[prostoalex]

You're right, my experience stems from Homejoy-like services. The ones I had in mind were 1-800-DENTIST and similar, but looks like they steer away from specific pricing, and so do Amazon and RedBeacon.

Franchise owners are independent businesses, which doesn't prevent McDonald's and KFC from advertising $5 special and requiring franchisees to accept that rate.

Large trucking companies are attracting independent owners/operators at advertised mileage rates with a "take-it-or-leave-it" implication. The owner/operator stays independent while accepting a truck load at a pre-determined rate.

On a broader scale though, nothing prevents me from posting a Craigslist ad "Looking for a ride to the airport this Saturday, my budget is $40". It does not constitute an employer-employee relationship, and an argument could be had that Uber/Lyft are just proxies for posting and fulfilling such requests. Extend that to moving, plumbing, etc.

Or am I completely off?

[tomcam]

You're a little off on the franchisee thing. Franchisees are not required to accept price suggestions from corporate. That's why the $5 promos are always accompanied by the "valid only at participating stores" fine print.