One fixed fee, charged once, only when a professional is actually awarded — never a percentage of the job, never charged just for showing interest, and never charged to the owner.
Based on the agreed project price — the professional's own proposed or bid price, not the owner's budget range.
Once the fee is paid, there's a 24-hour cooldown where only confirming is possible — neither side can cancel yet. After that, either side can cancel or withdraw, picking a reason from a fixed list; the owner should confirm within 72 hours (a reminder goes out at the 48-hour mark), with a further 24-hour grace period where confirming still counts as on time. If nobody confirms within 96 hours, the deal automatically lapses, the fee is refunded, and both accounts get a strike. On any cancellation, the first one on an account is a plain warning with no strike — a second cancellation, and every one after, adds a real strike.
If the owner confirms but no real engagement ever follows, the professional can request a refund of the fee 15–30 days after confirmation. Every request is reviewed by a person before anything moves — approving refunds the fee and logs a strike on both accounts; denying keeps the fee and logs a strike on the professional's account instead, for a claim that didn't hold up.