Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Local Break?

Local Break is a community platform created for true San Clemente locals. It connects you with local businesses that want to recognize and appreciate the people who actually live here.

You get access to locals-only perks, deals, and small thank-yous from participating businesses — and in return, they get to know the real people who make this town what it is.

2. How do I join Local Break?

Joining is simple and takes less than a minute.

• Create your account. Enter your name, email, and basic info.
• Answer a few human questions. These help businesses connect with you as a real neighbor, not just a customer. You'll answer things like:
  • How long you've lived in San Clemente
  • Your favorite local spot
  • Your interests (surfing, hiking, etc.)
  • A short "about me"
• Get verified as a true local. The fastest way is a $0 card check — we read the billing ZIP on your card to confirm you're in San Clemente. No charge is ever made and no subscription is created. Prefer not to use a card? Upload a photo ID instead and we'll verify you manually, usually within 24 hours.
• Start saving perks. Once verified, you can browse perks, save your favorites, and redeem them in person.

3. What if my ZIP code doesn't automatically verify?

If the billing ZIP on your card doesn't match a San Clemente ZIP code, you can verify manually by uploading:

• A driver's license
• A utility bill

Any irrelevant information can be covered or blacked out for privacy. Local Break protects all information and uses it only to benefit locals and participating businesses.

4. How do I find perks and deals?

Inside the Local Break app, you can:

• Browse the full list of participating businesses
• Search by category (food, retail, fitness, etc.)
• Search by business name
• Save perks to your favorites

When you save a perk, your personal QR code is automatically created for redemption.

5. How do I redeem a perk at a business?

Redeeming a perk is easy and takes seconds:

1. Open the Local Break app
2. Tap the perk you want to redeem
3. Show your phone to the business
4. They tap "Scan QR Code" on their dashboard
5. They hover over your QR code
6. The perk instantly appears on their screen

That's it — you're good to go.

6. What does the business see when they scan my QR code?

They see:

• The perk you're redeeming
• Your Local Break profile answers — how long you've lived here, your favorite local spot, your interests, your neighborhood (if you choose to share it)

They do not see your address, phone number, payment info, or anything sensitive. Your profile is designed to spark connection — not expose private details.

7. Why do businesses see my profile?

Because Local Break is about community, not coupons. Your profile helps businesses:

• Recognize you as a real local
• Start a genuine conversation
• Build familiarity over time
• Create a locals-first culture

It turns a quick transaction into a human moment.

8. How often can I use perks?

Each perk can be redeemed once per local. Some perks may also have a total cap set by the business. The app will show you exactly what's allowed before you tap to redeem.

9. Does Local Break cost anything for locals?

No. Local Break is free for locals. There's no membership fee, no card required to join, and nothing to cancel.

If we ever introduce a paid option down the road, we'll email you well in advance and you'll get to decide then — you will never be charged for something you didn't agree to.

10. Why do I need to verify that I'm a local?

Because Local Break is built for the people who actually live in San Clemente. Verification ensures perks stay exclusive to locals — not tourists, not visitors, not people passing through. This keeps the value where it belongs: with the community.

11. What if a business doesn't recognize Local Break yet?

You can gently encourage them — and you really should — because Local Break is already changing things for the better here in San Clemente. You can show them the Local Break website and point out the "Join Local Break" button. It takes a business less than two minutes to enroll and create their first deal.

Local Break was designed to be robust, but incredibly simple, and the platform is getting more polished every day.

12. What if a perk doesn't load or something glitches?

Because Local Break is currently in beta testing, small bugs may appear. If something doesn't work:

• Close and reopen the app
• Refresh your perks
• Or email support at support@localbreak.biz

We're updating the platform daily to make everything smoother.

13. Why is Local Break starting in San Clemente?

Because San Clemente is the founder's hometown — the place that shaped this entire idea. Local Break was created with care, compassion, and love for this town, with the goal of bringing the community closer and creating a new positive buzz around local businesses and locals themselves.

San Clemente gets it first because it deserves it.

14. Is there a trial period for locals?

There's nothing to trial — Local Break is simply free for locals. Your account doesn't expire, and there's no countdown running in the background.

15. How can I suggest improvements?

We love suggestions — this platform is being shaped by the community. Send ideas to suggestions@localbreak.biz.

Your feedback directly helps improve the experience for everyone in town.

16. What are the age requirements to join Local Break?

Local Break accounts are available to verified local residents who are 18 or older. Adults hold the primary account because verification, redemptions, and the family account all sit under a legal adult.

17. Can teens join Local Break?

Yes — as part of a family membership. Teens can have their own Local Break account starting on their 13th birthday and continuing until the day they turn 18. Their account is linked to the primary verified local resident and included under the family plan.

18. How much does it cost to add family members?

Nothing — adding family members is free, just like the primary account. Each added family member (ages 13–17) receives their own login, profile, and access to Local Break, all tied to the primary adult's verified local account.

19. What happens when a family member turns 18?

On their 18th birthday, they'll create their own free Local Break account and verify as a local themselves. Their family-linked youth account will no longer be eligible.

20. Can kids under 13 join?

No. Local Break accounts are only available starting at age 13, when added under a family membership.

1. What is Local Break?

Local Break is a community platform that helps businesses connect with real locals in a human, meaningful way.

Locals create short, personal profiles. Businesses offer perks. When a local redeems a perk, the business gets to see who they are — not just a customer, but a neighbor.

2. How do businesses sign up?

The sign-up process is simple:

• Create your business account. Enter your business name, address, contact info, and choose your category. No credit card required.
• Create your first perk — right away. You're signed in automatically and taken straight to deal creation. You don't have to log back in, and you don't have to wait on us to do this step.
• You're live right away. There's no waiting on us and no approval queue. The moment you save your first perk, locals can see you.
• Staying visible. Your business shows up as long as you have at least one active perk. If all your perks are paused or expired, your business is hidden until a perk is active again.

You can add your logo and offer as many perks as you want at any time — there's no limit, and you can edit or pause them whenever you like.

3. How does it work when a local visits my business?

This is the heart of Local Break — the moment where businesses and locals become community.

1. The local shows their phone. They'll open the Local Break app and show the perk they want to redeem.
2. You tap "Scan QR Code" in your business dashboard. Once the QR Scan tool is open, hover your device over the QR code on their screen.
3. The perk instantly appears on your screen. You're scanning the perk you created, now being presented by the local on-site. The moment you hover over it, the perk details appear instantly.
4. You see their Local Break profile. This is the magic moment.

You'll see human details like:

• How long they've lived in town
• Their favorite local spots
• Whether they surf, skate, hike, or have kids
• What neighborhood they're from

It's a one-second way to turn a stranger into a familiar face.

4. What is the purpose of the local's profile?

The profile is designed to help you:

• Start a real conversation
• Build loyalty naturally
• Remember people when they return
• Create a "locals first" culture inside your business

It's not about data. It's about connection.

5. What perks can my business offer?

You can build a perk using any of these three discount types:

• Percentage off — e.g. 20% off your order
• Flat amount off — e.g. $5 off
• Free — pair with custom text for things like "Free coffee with any pastry," "Free locals-only gift," or "Free upgrade"

You can run multiple perks at the same time and pick a start date and expiration for each. If you want a one-day "morning special," set the start and expiry to that morning. If you want to cap a perk so only the first 50 locals can claim it, set a max-redemptions number when creating the deal.

6. How do locals join?

Locals answer 4–5 simple human questions:

• How long they've lived here
• Their favorite local spot
• Their interests (surfing, hiking, etc.)
• A short "about me"

Important: Locals must be verified before they can redeem any perk.

Joining is free for locals. Verification is a $0 card check — we read the billing ZIP on their card to confirm it matches a San Clemente ZIP code, with no charge and no subscription. If that doesn't match, locals can instead present:

• A driver's license
• A utility bill

Any irrelevant information can be covered or blacked out for privacy. All information on Local Break is protected and used only in ways that benefit locals and participating businesses.

7. How do locals find my business?

Locals can:

• Scroll through the Local Break feed
• Search by category
• Search by business name
• Save your perk to their favorites

Once they save your perk, a QR code is automatically created for redemption.

Plus: your business receives a free Local Break window sticker with a QR code linking to the mobile platform. Locals can join directly from that sticker.

8. How does the QR code that a local presents work?

The QR code is generated when a local saves your perk. When your business scans it:

• You're scanning the perk you created, now being presented by the local
• It confirms the perk
• It shows the perk details
• It reveals the local's profile
• It logs the redemption for your records

9. Can I see analytics or insights?

Yes. Your dashboard shows:

• How many locals viewed your perk
• How many saved it
• How many redeemed it
• Basic profile insights (no personal contact info)

This helps you understand your local audience.

10. What does Local Break cost?

Nothing right now. Local Break is free for businesses — no subscription, no credit card required to sign up, no per-scan fees, and no contract. Post as many perks as you like.

Longer term, we plan to offer a free level, a standard level, and a premium level, so there will always be a way to be on Local Break at no cost. Pricing for the paid levels isn't set yet.

Our promise: nobody gets charged by surprise. If paid levels launch, we'll email every business at least 30 days beforehand, and you'll choose whether to upgrade. If you added a card early, it still won't be charged without that notice.

11. Can I change my perks anytime?

Yes — instantly. You can update, pause, or replace perks whenever you want. You can also run multiple perks at once.

12. What if a local tries to redeem a perk twice?

Each local can redeem a given perk one time. Once they've redeemed it, the system won't let them re-redeem the same perk — re-opening their saved version will show it as already used.

If you want to limit a perk further (for example, "only the first 50 locals get this"), set a maximum redemptions cap when you create the deal.

13. What if my staff needs to use Local Break?

Currently there is one main login per business, and any number of staff members can be signed in at the same time. This makes it easy for multiple employees to scan perks throughout the day.

14. What if I need help?

Local Break provides:

• Quick support
• Onboarding help
• Perk strategy guidance
• In-person or virtual walkthroughs

Email support@localbreak.biz any time.

15. A few notes about the beta