Grocery Deposit Policy
Groceries are separate from labor. Learn how estimates, deposits, receipts, refunds, overages, and disputes work.
Before shopping
The chef provides a grocery estimate range. The customer approves the menu and grocery budget before the chef shops.
The required grocery deposit is tracked separately from labor, tips, bonuses, and platform fees.
Receipt reconciliation
After shopping, the chef uploads one or more receipts or manual line items. Hearth Dispatch compares actual spend against the deposit.
Underspend creates a customer credit or refund. Exact spend reconciles cleanly. Overage requires customer approval when it exceeds the approved amount.
Disputes
A customer may dispute a receipt. Admins can review receipts, adjust reconciliation, approve a refund, approve an additional charge, or freeze payout while the dispute is open.