FLARE
LoadingLoadingHow it works
You don’t need to know what something’s called, or even what kind of problem it is, to post it. Here’s what actually happens after you do, and everything else about using Flare, all on one page.
About
Flare is a problem-first marketplace for real-world physical problems, leaks, dead outlets, a garage door that won’t close, a car that won’t start, a lock that jammed, an appliance that stopped. You show what’s wrong instead of picking a category; Flare pushes it out to nearby people who’ve actually dealt with that kind of thing before, they say if they can help, and you choose who to work with.
Flare is early, launching first in San Diego. The principles below (why we built it this way) aren’t marketing copy, they’re the actual rules this product is held to.
What makes us different
Most of what people call a “home services marketplace” is really a directory you search: pick a category, browse profiles, compare prices and reviews, pick someone, then wait to hear back. TaskRabbit’s own flow works exactly this way, choose a Tasker by price, skill, and reviews, then schedule them. That’s a fine way to shop. It’s not a fast way to get help with something that’s actually wrong right now.
Flare runs the other direction. You don’t browse anyone. You post once, and the problem goes out to the people who could actually help, instead of you going and finding them.
A directory (TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, Angi)
🔥 Flare
With a directory, you go looking for help. With Flare, you post the problem once, and the help comes looking for you.
The number we actually care about isn’t how many profiles you compared. It’s the time between posting a problem and a qualified pro being ready to take it. Say something’s urgent and Flare moves it toward the top of nearby pros’ feeds first, that part’s real today. We’re not going to advertise a response time until Flare’s actually fast enough to back one up, but that’s the number we’re building toward shrinking, not how many stars someone has.
1. Show it
Point your phone at whatever broke, or just describe it in your own words. No categories to pick, no form to fill out first.
2. Pros say they can help
Flare pushes it out to nearby people who've actually dealt with that kind of thing before — you're not the one out searching. They say so, no diagnosis, no back-and-forth.
3. You pick who you want
Nobody's assigned to you and nobody messages you first. You look at who's available and choose, or don't, your call entirely.
4. Agree, then get it done
Settle on a price and a time right in the conversation, confirm the job, and see it through to a real outcome, not a star rating.
For professionals
Angi and Thumbtack charge for every lead, whether or not it turns into work, so pros pay to find out a job isn’t worth taking. TaskRabbit puts you through a background-check gate before you can accept your first task at all. Flare does neither.
No fee to sign up, browse, or reply
Seeing a problem, replying publicly, and messaging someone privately are all free, every time, for everyone, no subscription and no per-lead charge.
No background-check gate to start
You can respond to your first problem today. Flare doesn’t verify licenses, insurance, or identity yet, and says so plainly rather than implying a check that hasn’t happened.
Flare only takes a cut once a job is confirmed solved
Nothing changes hands before that, and no fee goes to Flare for just showing up or getting picked. Money only moves after the work is agreed done, same as the “Agree, then get it done” step above.
Every person who responds does it for free. No pay-per-lead like Angi or Thumbtack, so nobody's padding a price to cover what it cost them to see your post.
Why we built it this way
Most of what’s wrong with existing platforms isn’t the idea, it’s the incentives: engagement over resolution, leads sold to the highest bidder, trust signals nobody actually checked. Flare’s built around a short list of things we hold ourselves to instead.
Resolution over engagement
We're not trying to keep you scrolling. A problem that gets solved and closed is the whole point, not a loss of a session.
Your address stays private
We only ever show a neighbourhood, never a street address, to anyone you haven't personally agreed to work with.
No fake signals
No “verified” badge we haven't actually checked, no manufactured urgency, no invented activity. If we don't know it's true, we don't say it.
Free to post, free to help
No lead auctions, no pay-to-rank, no subscription to start helping. Flare only matters once you've actually agreed to work with someone.
Safety
No more and no less than what’s actually true today.
Flare isn’t for emergencies.
Smell gas, see fire or sparking, water near anything electrical, or someone’s hurt? Call emergency services or your utility first. Post here after.
What works today
You can report anything (a response, a message, a profile) for spam, unsafe advice, harassment, fraud, or anything else that’s off, and a real person reviews every report. You can block someone and never see or hear from them again. Your exact address is never asked for or shown to anyone.
What we don’t have yet
We don’t verify licenses, insurance, or identity. Hazards and scams only get caught when someone reports them, not automatically. There’s no formal dispute process yet if something goes wrong between two people. We’d rather tell you that plainly than let you assume otherwise.
Privacy
Your problem is public, your conversation isn’t
A problem’s description and any photos or video are public, so don’t include your exact address, house number, plates, or documents. A neighbourhood-level area is all Flare asks for. Once you continue with someone privately, that conversation is visible only to the two of you (plus Flare staff for safety and support).
One cookie, no tracking
One cookie, Supabase’s own session cookie, which is how being signed in works at all. No ad or cross-site tracking cookies. Page-view counts come from Vercel Analytics, which doesn’t use cookies or collect anything that identifies you.
Your data is yours to take or delete
You can download everything Flare has tied to your account, or permanently delete it, both from your profile page. Deletion removes everything, problems, responses, jobs, messages, addresses, credentials, and can’t be undone. Full steps, including if you signed up with Google or Facebook, are on the delete your data page.
Something wrong?
Hit Report right on the response, message, or profile it’s about, it carries the context over automatically. Nothing specific to point at? The same form works without one. There’s no automated moderation yet, so this is genuinely how it gets seen.
Report somethingTerms
Posting problems, browsing opportunities, and replying are free. Flare doesn’t process payments, doesn’t employ the people who respond, and doesn’t verify licenses, insurance, or identity yet, so don’t assume any professional is vetted. Flare isn’t an emergency service. You’re responsible for the work you agree to and the people you let into your home. Illegal, harassing, or deceptive content isn’t allowed, and Flare may remove content or accounts that break these rules. The full version is on the terms of use page.
Nothing until a job is actually done. Posting a problem, seeing responses, and messaging are free for customers. Professionals pay nothing to sign up, browse opportunities, or reply either — Flare only takes a cut once a job is confirmed solved.
Not yet. Flare doesn't verify licenses, insurance, or identity today, and says so plainly rather than implying a check that hasn't happened. Don't assume any professional on Flare is vetted.
Flare isn't for emergencies. If you smell gas, see fire or sparking, or have water near anything electrical, call emergency services or your utility first, then post on Flare afterward.
No. A problem's public description and photos never include your exact address — only a neighbourhood-level area. Your exact address is only shared once you choose someone to continue with, inside a private conversation.