Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Last Updated: December 13, 2025

Rural Pros ("we," "us," or "our") operates www.ruralpros.net and related services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you use our platform. By using Rural Pros, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

When you use Rural Pros, you may provide us with:

• Business Listings: Business name, category, description, contact information (email, phone), physical address, hours of operation, website, and optional photos
• Job Postings: Job title, description, category, location, budget range, timeline, and contact information
• Worker Profiles: Name, skills/category, experience, certifications, hourly rate, availability, location, and contact information
• Communications: Any messages you send to us through contact forms or email

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Location Data: We collect geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude) derived from the addresses you provide to display businesses, jobs, and workers on interactive maps
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and referring URLs
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, clicks, and navigation paths
• Cookies: We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience (see Section 4)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Display your business listings, job postings, or worker profiles to potential customers and employers
• Enable users to contact you via the contact information you provide
• Display your listings on interactive maps using geographic coordinates
• Send verification emails and administrative notifications
• Process payments for premium services (Professional and Featured tiers)
• Moderate and approve listings to maintain quality and safety
• Prevent fraud, spam, and abuse of our platform
• Improve our services and develop new features
• Analyze usage patterns to understand user behavior and preferences
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
• Send marketing communications (with your consent, where required)

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 Public Display

Information in approved listings (business details, job postings, worker profiles) is displayed publicly on our website and may be indexed by search engines. This includes your contact information, which is visible to help users connect with you.

3.2 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform:

• Google Firebase: Database and authentication services
• Google Cloud Platform: Hosting and infrastructure
• Google Maps: Geocoding addresses and displaying interactive maps
• Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): Email delivery and notifications
• Payment Processors: Secure payment processing for premium services (future implementation)

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal processes or obligations
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Rural Pros, our users, or the public
• Prevent fraud or security threats
• Enforce our Terms of Service

3.4 Business Transfers

If Rural Pros is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze website traffic and user behavior
• Prevent spam and fraud (via Google reCAPTCHA)
• Enable interactive features like maps

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may limit certain functionality on our site.

5. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your information:

• Access and Update: You can view and edit your listings at any time using the magic link sent to your email
• Delete: You can delete your listings using the magic link or by contacting us at ruralpros@yahoo.com
• Opt-Out of Marketing: You can unsubscribe from marketing emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email
• Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data by contacting us
• Object to Processing: You can object to certain types of processing by contacting us

Note: Deleting your listing will remove it from public display, but we may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., fraud prevention, record-keeping).

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure data transmission using HTTPS encryption
• Secure database storage with access controls
• Regular security audits and updates
• Spam prevention via Google reCAPTCHA

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. Specifically:

• Active Listings: Retained while your listing is active and approved
• Deleted Listings: Permanently deleted within 30 days of deletion request
• Expired Listings: Listings expire after 30 days and are automatically archived (you can renew via email link)
• Usage Data: Retained for up to 2 years for analytics and security purposes
• Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained longer if required by law

8. Children's Privacy

Rural Pros is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

10. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose
• Right to request deletion of your personal information
• Right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at ruralpros@yahoo.com with "California Privacy Request" in the subject line.

11. International Users

Rural Pros is based in the United States and primarily serves users in the United States. If you access our services from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country. By using our services, you consent to this transfer.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification to registered users (for significant changes)

Your continued use of Rural Pros after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Your Privacy Matters: We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about our data practices. By using Rural Pros, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.