Overview
SquadTrip charges a single flat 6% processing fee on all payments, which includes the card-processing charges of Stripe or Square for standard card and digital wallet transactions. There are no monthly fees, no hidden charges, and no withdrawal fees. Additional costs apply only for international cards and currency conversion - Stripe’s own surcharges, deducted from your payout - or when a traveler chooses Buy Now, Pay Later at checkout.
Is the platform free to use?
SquadTrip is free to use. You can upgrade to Premium for $29/month for additional features and tools -- see squadtrip.com/pricing for details.
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 $15 Stripe charge. Bank transfers to accounts via Stripe are fee-free.
How do I get paid?
Connect your Stripe account before publishing your trip. Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay run through your Stripe connection. Turn them on per trip under Payments > Payment Options. If a toggle refuses to save, the message names the provider that is not active on your Stripe account - activate it there, then switch it on again. Square is offered as an alternative for card payments; SquadTrip recommends Stripe. Payouts go directly to your bank account on the schedule you set in Stripe.
Note: BNPL is not available for trips priced in EUR.
When do I get my first payment?
Stripe typically holds a first payout for 7 days (up to 14 for some accounts) as initial 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.
Do I have to wait until my trip closes to get paid?
No. Payouts follow your payment gateway’s schedule - with Stripe, typically within 2 business days of each payment - regardless of your trip dates. A connected payment gateway is required.
Is Trip Data total inclusive of fees?
No - Trip Data shows what you receive. The Amount Paid and Total Reservation Cost columns are shown after the 6% processing fee has been deducted.
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. Stripe adds 1.5% for international cards and 1% for currency conversion, both deducted from the organizer payout. |
Payout amount is less than expected | Stripe charges 1.5% on international cards and 1% for currency conversion, and deducts both 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 $15 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: By default the traveler pays the 6% fee, which is added to the trip price at checkout, and the organizer receives the full trip price they set. You can switch this per trip so that you absorb the fee instead - see "Can I absorb the processing fee" below. 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 every standard card and Apple Pay transaction regardless of which payment gateway processes the payment. Stripe’s international-card, currency-conversion and dispute charges, and the 4% BNPL fee, are separate and are listed above. 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]