Escrow and secure payment
For: Venues · Professionals · Private individuals
The money for a shift doesn't change hands directly: it is held in escrow until the shift is completed and is then billed by the actual time worked.
At a glance
- What escrow is: Sunworker receives the amount on behalf of the professional and holds it until the payout. During that time it belongs neither to the client nor to the professional.
- Where the money is held: in a platform account with Stripe. You enter card and bank details directly into fields provided by Stripe; Sunworker does not store card details.
- What it protects: The professional knows the money is there. The client knows it is only paid out after the shift – and by the actual time worked.
How payment works
- The client adds a payment method. A venue cannot send a request without a default payment method.
- The Shift Contract is formed when the client confirms and the amount has been collected. If the collection fails, no contract is formed.
- The amount is held in escrow until the shift is completed.
- After the shift, the amount is recalculated from the confirmed actual time: an additional amount is charged to the same payment method, a lower amount is refunded. With a fixed price, neither applies.
- The clearing period starts on completion: 72 hours, the same on every level.
- After that, the amount received minus commission goes to the professional's payout account as soon as the invoice for the shift is available.
Card or SEPA direct debit
With a card, the payment usually goes through immediately and the shift is confirmed straight away. A SEPA direct debit takes time; until then the shift stays “accepted”. For short-notice shifts, a card is therefore the better choice. Adding a payment method
Who pays what
| Who | pays | receives |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | the professional's pay and a service fee on the order value | the professional's invoice and a receipt for the service fee |
| Private individual | the professional's pay, no service fee | the professional's invoice |
| Professional | a commission on the order value, deducted from the payout | the amount received minus commission, and a commission invoice |
- Venue service fee (of the order value)
- 15%
- Professional’s commission
- 15%
- Commission from Level 2
- 10%
- Commission from Level 3
- 8%
- Clearing after the booking
- 72 hours
What exactly counts towards the order value is explained under Pricing.
What protects you
If you run a venue
- The money only goes to the professional after the shift.
- Billing is based on the confirmed actual time; a lower amount is refunded.
- Your card details stay with Stripe.
If you work as a professional
- A Shift Contract is only formed once the amount has been collected.
- If you work longer, the additional amount is charged.
- The clearing period is the same on every level; there is no faster payout for a fee.
- Sunworker does not store your IBAN, only the last four digits and the name of the bank.
If you book privately
- You don't pay a service fee.
- The money is held in escrow until the shift is completed.
- Your card details stay with Stripe.
If an additional charge fails
- If the additional charge goes through
- The additional amount is included in the payout after the clearing period, minus commission.
- If it fails
- The remainder is a claim the professional has directly against the client. Sunworker only pays out what has been received and makes no advance payments.
- If the remainder is outstanding for more than 7 days
- The client cannot send new requests, create job postings or award them. A venue can still confirm existing shifts.
Warning: Only what runs through Sunworker is protected. Anyone who asks you to pay outside the platform is breaking the rules – you can report it. Contact and payment outside the platform
If you can't agree
If the client and the professional disagree about the hours, there is a set procedure. How it works is explained in Resolving disputes.
Frequently asked questions
When do I get my money as a professional?
After the clearing period of 72 hours from completion of the shift, as soon as the invoice is available. For multi-day shifts, the clearing period starts once all days have been confirmed.
Does Sunworker store my card details?
No. You enter them directly with Stripe. Sunworker only receives the card brand, the last four digits and the result of the payment.
Is there a faster payout for a fee?
No. The clearing period is the same for everyone.
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