved in, and assume no responsibility for, any negotiation, due diligence, contract, payment, transfer of ownership, or other step in a transaction between Users. Any agreement reached between a buyer and a seller is strictly between those parties, and HandShakesClub is not a signatory, guarantor, escrow agent, or intermediary to it.
Once a buyer and seller are connected through the Platform, all further communication, negotiation, and dealing between them takes place directly and is entirely their own responsibility. Because we do not participate in, monitor, or control these direct communications, HandShakesClub is not responsible or liable for the conduct of any User — including anything said or done during negotiations, the terms a User agrees to, or any dispute arising between the parties. Users should exercise the same judgment and caution they would when dealing directly with any third party they meet independently.
HandShakesClub does not hold, process, transmit, or safeguard any funds on behalf of Users, and does not act as an escrow agent or payment intermediary for any transaction. All payments, deposits, and settlement arrangements between a buyer and a seller — including how and when funds are transferred, and any safeguards used to protect either party during that process — are the sole responsibility of the parties to the transaction.
We strongly encourage Users to use appropriately licensed third-party escrow, legal, or payment services where a transaction warrants it. HandShakesClub is not liable for any loss arising from a payment made, or a settlement arrangement entered into, directly between Users.
HandShakesClub's revenue comes solely from advertising and priority-placement fees paid by Users who choose to promote a listing — for example, featured placement, enhanced visibility in search results, or homepage promotion. These are optional paid upgrades to a listing's presentation on the Platform and do not affect the listing's underlying content or a User's ability to publish a listing for free.
We do not take a commission, success fee, or any other cut of the price or value of a transaction between Users, and we do not charge fees contingent on a deal closing. Because we are not compensated based on transaction outcomes, we have no financial interest in whether, or on what terms, a listing results in a completed transaction.
Because our revenue depends on advertising and priority-placement fees, some listings may appear more prominently than others as a result of payment rather than the merits or accuracy of the underlying business. Enhanced visibility of this kind is a paid placement only and does not constitute an endorsement, verification, or recommendation by HandShakesClub of the advertised listing or the business it describes. Advertisers remain solely responsible for the content, accuracy, and legality of their listings and any promotional material, in the same manner as any other User under Section 9.
All listing content — including financial figures, descriptions, images, and supporting documents — is submitted by Users and reflects representations made solely by that User. We do not independently verify, audit, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or legality of any listing or user-submitted content, whether or not it carries a "verified" badge or similar designation.
Users are solely responsible and accountable for the accuracy of the information they submit and for any consequence arising from reliance on it. We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or reliability of User content, and recommend that all Users conduct their own independent due diligence before relying on any listing.
By submitting a listing, a seller represents and warrants that: (a) they have the legal authority to list the business or franchise for sale, including any necessary consent from co-owners, partners, shareholders, or other stakeholders; and (b) the information provided in the listing is, to the best of their knowledge, materially accurate and not misleading. A seller who lists a business without the requisite authority, or who knowingly submits materially inaccurate information, is in breach of these Terms and may have the listing removed and their account suspended or terminated under Section 18.
We take reasonable steps to deter fraudulent or misleading activity but cannot guarantee that listings or User conduct will be free of misrepresentation or fraud. HandShakesClub is not liable for any loss or damage arising from a User's misrepresentation, omission, or fraudulent conduct, whether in a listing, in direct communications, or in the course of a transaction.
Users who believe they have encountered fraud or misrepresentation should report it to us immediately using the contact details below, and should also pursue any available legal remedies directly against the responsible party. We reserve the right, but assume no obligation, to investigate, suspend accounts, remove listings, or report conduct to relevant authorities where fraud is suspected.
HandShakesClub does not act as agent, broker, trustee, or fiduciary for any User, buyer, seller, or other party. We owe no fiduciary, advisory, or other special duty of care to any User, and our relationship with Users is limited to that of a platform operator providing a listing service under these Terms.
Users may exchange commercially sensitive information (such as financials, customer data, or trade secrets) directly with one another during negotiations. Any such exchange, and any confidentiality obligations attached to it (including under a non-disclosure agreement between Users), is a matter strictly between the Users involved. HandShakesClub is not a party to, and is not responsible for enforcing, any confidentiality arrangement between Users, and is not liable for a User's breach of confidentiality or unauthorized disclosure of another User's information.
We apply reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect information submitted to and stored on the Platform. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee that data transmitted to, through, or from the Platform will never be subject to unauthorized access, interception, or leakage. Users should avoid sharing highly sensitive information through the Platform where an alternative secure channel is available, particularly before a mutual non-disclosure agreement is in place.
Buyers accessing confidential business information through the Platform are required to accept our Buyer Non-Disclosure Agreement, which sets out the specific confidentiality obligations that apply when reviewing a Seller's sensitive information.
We process personal data submitted through the Platform in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and, where relevant, other regional data protection regimes across Southeast Asia. We collect, use, and disclose personal data only for purposes reasonably connected to operating the Platform, and we implement reasonable security arrangements to protect personal data in our possession or control.
13.1 What we collect. Depending on how you use the Platform, we may collect: account details (name, email, password hash); listing content you submit (business details, financials, contact information, images, documents); communications sent through or in connection with the Platform; and technical data such as IP address, device/browser type, and usage logs.
13.2 Purpose of use. We use personal data only to: operate your account and authenticate you; publish and display listings; enable contact between buyers and sellers; maintain platform security and prevent fraud or abuse; comply with legal and regulatory obligations (including AML/KYC checks under Section 14); and communicate with you about your account or listings. We do not use your data for purposes unrelated to these without your consent.
13.3 Legal basis & consent. Where consent is the applicable legal basis, you consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal data as described in this section by creating an account or submitting a listing. You may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions, by contacting us — withdrawal may limit or end your ability to use parts of the Platform.
13.4 Disclosure to third parties. We disclose personal data to other Users only to the extent necessary to facilitate contact and transactions (for example, sharing a seller's listed contact details with an interested buyer). We do not sell personal data. We may share data with service providers who process it on our behalf (such as hosting or email delivery providers) under confidentiality obligations, or where required by law, regulation, court order, or a lawful request from a public authority.
13.5 Cross-border transfer. Because the Platform serves Users across Singapore and Southeast Asia, personal data may be stored or processed in a country other than the one in which you are located. Where we transfer personal data outside the jurisdiction it was collected in, we take steps required by applicable law to ensure the data continues to receive a comparable standard of protection.
13.6 Retention. We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described above, to meet legal, accounting, or regulatory requirements, or to resolve disputes. Listing and account data is generally deleted or anonymized within a reasonable period after account closure, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
13.7 Your rights. Subject to applicable law, you may request access to the personal data we hold about you, ask us to correct inaccurate data, withdraw consent, or request deletion of your account and associated data. We will act on verified requests within the timeframe required by applicable law. Some data may be retained despite a deletion request where necessary for legal compliance or the establishment or defense of legal claims.
13.8 Security incidents. We maintain reasonable technical and organizational safeguards to protect personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in significant harm to affected Users, we will take reasonable steps to notify affected Users and, where legally required, the relevant supervisory authority, without undue delay.
13.9 Cookies & tracking. The Platform may use cookies or similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember preferences, and understand how the Platform is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling them may affect Platform functionality.
Notwithstanding these measures, Users acknowledge that no online platform can guarantee absolute security, and that HandShakesClub's liability for any data protection violation is limited to the extent permitted by applicable law. Users are responsible for the personal data of third parties (such as employees or customers) that they choose to include in a listing, and must have a lawful basis for submitting that data to the Platform.
HandShakesClub uses reasonable, good-faith efforts to comply with applicable anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) obligations relevant to operating a business-listing platform, including monitoring for and reporting suspicious activity where required. However, we are not a licensed financial institution, payment processor, or regulated intermediary, and our AML/KYC measures do not substitute for, and should not be relied upon as, the AML/KYC checks that a User (or its own regulated advisors) may be independently required to conduct in connection with a transaction.
Users remain responsible for conducting their own AML/KYC diligence on counterparties as appropriate to the nature and value of their transaction, and for complying with all applicable AML/KYC laws in their jurisdiction. We reserve the right to request identity verification information from Users and to suspend or terminate accounts where we reasonably suspect money laundering, terrorist financing, or other unlawful activity.
Users retain ownership of the content they submit (including listing descriptions, images, financial summaries, and supporting documents) but grant HandShakesClub a non-exclusive, worldwide license to host, display, and distribute that content for the purpose of operating the Platform.
Each User is solely responsible for ensuring that any material they upload or submit does not infringe the copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights of any third party. HandShakesClub does not review submitted material for IP infringement prior to publication and disclaims all liability for infringing content submitted by Users. We will remove or disable access to content in response to a valid infringement notice, and repeat infringers may have their accounts suspended or terminated. Users agree to indemnify HandShakesClub against any claim, loss, or damage arising from an intellectual property infringement caused by their submitted content.
HandShakesClub does not employ, retain, or act through any business broker, M&A advisor, financial advisor, or similar intermediary, and no such person is authorized to act on our behalf. Any broker or advisor a User chooses to engage in connection with a listing or transaction is engaged independently by that User, is not affiliated with or endorsed by HandShakesClub, and acts solely on that User's instructions and at that User's own risk. References to "brokers" or "advisors" by other Users on the Platform do not imply any relationship between that person and HandShakesClub.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Platform is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind. HandShakesClub, its officers, employees, and affiliates will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunity, arising from or relating to use of the Platform or any transaction between Users.
Users agree to indemnify, defend, and hold HandShakesClub, its officers, employees, and affiliates harmless from and against any claim, liability, loss, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or relating to: (a) the User's misuse of the Platform; (b) the User's breach of these Terms; (c) their listing content; (d) their conduct toward other Users; or (e) a transaction they enter into with another User.
We may suspend or terminate a User's account or remove a listing at our discretion, including where we reasonably believe these Terms have been breached, a listing is fraudulent or misleading, or suspension is necessary to comply with law or protect other Users.
Without limiting the foregoing, we may remove or take down any listing, at any time and without prior notice, that appears to us to be misleading, fraudulent, unlawful, or otherwise in violation of these Terms or our platform policies. Removal of a listing under this section does not entitle the User to a refund of any advertising or priority-placement fees paid in connection with that listing, except where required by law.
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "Last updated" date on this page. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Singapore, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, unless otherwise required by mandatory law applicable to a User in their home jurisdiction.
Questions about these Terms, or reports of suspected fraud, misrepresentation, data incidents, or IP infringement, can be sent to the Platform's support contact listed in the footer.