Vahendustaja

Vahendustaja is an Estonian term for an intermediary or broker who facilitates a transaction, service, or communication between two or more parties. The vahendustaja typically acts on behalf of a client (the principal) to connect, negotiate, and coordinate among others, without necessarily taking ownership of the goods or assuming direct control over the final outcome.

The role of a vahendustaja includes identifying the needs of the principal, finding suitable counterparties, presenting proposals, coordinating terms, and helping to implement agreements. They can operate in various settings, including business-to-business procurement, real estate, insurance, finance, logistics, or digital marketplaces. Vahendustaja arrangements can be between employees, independent contractors, or platform-based intermediaries, and the terms are usually defined by a contract or service agreement.

In practice, vahendustajad are expected to act in the principal’s best interests, disclose essential information, avoid conflicts of interest, and maintain confidentiality. Their fees are commonly paid as commissions, flat fees, or a combination, depending on the scope and risk of the intermediary task. The exact duties and liability of a vahendustaja are typically governed by the contract and applicable national law, including consumer protection and contract law.

Etymology and usage notes: the word combines vahendus (intermediation) with the suffix -taja, meaning a person who performs the action. The term is used in legal and business texts to denote intermediaries who broker or facilitate arrangements between parties. See also related terms such as vahendaja and vahendusteenus.