PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING BBQFRIEND.COM, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS.

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

TERMS OF SERVICE

1. Acceptance of Terms

The following terms and conditions ("Terms") govern all use of the BBQFriend.com website and all content, services, and products available at or through BBQFriend.com (the "Website" or "Service"). The Website is owned and operated by BBQFriend LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company ("BBQFriend," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using any part of the Website — including by clicking "Register" or any similar acceptance mechanism — you ("User," "you," or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms in their entirety. If you do not agree to all of these Terms, do not access or use the Website.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years of age to use this Website. Because this Website contains content that references alcoholic beverages — including but not limited to beer, bourbon, whiskey, and other spirits used as cooking ingredients — certain content and features are intended only for individuals of legal drinking age in their jurisdiction. By using this Website, you represent and warrant that you are at least 13 years of age, and that if you are under the legal drinking age in your jurisdiction, you will exercise appropriate discretion when engaging with alcohol-related content. If you are under 18 years of age, you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms on your behalf. BBQFriend LLC reserves the right to terminate any account where age eligibility cannot be verified or where these representations are found to be false.

3. Alcohol Content Notice

This Website contains content that references, features, or discusses alcoholic beverages — including beer, bourbon, whiskey, and other spirits — in the context of cooking, recipes, and grilling. Such content is provided solely for informational and culinary purposes. Nothing on this Website constitutes a promotion, advertisement, or encouragement of underage drinking or irresponsible alcohol consumption. By using this Website, you acknowledge that you are aware of and will comply with all laws in your jurisdiction regarding the purchase, possession, and consumption of alcohol. BBQFriend LLC makes no representation that alcohol-related content or linked products are legal or appropriate for all users or in all jurisdictions.

4. Accounts

To access certain features of the Website, you must register for an account. By registering, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information and to maintain and promptly update that information. You are solely responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials;
• All activity that occurs under your account, whether or not authorized by you;
• Immediately notifying BBQFriend LLC of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security at contact@bbqfriend.com.

Your account is for your personal use only and may not be shared with or transferred to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of BBQFriend LLC. Accounts are non-transferable. You may not sell, redistribute, sublicense, or otherwise transfer your account or any portion thereof. BBQFriend LLC will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with these obligations.

5. Subscription Plans and Payments

• Subscription Tiers

  BBQFriend LLC offers the following paid membership plans (each, an "Upgrade"):

  • Premium — $5.00/month or discounted annual rate
  • Creator — $10.00/month or discounted annual rate
  • Professional — $20.00/month or discounted annual rate

  Features associated with each plan are described on the membership page of the Website and are subject to change with notice. By selecting an Upgrade, you agree to pay BBQFriend LLC the applicable subscription fees for that plan.

• Payment Processing

  All payments are processed through Stripe, Inc., a third-party payment processor. By providing your payment information, you authorize BBQFriend LLC and Stripe to charge your payment method on a recurring basis for the applicable subscription fee. BBQFriend LLC does not collect or store your full credit card number or payment card data. Your use of Stripe's services is subject to Stripe's Privacy Policy and terms of service.

• Billing and Automatic Renewal

  Subscriptions are billed on a recurring monthly or annual basis, beginning on the date you subscribe. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless you cancel prior to the renewal date. By subscribing, you authorize BBQFriend LLC to charge your payment method on file for each renewal period at the then-current subscription rate.

• Upgrades and Proration

  If you upgrade your subscription to a higher tier, the change takes effect immediately. You will be charged a prorated amount for the remainder of your current billing period based on the difference in plan price. Credit for unused time on your prior plan will be applied toward the cost of the new plan.

• Downgrades and Cancellations — No Refund Policy

  If you downgrade your subscription to a lower tier or cancel your subscription entirely, the change will take effect at the end of your current billing period. You will retain access to your current plan's features through the end of that period. BBQFriend LLC does not issue refunds or credits for partial subscription periods, unused features, plan downgrades, or cancellations. Cancellations can be made at any time through the Account section of your profile.

• Price Changes

  BBQFriend LLC reserves the right to change subscription pricing at any time. We will provide at least 30 days' notice of any price change via email or a notice on the Website. Your continued use of a paid plan after a price change constitutes your acceptance of the new pricing.

6. User Content

The Website permits registered users to post, upload, and share content including recipes, rubs, sauces, cooking logs, photos, and other materials ("User Content"). You retain ownership of any intellectual property rights you hold in your User Content. However, by posting or submitting User Content to the Website, you grant BBQFriend LLC a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display your User Content in connection with operating and promoting the Website.

You represent and warrant that:

• You own or have all necessary rights to post your User Content and to grant the license described above;
• Your User Content does not infringe the copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other intellectual property rights of any third party;
• Your User Content does not violate any applicable law or regulation;
• Your User Content does not contain viruses, malware, or other harmful or destructive code;
• Your User Content is not false, misleading, defamatory, obscene, threatening, or harassing;
• Your User Content does not violate the privacy or publicity rights of any third party;
• Your User Content does not constitute unsolicited advertising, spam, or unauthorized commercial content.

If you delete User Content, BBQFriend LLC will use reasonable efforts to remove it from the Website; however, you acknowledge that cached copies or prior references to your content may not be immediately removed. BBQFriend LLC reserves the right — but not the obligation — to review, refuse, or remove any User Content at its sole discretion without notice if it violates these Terms or is otherwise objectionable. You are solely and entirely responsible for all User Content you post. BBQFriend LLC is not responsible for and expressly disclaims all liability for User Content posted by any user.

7. Company Accounts and Product Listings

Users subscribed to the Professional plan may create a Company Profile and manage product listings on the Website. By creating a Company Profile or posting any product listing, you agree that:

• All product descriptions, images, and information you post are accurate, truthful, and do not mislead consumers;
• You have the legal authority to represent the company and post content on its behalf;
• You are solely responsible for the accuracy, legality, and quality of all product listings and associated content;
• BBQFriend LLC does not endorse, warrant, or guarantee any products listed on the Website;
• BBQFriend LLC is not a party to any transaction between users and companies and exercises no control over and assumes no responsibility for the quality, safety, legality, or availability of any product listed on the Website;
• Any external links provided in product listings, including links to purchase products on third-party websites, are solely your responsibility. BBQFriend LLC is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of any linked third-party website.

BBQFriend LLC reserves the right to remove any Company Profile or product listing at its sole discretion, without prior notice, for any reason including but not limited to violations of these Terms or complaints from users.

8. Affiliate Links and FTC Disclosure

BBQFriend LLC participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means that when you click certain links on this Website — including but not limited to product links or external retailer links — and make a qualifying purchase, BBQFriend LLC may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's Guidelines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (16 C.F.R. Part 255), BBQFriend LLC hereby discloses that it maintains affiliate and commercial relationships with certain third-party retailers, brands, and product sellers. The existence of an affiliate relationship does not influence the editorial content, recipes, or product recommendations on this Website.

Individual users may also post external links, including links to products or services, on the Website. BBQFriend LLC is not responsible for determining whether those user-posted links are affiliate links or whether those users have any undisclosed commercial relationship with linked products.

9. Food Safety Disclaimer

THE RECIPES, COOKING INSTRUCTIONS, COOKING TEMPERATURES, TECHNIQUES, AND ALL OTHER FOOD-RELATED CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE — WHETHER POSTED BY BBQFRIEND LLC OR BY OTHER USERS — ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.

BBQFriend LLC makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, safety, completeness, or suitability of any recipe, cooking instruction, temperature recommendation, or technique found on this Website. Food preparation and cooking involve inherent risks, including but not limited to:

• Undercooking or improper handling of meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or other perishable foods resulting in foodborne illness;
• Exposure to known or unknown food allergens;
• Cross-contamination during preparation, storage, or handling;
• Individual health conditions, medications, or dietary restrictions that may make certain recipes unsafe for certain individuals.

You are solely and entirely responsible for ensuring that any food you prepare is safe for consumption. You should always consult and follow current food safety guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the applicable food safety authority in your jurisdiction. BBQFriend LLC expressly disclaims all liability for any illness, injury, allergic reaction, death, property damage, or any other adverse outcome resulting from the use of or reliance on any food-related content on this Website, including content posted by third-party users. The nutritional information, calorie counts, and macro data that may appear in user-posted content have not been verified by BBQFriend LLC and should not be relied upon for medical, dietary, or health purposes.

10. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use the Website to:

• Post, upload, or distribute content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening, or hateful;
• Infringe the intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights of any third party;
• Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity;
• Collect, harvest, or store personal data about other users without their consent;
• Transmit unsolicited commercial communications, spam, or automated messages;
• Introduce viruses, malware, ransomware, or any other harmful or destructive code;
• Interfere with or disrupt the operation of the Website, its servers, or its networks;
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any account, system, or data on or related to the Website;
• Scrape, crawl, or extract data from the Website without express written consent;
• Violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation.

11. Feedback and Suggestions

Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas you provide to BBQFriend LLC — whether through the Website's contact or feedback features or otherwise — become the sole property of BBQFriend LLC upon submission. You grant BBQFriend LLC a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, and publish any such feedback for any purpose. BBQFriend LLC is under no obligation to act on any suggestion or to provide any form of compensation for feedback or suggestions.

12. All Rights Reserved

All content of the Website produced or owned by BBQFriend LLC — including but not limited to HTML, images, text content, logos, branding, and source code — is subject to copyright with all rights reserved. No portion of the Website may be mirrored, retransmitted, copied, duplicated, scraped, reposted, or otherwise used without the prior written approval of BBQFriend LLC.

13. Intellectual Property

These Terms do not transfer any BBQFriend LLC or third-party intellectual property rights to you. All right, title, and interest in and to the Website — including the BBQFriend LLC name, logo, trademarks, service marks, graphics, and trade dress — remain exclusively with BBQFriend LLC or their respective owners. Your use of the Website grants you no right or license to reproduce or otherwise use any BBQFriend LLC trademark, service mark, or other branding.

14. Copyright Infringement and DMCA Policy

BBQFriend LLC respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects all users to do the same. BBQFriend LLC will respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement that comply with applicable law and are properly submitted to us.

If you believe that content on the Website infringes your copyright, please submit a written DMCA notice to BBQFriend LLC's Designated Copyright Agent at:

BBQFriend LLC — Designated Copyright Agent
Email: contact@bbqfriend.com
Subject Line: DMCA Takedown Notice

To be valid, your DMCA notice must include all of the following:

• A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf;
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed;
• Identification of the allegedly infringing material and sufficient information to locate it on the Website;
• Your contact information, including name, address, telephone number, and email address;
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
• A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or are authorized to act on the owner's behalf.

BBQFriend LLC will respond to valid DMCA notices by removing or disabling access to the allegedly infringing content. Users who are the subject of a DMCA takedown may submit a counter-notification in accordance with the DMCA. Repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated.

15. Third-Party Links and Content

The Website contains links to third-party websites, including user-posted product links, company profile links, sponsored content links, and affiliate links. BBQFriend LLC does not control, endorse, or assume any responsibility for the content, privacy practices, accuracy, or terms of any third-party website. Your use of any third-party website is at your own risk and subject to that website's own terms of service and privacy policy. BBQFriend LLC is not responsible for any harm or loss resulting from your use of or reliance on third-party content or websites accessed through links on this Website.

16. Advertising, Sponsored Content, and Promotional Programs

BBQFriend LLC generates revenue through multiple advertising and promotional channels. In compliance with applicable law — including the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on disclosure of material connections (16 C.F.R. Part 255) — each channel is described below. All sponsored, featured, and promoted content on this Website is clearly identified as such and constitutes paid advertising.

• 16.1 Display Advertising — Google AdSense

  Users who are not registered or are registered but not subscribed to a paid plan may see display advertisements served through Google AdSense or similar third-party advertising networks. Display advertisements are clearly separate from editorial and user-generated content on the Website. Google and its advertising partners may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to serve advertisements based on your prior visits to this Website and other websites. BBQFriend LLC does not control the content of Google AdSense advertisements and is not responsible for the products, services, or claims contained therein. To opt out of personalized advertising by Google, visit Google's Ad Settings. Registered users with an active paid subscription receive a reduced-advertisement or advertisement-free experience as described on the membership page.

• 16.2 Sponsored and Featured Product Listings

  On category pages of the Website — including but not limited to Recipes, Rubs, Sauces, Fuels, Proteins, Ingredients, and Grills — certain product or content listings may appear under a "Sponsored" or "Featured" designation. These placements are paid advertisements purchased by companies or individuals ("Sponsors").

  All sponsored and featured listings are clearly labeled as such wherever they appear. The label "Sponsored" or "Featured" indicates that the listed company or individual has paid BBQFriend LLC for placement and visibility on that page. A Sponsored or Featured designation does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or verification of any kind by BBQFriend LLC. BBQFriend LLC does not verify the accuracy, quality, safety, or availability of products or services appearing in Sponsored or Featured placements. BBQFriend LLC is not a party to and assumes no responsibility for any transaction, harm, or dispute arising from a user's interaction with a Sponsored or Featured listing.

• 16.3 Page and Section Sponsorships

  Companies may purchase sponsorship of entire pages or sections of the Website. A page sponsorship is a paid commercial advertising arrangement under which the sponsoring company's name, brand, or content is displayed in connection with the relevant section (for example, a header reading "Recipes — Sponsored by [Company Name]").

  Page sponsorships are clearly identified in the page header or in a conspicuous disclosure on the sponsored page in compliance with FTC guidelines. The sponsoring company's products, branding, or content appearing on a sponsored page constitute paid advertising and do not constitute endorsements by BBQFriend LLC. BBQFriend LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, quality, or safety of any products, services, or claims made by a page sponsor.

• 16.4 Homepage Carousel Promotional Advertising

  Promotional slots within the homepage carousel are available for purchase by companies and individuals wishing to promote products, services, events, or content to the BBQFriend.com audience. Carousel promotional placements are paid advertisements and will be identified as promoted or sponsored content where required by applicable law and FTC guidelines. BBQFriend LLC does not endorse the products, services, or claims featured in carousel promotional slots and is not responsible for any harm resulting from a user's reliance on carousel promotional content.

• 16.5 Sponsored Email Communications

  BBQFriend LLC may send promotional email communications on behalf of paying third-party advertisers ("Sponsored Emails") to users who have affirmatively opted in to receive third-party promotional content from BBQFriend LLC.

  BBQFriend LLC does not sell, transfer, license, or otherwise provide your individual email address or personal information directly to third-party advertisers. Sponsored Emails are sent exclusively by BBQFriend LLC using its own email platform. The sponsoring third party does not receive your email address or contact information as part of this arrangement.

  In compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act and applicable law, all Sponsored Emails will:

  • Clearly identify BBQFriend LLC as the sender;
  • Clearly identify the sponsoring third party within the body of the email;
  • Include a clear, functional, and conspicuous unsubscribe link;
  • Honor all unsubscribe requests within 10 business days;
  • Not use deceptive subject lines or sender information.

  BBQFriend LLC reserves the right to decline any Sponsored Email request from a third party whose products, services, or content BBQFriend LLC determines to be inappropriate, misleading, or inconsistent with the values of the Website and its community.

• 16.6 Advertising Opt-In and Opt-Out

  You may opt in to receive Sponsored Emails and third-party promotional content from BBQFriend LLC at the time of account registration or at any time through your account settings. Opting in is entirely voluntary and is not a condition of creating an account or using any free features of the Website.

  You may opt out of Sponsored Emails at any time by:

  • Clicking the "unsubscribe" or "opt out" link included in any Sponsored Email;
  • Updating your email preferences in the Account > Settings section of your profile; or
  • Contacting BBQFriend LLC at contact@bbqfriend.com with the subject line "Unsubscribe."

  Opting out of Sponsored Emails will not affect your receipt of transactional or account-related communications necessary for the operation of your account.

17. Changes to the Website

BBQFriend LLC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Website or any part thereof at any time, with or without notice. BBQFriend LLC may also, in the future, offer new services, features, or subscription tiers. Such new features and services shall be subject to these Terms unless otherwise specified. BBQFriend LLC shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Website or any portion thereof.

18. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE WEBSITE AND ALL CONTENT, SERVICES, AND FEATURES — INCLUDING ALL SPONSORED, FEATURED, AND PROMOTED CONTENT — ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. BBQFRIEND LLC AND ITS SUPPLIERS AND LICENSORS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. BBQFRIEND LLC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE WEBSITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. BBQFRIEND LLC MAKES NO WARRANTY REGARDING THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE, INCLUDING USER-GENERATED CONTENT, RECIPES, COOKING INSTRUCTIONS, PRODUCT LISTINGS, SPONSORED CONTENT, OR NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION. YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

19. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL BBQFRIEND LLC, ITS MEMBERS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AFFILIATES, ADVERTISING PARTNERS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE WEBSITE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or business opportunities;
• Personal injury, illness, death, or property damage resulting from food preparation or cooking based on Website content;
• Allergic reactions or adverse health effects arising from recipes or food content on the Website;
• Any products, services, or claims made in sponsored, featured, or promoted content or advertisements;
• Unauthorized access to or alteration of your data or transmissions;
• Conduct or content of any third party on the Website, including User Content, Company Profile listings, and sponsored content;
• Any purchases or transactions made through third-party links or sponsored placements on the Website.

BBQFRIEND LLC'S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING UNDER THESE TERMS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU PAID TO BBQFRIEND LLC IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00 USD). THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY AND EVEN IF BBQFRIEND LLC HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

20. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless BBQFriend LLC and its members, managers, employees, contractors, affiliates, and licensors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) your access to or use of the Website; (b) your User Content; (c) your violation of these Terms; (d) your violation of any applicable law or the rights of any third party; (e) any content you post on behalf of a Company Profile; or (f) any transaction or interaction between you and any third party facilitated by or through the Website.

21. Dispute Resolution and Binding Arbitration

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN COURT AND TO HAVE A JURY TRIAL.

You and BBQFriend LLC agree to attempt to resolve any dispute informally first by contacting BBQFriend LLC at contact@bbqfriend.com. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally within 30 days of notice, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the Website shall be finally and exclusively resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules (available at www.adr.org).

The arbitration shall take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the English language. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding and may be reduced to judgment and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. The prevailing party in any arbitration shall be entitled to recover reasonable costs and attorneys' fees. Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking emergency injunctive or equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm pending arbitration.

22. Class Action Waiver

YOU AND BBQFRIEND LLC AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS ACTION, COLLECTIVE ACTION, CONSOLIDATED ACTION, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. Unless both you and BBQFriend LLC expressly agree otherwise in writing, no arbitrator or court may consolidate more than one person's claims or otherwise preside over any form of a class or representative proceeding. If this class action waiver is found unenforceable, then the entirety of the arbitration agreement in Section 21 shall be null and void.

23. Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to your use of the Website shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For any matter not subject to arbitration under Section 21, you consent to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

24. Termination

BBQFriend LLC may terminate or suspend your access to all or any part of the Website at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice, effective immediately. If you wish to terminate your account, you may do so through the Account section of your profile or by contacting us at contact@bbqfriend.com. Upon termination, your right to use the Website ceases immediately. BBQFriend LLC will have no obligation to provide a refund of any subscription fees paid. All provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including without limitation ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, food safety disclaimers, indemnification obligations, and limitations of liability.

25. Changes to These Terms

BBQFriend LLC reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time at its sole discretion. When material changes are made, BBQFriend LLC will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and may provide additional notice via email or a prominent notice on the Website. Your continued use of the Website after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the Website.

26. General Provisions

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between BBQFriend LLC and you with respect to the Website and supersede all prior agreements and understandings. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. A waiver by either party of any term or condition of these Terms, in any one instance, shall not waive such term or condition or any subsequent breach thereof. BBQFriend LLC may assign its rights under these Terms without condition and without notice. You may not assign your rights under these Terms without BBQFriend LLC's prior written consent. Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Terms.

27. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, to report violations, to submit legal notices, or for advertising inquiries, please contact:
BBQFriend LLC
Email: contact@bbqfriend.com

PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how BBQFriend LLC ("BBQFriend," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects information about you when you use BBQFriend.com (the "Website"). By using the Website, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Website.

1. Information We Collect

• Account Information: When you register, we collect your username and email address. If you subscribe to a paid plan, payment information is collected and stored by Stripe; BBQFriend LLC does not store your full payment card number.
• Optional Profile Information: You may choose to provide your mailing address and other profile details. This information is optional and not required to create an account or use core Website features.
• User Content: Recipes, rubs, sauces, cooking logs, photos, and all other content you choose to post on the Website.
• Company Profile Information: For Professional subscribers, business name, product descriptions, product images, and external website links.
• Usage and Technical Data: Browser type, device type, operating system, IP address, referring pages, pages viewed, time spent on the Website, links clicked (including sponsored and affiliate links), and other technical data collected automatically when you use the Website.
• Communications: Any feedback, support requests, or other messages you send to BBQFriend LLC.
• Cookies and Tracking Data: See the Cookies section below.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Website;
• Process subscription payments and manage your account;
• Send transactional emails including account confirmations, password resets, and billing notices;
• Send optional marketing or feature update emails from BBQFriend LLC (you may opt out at any time);
• Send Sponsored Emails on behalf of paying third-party advertisers, but only to users who have opted in to receive such communications (see Section 9);
• Deliver and display advertising, sponsored content, and promotional materials on the Website;
• Track engagement with sponsored listings, page sponsorships, carousel advertisements, and affiliate links for the purpose of generating analytics reports for advertising partners;
• Generate aggregated, anonymized analytics reports for business partners and advertisers (see Section 10);
• Respond to your support requests and feedback;
• Comply with applicable legal obligations.

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

BBQFriend LLC does not sell, rent, or transfer your individual personal information — including your email address, name, or mailing address — directly to third parties for their own independent marketing purposes. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who assist in operating the Website, including Stripe for payment processing, email delivery platforms (such as Mailchimp or similar), hosting providers, and analytics services, subject to confidentiality obligations;
• Advertising Partners — Aggregated Data Only: With sponsors, advertisers, and business partners in the form of aggregated, anonymized analytics reports that do not identify individual users (see Section 10);
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, subpoena, or other valid governmental authority;
• Protection of Rights: When disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of BBQFriend LLC, its users, or the public;
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (see Section 13);
• With Your Consent: In any other circumstances, only with your explicit prior consent.

4. Payment Information

All payment transactions are processed by Stripe, Inc., which is PCI-DSS compliant. BBQFriend LLC does not collect, process, or store your credit card number or other sensitive payment card data. BBQFriend LLC maintains records of your subscription status, plan tier, and billing history for account management purposes only. Stripe's handling of your payment information is governed by Stripe's own Privacy Policy and terms of service.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

BBQFriend LLC uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, remember preferences, analyze Website usage, and deliver relevant content and advertisements.

Cookies used on this Website may include:

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser, used to maintain your login session;
• Persistent Cookies: Cookies that remain on your device for a set period, used to remember your preferences;
• Google AdSense Cookies: Google and its partners use cookies to serve advertisements to non-registered and non-subscribed users based on their browsing history on this and other websites. To manage or opt out of Google's advertising cookies, visit Google Ad Settings. For more information on how Google uses data when you use partner sites or apps, visit Google's Privacy & Terms;
• Analytics Cookies: Used to collect information about how users interact with the Website, including pages visited and links clicked, to help improve the Website and to generate aggregated usage reports;
• Advertising and Sponsored Content Tracking Cookies: Used to record impressions of and interactions with sponsored listings, page sponsorships, and carousel advertisements, for the purpose of providing performance data to advertisers.

You may configure your browser to refuse all cookies or to notify you when a cookie is set. Please note that refusing cookies may prevent certain features of the Website from functioning properly.

6. Data Retention

BBQFriend LLC retains your account information and User Content for as long as your account is active or as necessary to provide services to you. If you close your account, we will retain certain data for a reasonable period as required to fulfill legal obligations, resolve disputes, prevent fraud, and enforce our agreements. You may request deletion of your personal data at any time by contacting us at contact@bbqfriend.com. We will honor deletion requests within a reasonable time subject to legal retention obligations.

7. Email Communications and CAN-SPAM Compliance

BBQFriend LLC may send you two categories of email communications:

• Transactional Emails: Emails necessary for the operation of your account, including registration confirmations, billing receipts, password resets, and security alerts. These are sent regardless of your marketing preferences.
• Marketing and Promotional Emails: Optional emails from BBQFriend LLC about new features, site updates, and content. You may opt out at any time.

In compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act, all commercial emails we send will:

• Accurately identify BBQFriend LLC as the sender;
• Use truthful, non-deceptive subject lines;
• Clearly identify the message as an advertisement where applicable;
• Include a clear, functional unsubscribe mechanism;
• Honor all opt-out requests within 10 business days.

You may opt out of all non-transactional emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting contact@bbqfriend.com.

8. Optional Mailing Address and Location Data

You may choose to provide your mailing address when creating or updating your account profile. Providing your address is optional and not required to access any core feature of the Website. If you provide your address, BBQFriend LLC may use your state or region to:

• Personalize content or features where geographic relevance is applicable; and
• Contribute to aggregated, anonymized geographic analytics reports provided to advertising partners (for example, reporting that a certain percentage of users who viewed a product listing were located in a particular state — without identifying you individually).

Your individual mailing address will never be shared with, sold to, or provided to any third party in identifiable form. Geographic data included in any advertiser report is always aggregated and anonymized and cannot be used to identify you individually.

9. Third-Party Promotional Emails (Sponsored Emails)

With your explicit opt-in consent, BBQFriend LLC may send promotional emails on behalf of paying third-party advertisers whose products or services are relevant to the BBQFriend community (such as BBQ equipment brands, spice companies, or food-related businesses).

Key facts about Sponsored Emails:

• Sponsored Emails are sent by BBQFriend LLC — the sponsoring company does not receive your email address;
• Every Sponsored Email will clearly identify both BBQFriend LLC as the sender and the sponsoring company within the email body;
• Participation is opt-in only — you will never receive a Sponsored Email unless you have affirmatively opted in;
• You may opt out at any time via the unsubscribe link in the email or through your account settings.

BBQFriend LLC reserves the right to decline any sponsored email campaign from advertisers whose content it deems inappropriate or inconsistent with the Website's community standards.

10. Analytics and Business Reporting

BBQFriend LLC collects usage data about how users interact with the Website, including which pages are viewed, which links are clicked, which sponsored listings are viewed, and how users navigate the site. This data is used to:

• Improve the Website's features and user experience;
• Generate performance reports for advertisers and sponsors, such as impression counts, click-through rates, and geographic distribution of engagement.

All analytics data shared with third-party advertisers, sponsors, or business partners is aggregated and anonymized. This means reports provided to advertisers may include information such as:

• Total number of users who viewed a sponsored listing or page;
• Total number of clicks on a product link or sponsored placement;
• Geographic distribution of engagement by state or region (e.g., "40% of viewers were located in the Southeast");
• General demographic trends based on aggregate account data.

No analytics report provided to an advertiser or business partner will include your name, email address, mailing address, username, or any other information that could identify you as an individual.

11. Your Privacy Rights

All Users

Regardless of your location, you have the right to:

• Access and review the personal information we hold about you;
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
• Request deletion of your personal data, subject to applicable legal retention requirements;
• Opt out of marketing and promotional communications at any time;
• Opt out of Sponsored Emails at any time through your account settings or by unsubscribing.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@bbqfriend.com. We will respond within 30 days.

European Union / EEA Users — GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to:

• Access your personal data and receive a copy of it;
• Rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data;
• Erasure of your personal data ("right to be forgotten") under certain circumstances;
• Restriction of processing of your personal data;
• Data portability — receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format;
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing;
• Withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing;
• Lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority.

BBQFriend LLC processes personal data on the following lawful bases: (a) your consent provided at registration; (b) performance of a contract, to provide subscription services; and (c) legitimate interests, to operate, secure, and improve the Website. Consent to receive Sponsored Emails is a separate, voluntary opt-in and may be withdrawn at any time without affecting your account or access to the Website. To exercise your GDPR rights, contact contact@bbqfriend.com.

California Residents — CCPA / CPRA

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

• Right to Know: The categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, how it is used, and with whom it is shared;
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions;
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information we hold about you;
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing: BBQFriend LLC does not sell your personal information. BBQFriend LLC does not share your personal information (including email address or mailing address) with third parties for their independent commercial use. Analytics data shared with advertisers is aggregated and anonymized and does not constitute a "sale" or "sharing" of personal information under CCPA/CPRA. If this practice changes, we will update this Policy and provide a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" mechanism before doing so;
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: Where applicable, you may limit our use of sensitive categories of personal data;
• Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not be penalized, denied service, or treated differently for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights.

To submit a California privacy request, contact us at contact@bbqfriend.com with the subject line "California Privacy Request." We will verify your identity and respond within 45 days as required by law.

12. Children's Privacy

The Website is not directed to children under the age of 13. BBQFriend LLC does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided personal information to us, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at contact@bbqfriend.com.

13. Security

BBQFriend LLC implements reasonable technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet and no method of electronic data storage is completely secure. BBQFriend LLC cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information and shall not be responsible for unauthorized access that is outside our reasonable control. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your own account credentials.

14. Business Transfers

If BBQFriend LLC is acquired by or merged with another company, if BBQFriend LLC sells substantially all of its assets, or in the unlikely event that BBQFriend LLC ceases operations or files for bankruptcy protection, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur. BBQFriend LLC will endeavor to notify you via email or a prominent notice on the Website if your information becomes subject to a materially different privacy policy as a result.

15. Aggregated and Anonymized Data

BBQFriend LLC may collect, use, and publicly share aggregated and anonymized data about user behavior and Website usage for analytical, promotional, and business purposes. Aggregated data does not identify individual users and is not subject to the individual privacy protections described in this Policy.

16. Third-Party Services

The Website uses third-party services including but not limited to Stripe for payment processing, Google AdSense for advertising, and email delivery platforms such as Mailchimp for promotional communications. These third-party services may independently collect information about you in accordance with their own privacy policies. BBQFriend LLC is not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party service provider. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you interact with through the Website.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

BBQFriend LLC may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will reflect any changes. For material changes — particularly any changes to how we use or share your personal information — we will provide additional notice via email or a prominent notice on the Website prior to the change taking effect. Your continued use of the Website after any change to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

18. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data — including data access, correction, deletion, and opt-out requests — please contact:
BBQFriend LLC
Email: contact@bbqfriend.com