Host guidelines

Hosts make Kept Plans work. People pay to join your plan and give it a free evening, so these guidelines are about earning that trust. They apply on top of the community guidelines.

Before the plan

Describe it honestly

• Use a clear title and the real activity. “Beach volleyball, 4 a side” beats “Fun Saturday!”.
• Post the real level: all levels, beginner friendly, intermediate or advanced. If you would be annoyed by a beginner, it is not beginner friendly.
• Show the full price up front on paid plans, and say what it covers: the court, the set menu, the lanes.
• List what to bring, and anything people need to buy themselves, like a festival ticket.

Pick the right size and place

• Your first three plans must be in public places, with 12 people or fewer.
• Set a minimum if the activity needs exact numbers. If the plan does not reach it, it closes and nobody is charged.
• Plans at your home are only for verified hosts, and only for activities that allow it, like board games, cooking or book clubs.
• Book the court, the table or the room before you post, not after people join.

On the day

• Arrive early. Be easy to find, and say where you are in the plan chat.
• Check people in as they arrive, or show your check-in code.
• Start with introductions. Names first, then the plan.
• Start on time. Late starts punish the people who were on time.
• Keep an eye on the group. If someone is struggling, left out or unsafe, step in, and use the safety button if needed.
• End clearly, and mention the album so photos land in one place.

Money

• All payments for a plan listed on Kept Plans go through Kept Plans. Never ask for cash, transfers or payment apps on the side.
• The price covers the plan. Do not add surprise costs on the day.
• Your host fee is yours to set. Keep it fair for what you provide.
• Payouts arrive after the plan through Stripe: the costs your guests paid their share of, your host fee, and 50% of each RSVP.

Boats and rides

If the plan happens on your boat, or you drive the group somewhere, you can split real costs (fuel, parking, tolls, a rental, launch fees) and nothing more. The app turns the host fee off for these plans. Charging people for the ride or the boat itself can turn a group outing into a paid charter or a taxi service, which needs licenses and insurance most people do not have.

• Use a boat or car you are licensed and insured to operate, and keep to its passenger limit.
• Life jackets for everyone on a boat, and seat belts for everyone in a car.
• No alcohol for whoever is at the wheel or the helm.
• If you run a licensed charter or tour, list it as a venue instead, so the price and your paperwork are handled properly.

Activities with real risks

For swimming, boating, climbing, contact sports and similar plans, the join screen lists the main risks and each person confirms them before they join. Switch this on for your own plan if the activity has risks people should think about. Say the skill level plainly, bring what the activity needs to be done safely, and turn people away on the day if they are clearly not ready. That is part of running it well.

Cancelling

Things happen. If you have to cancel, do it as early as possible, from the plan. Nobody is charged, and everyone is told. Cancelling often, or at the last minute, affects your standing as a host and can pause your hosting.

Weather calls are yours to make for outdoor plans. Make them early, before people leave home, and say why.

Alcohol

If a plan centers on alcohol, mark it 21 and over. Never serve or supply alcohol to anyone under 21, and do not pressure anyone to drink. Venues check ID; hosts at home must not serve alcohol at plans unless every guest is 21 or over.

Safety and boundaries

• You are a host, not a security guard. If something feels wrong, stop the plan, and call the local emergency number if anyone is in danger.
• Do not use hosting to pursue guests romantically. Guests came for the plan.
• Do not message past guests to sell them things. Host Pro lets you message past guests about future plans, and that is what it is for.

After the plan

• Fix any check-in mistakes quickly, like someone who came but forgot to tap.
• Read the private feedback. It is how good hosts become great ones.
• If it went well, run it again. Most clubs start as one good night.

What gets hosting paused

Repeated late cancellations, plans that do not match their description, payments taken outside Kept Plans, unsafe behaviour, or repeated reports. We will tell you why, and serious cases are removed straight away.