Transparent Pricing for Virginia Farms
Clear, straightforward fees with no hidden costs. Caretakers keep 100% of their rate. We handle the platform so you can handle the farm, and still take a vacation.
Virginia Fair Labor Standard Act Compliance
You keep 100% of your set rate
- Set your own nightly/hourly rates
- Access Business Tools Suite (Invoicing, Mileage, Expenses)
- Self-reported credentials (integrated background checks coming later)
- Direct deposits via Stripe Connect
- Covered under platform OAI insurance recommendations
$15/booking fee · Waived with Harvest plan
- Browse Virginia farm caretakers with self-reported credentials and reviews
- Secure messaging and booking system
- Invoice-based secure payments
- Upgrade to Harvest ($19/mo) to waive the $15 platform fee and pay only Stripe processing
- Access to Farm Services directory
Founding Partner: $250 for your first year (optional)
- Seeded listings from public business information
- Free claim to verify ownership and edit your profile
- Phone, website, and hours on your listing page
- Founding Partner: badge, featured county placement, launch visibility
- 0% transaction fees. Farm owners contact you directly.
Sponsored Pros and Community Sponsored Pro
Trust Badges
Caretakers can show several independent trust indicators at once on their profile and in search results. Self-reported credentials list claims the caretaker makes; community recognitions like Founding Caretaker are separate. Integrated background-check verification is not currently available through Farmstead Circle.
Self-reported credentials
Caretakers can list certifications, licenses, or training they hold. Claims appear on the profile as text. Farmstead Circle does not store or verify credential documents. Owners may ask caretakers to show originals off-platform.
Background checks
Integrated background checks are not currently available. When offered, they will be optional through a third-party screening provider and independent from self-reported credentials.
Background checks (coming later)Not available
Integrated background checks are not currently available. When offered, participation will be optional through a third-party screening provider.
Community recognition
Founding Caretaker
Community recognition for caretakers who joined during the early launch period. Appears as a separate badge on the profile. Does not replace self-reported credentials.
Self-reported credentials are informational only. Farmstead Circle does not store credential documents and does not certify skill, competency, or fitness for any particular task. Background checks, when offered in the future, will be optional third-party screenings and will not guarantee safety or suitability. You are responsible for evaluating qualifications before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the platform fee work?
When a Farm Owner books a caretaker, a flat $15 platform facilitation fee is added to the caretaker's rate, plus the Stripe payment processing cost (3.5% + $0.30) passed through at cost. Harvest members ($19/mo) have the $15 fee waived; they pay only the Stripe processing charge. For example, on a $100 booking: Seedling members pay $100 + $15 + $4.48 = $119.48 total; Harvest members pay $100 + $3.94 = $103.94. The caretaker always receives their full set rate via Stripe Connect.
Why are caretakers free?
To comply with Virginia labor laws and maintain caretakers' service-provider status, Farmstead Circle does not charge caretakers to use the platform. Our goal is to empower rural care providers to build their own businesses using our Business Tools Suite.
How do Local Resources work?
Virginia farm businesses can appear under Local Resources in Farm Services. Many listings start as free seeded profiles from public information, clearly labeled as unclaimed. Business owners can claim a listing for free, then update their description, contact info, and hours. Founding Partner is an optional $250 first-year upgrade for a founding badge and featured county placement. We do not process payments between farm owners and listed businesses.
Do directory businesses process payments here?
No. Local farm resources (feed stores, vets, farriers, fencing, and similar businesses) use the directory for visibility only. Farm owners discover them on Farmstead Circle but contact and pay them directly through the business's own phone, website, or booking system.