{"slug":"bark","name":"Bark.com","category":"local-services","workerTerm":"professionals","classification":"Bark's terms say professionals are independent business owners who contract directly with customers, not employees or contractors of Bark. Bark is a lead marketplace and is not a party to the job contract.","taxForms":"Bark issues no 1099 for job income because customers pay professionals directly. A pro may still get a 1099-K from their own card processor (no threshold for card payments) or payment app (over $20,000 and more than 200 transactions in 2026), plus a 1099-NEC from any business client that pays them $2,000 or more in 2026. Homeowners paying for personal jobs don't file 1099s.","platformFees":"No commission. Pros buy credits to respond to leads, at a standard rate of $2.35 per credit (packs cost less per credit). The credits needed for a lead depend on the service, the size of the job, and local supply and demand, and Bark shows the cost before you respond. Credits bought on or after November 1, 2025 expire 3 months after purchase, and unused credits can't be refunded. Bark's pricing page promises to return all credits from a first pack that doesn't win any business.","payouts":"Bark doesn't process job payments. Customers pay the professional directly on terms the two of them agree, and the pro keeps 100% of what the job pays.","deductions":["Bark credit packs and auto top-ups (lead costs, deductible as advertising)","Business mileage to quotes and job sites (72.5 cents per mile through June 30, 2026; 76 cents from July 1, 2026)","Tools, equipment, and job materials","Card-processing and payment-app fees on customer payments","Business licenses and liability insurance","Home office used regularly and only for the business"],"watchOuts":["Bark sends no 1099, so all job income has to be tracked yourself, including cash and checks.","Card payments through Square, Stripe, or similar processors can trigger a 1099-K at any dollar amount, because card transactions have no threshold.","Credits bought on or after November 1, 2025 expire after 3 months and can't be refunded. Keep receipts for every pack, including credits that expire unused.","Business customers file a 1099-NEC only if they pay you $2,000 or more in 2026. Smaller jobs are still taxable."],"competitors":["thumbtack","angi","taskrabbit","yelp","houzz","porch"],"sources":["https://help.bark.com/hc/en-us/articles/13346288068892-What-is-a-credit-and-how-much-does-it-cost","https://www.bark.com/en/us/sellers/pricing/","https://www.bark.com/en/us/terms/","https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/form-1099-k-faqs-general-information","https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1099mec","https://www.irs.gov/irb/2026-29_IRB"],"notes":"Fees confirmed on Bark's help center (updated June 10, 2026) and US pricing page. Classification confirmed in Bark terms section 2.2.","asOf":"2026-10-07","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/platforms/bark","affiliated":false}