Nara
Merchant Partnership Agreement
Version: merchant_v1.0 — Last Updated: March 17, 2026
This Merchant Partnership Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into between you ("Merchant," "you," or "your") and Narrative Guides LLC, a Texas limited liability company ("Nara," "Platform," "we," "us," or "our"), and governs your participation in the Nara merchant program. By clicking "Join the Route" or otherwise activating your merchant account, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
1. How It Works
Nara operates GPS-triggered audio tours. When a user on an active tour comes within 50 meters of your business location, your discount offer appears on their screen. This event is called a "Verified Reveal." Verified Reveals are the commercial transaction at the core of this Agreement — you are only charged when a user physically encounters your offer in the real world.
2. Merchant Dashboard and Registration
To participate, you must register a merchant account and complete the onboarding flow, including providing accurate business information (name, address, category, GPS coordinates), a valid discount offer, and payment method. You represent and warrant that: (a) you are authorized to operate the business you register; (b) all information you provide is accurate and current; and (c) you will update your dashboard information promptly if it changes.
3. How Nara Works
3.1 GPS Proximity Detection
Nara uses GPS location signals from users' mobile devices to determine proximity to registered businesses. A Verified Reveal is triggered only when a user's device reports a position within 50 meters of your registered business address while the user is on an active tour.
3.2 Automated Verification
All Verified Reveals are processed through Nara's automated verification system, which logs GPS coordinates, timestamps, user session data, and tour state at the moment of each reveal. These records are maintained and used as evidence in the event of billing disputes. By accepting this Agreement, you acknowledge that Nara's automated verification system records are valid and reliable evidence of reveal activity.
3.3 Disclosure to Users
Your participation constitutes sponsored commercial content. Nara may identify your business as a "Local Partner" or "Sponsored" in the app interface. Audio mentions of your business during tours will be presented as contextual recommendations consistent with Nara's narrative style.
4. Fees and Billing
4.1 Pay-per-Reveal Fee
The Pay-per-Play fee for each Verified Reveal begins at $1.50 USD and may vary based on the Platform's bidding system or promotional pricing model as displayed in the Merchant Dashboard. Merchant's first Verified Reveal will be provided at no charge as an introductory offer. There are no monthly fees, no setup fees, and no minimum commitments. The Platform reserves the right to modify the base fee with 30 days' written notice.
4.2 Billing and Payment
Reveal fees are aggregated and charged to your payment method on file through Stripe on a monthly basis, or when your accrued balance reaches a threshold displayed in your dashboard. You are responsible for maintaining a valid payment method in your dashboard at all times.
4.3 Taxes
You are responsible for all taxes, duties, or levies arising from your participation in the merchant program, including sales tax, VAT, or other transaction-based taxes applicable in your jurisdiction.
5. Merchant Responsibilities
5.1 Honor Your Offer
You agree to honor the discount code you configure in your Merchant Dashboard for every user who presents it at your business location.
5.2 Dashboard Maintenance
You agree to keep your business information, discount terms, and operating hours accurate and current through your Merchant Dashboard.
5.3 Acceptance Rate
You agree to maintain a code acceptance rate of at least 90% over any rolling 30-day period.
5.4 Administrative Service Fee
If a refusal is verified by Nara's automated system: (a) the affected user will receive a $5.00 platform credit; and (b) Merchant will be charged an administrative service fee of $10.00 to cover the cost of verification, user support processing, and dispute handling.
5.5 Refusal Dispute Window
Merchant may dispute any refusal determination within 7 calendar days of receiving notification, through the Merchant Dashboard. Nara will review the dispute and provide a written determination within 5 business days.
5.6 Suspension for Excessive Refusals
If Merchant's refusal rate exceeds 10% over any rolling 30-day period, Nara may suspend Merchant's listing with 48 hours' advance notice via email. Merchant may appeal a suspension by contacting support@narrativeguides.com within 7 calendar days.
6. Billing Records and Chargebacks
6.1 Platform Records as Evidence
Merchant explicitly agrees that Nara's GPS logs, timestamp records, session data, and automated verification records constitute valid and reliable evidence for billing, dispute, and chargeback purposes.
6.2 Evidence Package
In response to any chargeback or formal dispute, Nara will submit an evidence package that may include: a copy of this Agreement and Merchant's acceptance record; GPS logs; automated verification records; OCR-verified receipt data where available; and system-generated billing records.
6.3 Chargeback Threshold
More than 2 lost chargeback disputes within any 12-month period may result in Nara suspending or terminating Merchant's account. If Nara prevails in a chargeback dispute, Merchant will be charged a $15.00 dispute processing fee in addition to the original Verified Reveal fee.
7. Data, Privacy, and Analytics
7.1 Privacy Policy Incorporation
Nara's collection and processing of data is governed by the Nara Privacy Policy at narrativeguides.com/legal/privacy, incorporated herein by reference. Merchant acknowledges that the Platform processes location signals from users' mobile devices and generates anonymized analytics data.
7.2 Anonymized Analytics
Nara will not share any personally identifiable customer data with Merchant. Dashboard analytics use anonymized, aggregated data only.
7.3 Merchant Data
You grant Nara a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display your business name, address, discount offer, and other dashboard information to users of the Service.
8. Sponsored Placement and Content
Your participation constitutes sponsored commercial content. You are responsible for the accuracy of your business description and discount terms. Nara may edit your content for tone and consistency with our brand voice, but will not change the substance of your offer without your approval.
9. Term and Termination
9.1 Term
This Agreement begins when you click "Join the Route" and continues until terminated by either party.
9.2 Termination by Merchant
You may cancel at any time through your Merchant Dashboard. Outstanding charges remain due upon cancellation. Dashboard access remains available for 90 days for billing records.
9.3 Termination by Nara
Nara may terminate with 30 days' written notice, or immediately for material breach, fraud, or violation of applicable law.
9.4 Effect of Termination
Upon termination: your discount stops appearing within 24 hours; outstanding fees remain due; and survival provisions apply.
9.5 Pause and Resume
Merchant may temporarily pause participation through the Merchant Dashboard at any time. While paused, Merchant's discount will not be displayed to users and no charges will be incurred. Merchant may resume participation at any time.
10. Intellectual Property
Merchant retains all rights to its business name, logo, and content. Nara retains all rights to the Platform and the Service. Neither party grants the other any license or right not expressly stated in this Agreement.
11. General Provisions
11.1 Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NARA'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO MERCHANT FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL FEES PAID BY MERCHANT TO NARA IN THE THREE (3) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM. NARA IS NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES.
11.2 Changes to This Agreement
Nara may update this Agreement with 30 days' notice via email. Continued participation constitutes acceptance.
11.3 Electronic Acceptance
By clicking "Join the Route," Merchant provides a legally binding electronic signature to this Agreement. Merchant's IP address and timestamp are recorded at the time of acceptance.
11.4 Entire Agreement
This Agreement, together with the Nara Privacy Policy and Merchant Dashboard settings, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the merchant program.
12. Indemnification
Merchant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Nara from claims arising from: (a) Merchant's products or services; (b) failure to honor valid discount codes; (c) violation of this Agreement or applicable law; (d) any dispute between Merchant and a Platform user; or (e) infringement of third-party intellectual property rights.
13. Dispute Resolution
13.1 Informal Resolution
The parties agree to attempt good-faith informal resolution of any dispute for 30 days following written notice.
13.2 Binding Arbitration
Unresolved disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration under AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules. Arbitration shall be on an individual basis — class arbitrations and class actions are not permitted. The Federal Arbitration Act governs.
13.3 Venue and Governing Law
Arbitration shall be conducted in the State of Texas. This Agreement is governed by Texas law, without regard to conflict of law principles.
14. Force Majeure
Neither party shall be liable for failure or delay due to causes beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, internet outages, third-party service failures, or other events outside the affected party's control.
15. Independent Relationship
The parties are independent contractors. This Agreement does not create a partnership, joint venture, employment relationship, or agency. Merchant has no authority to bind Nara.
Questions about this Agreement? Contact us at support@narrativeguides.com or write to Narrative Guides LLC, 500 Westover Dr #20307, Sanford NC 27330.