1. Who we are and what this agreement covers
MakeChapa operates an online marketplace at makechapa.online that connects clients in Ethiopia with independent freelancers. These Terms of Service form a binding agreement between you and MakeChapa. By creating an account, posting a job, submitting a proposal, or funding a contract you accept these terms.
2. Our role: marketplace, not employer
MakeChapa is a neutral marketplace and payment-escrow facilitator. We are not a party to the contract between a client and a freelancer.
- Freelancers are independent contractors. They are not employees, agents or partners of MakeChapa.
- Clients are solely responsible for the scope, instructions, acceptance and lawfulness of the work they commission.
- Freelancers are solely responsible for delivering the work they agreed to, and for the quality of that work.
- MakeChapa does not supervise, direct or control the work. We provide the platform, escrow, messaging, dispute handling and payout rails.
3. Accounts and eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter a binding contract under Ethiopian law. You must give accurate identity, contact and bank details, keep them current, and keep your credentials confidential. Staff accounts and the internal control surfaces are restricted to a fixed list of authorised personnel.
4. Contracts and escrow
When a client accepts a proposal, a contract is created and the client funds the agreed project value into escrow through Chapa. Funds are held until the client releases them on delivery, or until MakeChapa releases or refunds them under the dispute process in section 9.
5. Platform commission
MakeChapa charges a platform commission of 10% of the agreed project value, deducted from the freelancer's earnings when escrow is released. The full commission structure and worked examples are in the Fee & Pricing Policy, which forms part of these terms.
6. VAT treatment
Where VAT applies, it applies only to the MakeChapa platform commission — never to the project value paid between a client and a freelancer.
- Where charged, the commission is treated as VAT-inclusive. The VAT contained in it is calculated as commission x 15/115, and the commission net of VAT as commission x 100/115.
- VAT charging is currently not activated on the platform. It will be switched on only after confirmation by our tax adviser and registration details below are finalized, and we will notify users before that change takes effect.
- VAT registration status, TIN and related identifiers: Pending finalization by legal/tax adviser.
7. Payment-processing fees
Payments in and out of the platform are handled by Chapa. A payment-processing fee is passed through at cost and shown to the client before payment. MakeChapa does not add a margin to the processing fee. Processing fees are set by the payment provider and may change; the fee shown at checkout is the fee applied.
8. Taxes
Each party is responsible for its own taxes.
- Freelancers are responsible for declaring and paying income tax and any other tax due on their earnings from the platform to the Ethiopian Ministry of Revenue or the relevant regional authority. MakeChapa does not withhold income tax on the freelancer's behalf unless we are legally required to do so and have notified users.
- Clients are responsible for any withholding obligation that applies to them under Ethiopian law for payments to service providers.
- MakeChapa is responsible for tax on its own commission income.
- We keep transaction records and make earnings statements available in the dashboard so both sides can meet their obligations. Where the law requires us to report transaction data to a tax authority, we will do so.
- Our own tax registration particulars (TIN, Commercial Registration No., Business License No., legal entity name) are: Pending finalization by legal/tax adviser.
9. Refunds and disputes
- Before release, a client may cancel by mutual agreement and the escrowed project value is refunded to the client wallet.
- Once escrow is released, payment is final. Released funds are not reversible through the platform.
- If a client and freelancer disagree, either may raise a dispute from the contract page before release. Our team reviews the contract terms, the delivered work and the messages exchanged on the platform, and decides how the escrowed amount is split. Off-platform evidence may be considered but on-platform records take priority.
- A dispute decision is final at platform level and does not remove either party's right to pursue remedies under Ethiopian law.
- Payment-processing fees already incurred are non-refundable, because they are paid to the payment provider.
10. Prohibited conduct
No fraud, no money laundering, no misrepresentation of identity or skills, no payment outside the platform to avoid commission, no unlawful, abusive or infringing content, and no attempt to circumvent security controls.
11. Suspension and termination
We may suspend or close an account, freeze a payout, or reverse a fraudulent transaction where we reasonably suspect a breach of these terms, fraud, or a legal obligation. Where funds are held in escrow at that time, we will follow the dispute process before releasing or refunding them.
12. Liability
The platform is provided on an "as is" basis. MakeChapa is not liable for the quality, legality or timeliness of work delivered between users. To the fullest extent permitted by Ethiopian law, our aggregate liability to any user for any claim is limited to the total commission we earned from that user in the 12 months preceding the claim.
13. Changes
We may update these terms. Material changes are announced in the app, and where the change affects your rights we will ask you to accept the new version before continuing to use the platform. Every version is retained and dated.
14. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Disputes not resolved by the platform process fall under the jurisdiction of the competent courts of Addis Ababa.
15. Platform Communications
By accepting this document you agree to receive platform communications from MakeChapa in your in-platform inbox.
- Operational notices — policy and fee changes, security alerts, verification requests, escrow and payment issues, and dispute updates. These are required to run your account safely and cannot be switched off while your account is open.
- Promotional messages — product news, tips, offers and community updates. These are optional: you can turn them off any time under Account -> Notifications -> Promotional announcements, and turning them off never affects your operational notices, payouts or contracts.
We deliver announcements to your MakeChapa inbox so a permanent record stays with your account. We do not sell your contact details, and we never ask for passwords, PINs or one-time codes in any announcement.