Overview
SquadTrip charges a single flat 6% processing fee on all payments, which covers standard card and digital wallet transactions through Stripe or Square. There are no monthly fees, no hidden charges, and no withdrawal fees. Additional costs only apply for international cards, currency conversion, or when a traveler chooses Buy Now, Pay Later at checkout.
Is the platform free to use?
SquadTrip is completely free to use. Premium subscription plans offer additional features and tools for enhanced experiences.
How are fees structured for organizers and travelers?
SquadTrip charges a flat 6% payment processing fee, which includes Stripe fees for cards and digital wallets.
Example calculation: On a $1,000 trip, the traveler pays $1,060.00. Stripe receives $31.04, SquadTrip receives $28.96, and the organizer receives $1,000.
Standard fees covered: U.S.-issued cards and supported digital wallets (including Apple Pay) are fully covered by the 6% fee.
Additional Fee Exceptions
Scenario | Additional Fee | Who Pays |
International cards | +1.5% | Organizer |
Currency conversion | +1% | Organizer |
Buy Now, Pay Later (Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay) | +4% convenience fee | Traveler |
Square card payments | Covered by 6% fee | Included |
BNPL fees: When a traveler selects Klarna, Affirm, or Afterpay at checkout, a 4% convenience fee is automatically added to their total. The BNPL provider may also charge the traveler additional interest or fees depending on their chosen repayment plan.
Note: BNPL is available through Stripe for trips priced in USD or GBP. EUR is not supported for BNPL.
Are there any other fees?
No monthly or withdrawal fees apply. Stripe processes payments and SquadTrip covers standard Stripe fees. Payment disputes incur a $20 Stripe charge. Bank transfers to accounts via Stripe are fee-free.
How do I get paid?
Create or log into a Stripe account (and/or Square account) before publishing your trip. No additional setup is required for Klarna, Affirm, or Afterpay -- these are automatically available through your Stripe connection. Daily payouts transfer directly to your bank account.
Note: BNPL is not available for trips priced in EUR.
When do I get my first payment?
Stripe typically requires 7-14 days for initial payment verification, after which payments arrive on their regular schedule. Square payouts follow a similar timeline based on your Square dashboard settings.
Will my funds be held?
Funds deposit to your Stripe or Square account. Daily deposits transfer to your chosen bank account. Without setup, funds remain in your payment gateway account until manual transfer.
Important: If canceling a trip with delayed refunds, notify travelers to prevent chargebacks that could block your account.
Can I transfer funds before the closing date?
Yes. Funds deposit within 2 days of payment. Payment gateway signup is required.
Is Trip Data total inclusive of fees?
Yes, displayed totals already reflect deducted fees.
Why is my refund amount different?
When a refund is issued, the traveler receives a full refund including the 6% processing fee. However, Stripe does not refund its processing portion of that fee back to SquadTrip. This means the non-refundable Stripe cost is deducted from the organizer's account. See the Refund Deductions article for details.
Troubleshooting
Problem | Solution |
Traveler was charged more than the listed trip price | The 6% processing fee is added at checkout. If the traveler used BNPL, an additional 4% convenience fee applies. International cards add 1.5% and currency conversion adds 1%, both deducted from the organizer payout. |
Payout amount is less than expected | International card fees (1.5%) and currency conversion fees (1%) are deducted from the organizer's payout. Check your Stripe or Square dashboard for a detailed breakdown of each transaction. |
Payment dispute or chargeback received | Stripe charges a $20 dispute fee. Respond promptly through your Stripe dashboard with evidence of the booking. Contact [email protected] if you need assistance gathering documentation. |
First payout has not arrived | Stripe requires 7-14 days for initial verification on new accounts. Check your Stripe dashboard to confirm your bank account is verified and no additional identity documents are needed. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who pays the 6% processing fee -- the organizer or the traveler? A: The traveler pays the 6% fee, which is automatically added to the trip price at checkout. The organizer receives the full trip price they set. For example, a $1,000 trip costs the traveler $1,060.
Q: Is the 6% fee the same for Stripe and Square? A: Yes. The 6% processing fee applies to all transactions regardless of which payment gateway processes the payment. There is no difference in fees between Stripe and Square for standard card and Apple Pay transactions.
Q: Does the 4% BNPL fee go to SquadTrip or to the BNPL provider? A: The 4% convenience fee is a platform fee added to the traveler's total when they choose Klarna, Afterpay, or Affirm. The BNPL provider may charge the traveler additional interest or fees separately based on their repayment plan.
Q: Can I absorb the processing fee so my travelers pay the exact listed price? A: Yes. On the Packages tab in the trip builder, look for "Who pays the processing fees?" and select "All fees are paid by organizer." The fee is then included within the trip price, and travelers see one clean price at checkout with no separate processing fee line. By default, fees are paid by the traveler.
Q: Are there fees for issuing refunds? A: The traveler receives a full refund including the 6% processing fee. However, Stripe does not refund its processing portion of that fee, so the non-refundable Stripe cost is deducted from the organizer's account. There is no additional SquadTrip fee for processing refunds. See the Refund Deductions article for a detailed breakdown.
Related Articles
Contact: [email protected]