NicheShift

For hosts

How payouts work

Stripe Connect Express handles every dollar from card to bank. We take the platform fee off the top, Stripe takes its processing fee, and the rest lands in your account on a next-business-day schedule.

The flow

  1. 1. Verify identity with Stripe

    During host onboarding, Stripe Connect Express collects your name, address, government ID, and tax info (W-9 in the US). This happens in Stripe's hosted form. NicheShift never sees your full ID or bank account.

  2. 2. Renter pays via Stripe Checkout

    At booking time, the renter pays the full booking total (your hourly rate × hours + optional insurance + tax). The money lands on the platform Stripe account.

  3. 3. Platform fee deducted

    Stripe Connect peels off the platform fee at charge time — 10% on marketplace bookings, 3% on widget-driven bookings. The remainder is held against your connected account.

  4. 4. Daily transfer to your bank

    Stripe transfers your share to the bank account on file the next business day after each booking's start time. The transfer arrives 1-2 business days after that depending on your bank.

Two fee tiers based on where the booking came from

You always know which tier is in force: the renter's receipt and your earnings export both label every booking with its source.

Marketplace

10%

Bookings that come through search or category links on NicheShift. Default tier for every new listing.

Widget

3%

Bookings driven through your embedded widget on your own site. Same checkout, same insurance, same payouts — discounted because you supplied the traffic.

The renter never pays a service fee on top. Both tiers are deducted from the host side at charge time.

When does the money move?

  • Charge: at booking confirmation (instant bookings) or upon host approval (request-to-book).
  • Available: on the next business day after the booking's start time. Stripe holds the funds for the cancellation window first.
  • Wired to your bank: 1-2 business days after "available," per Stripe's standard schedule.

See it on your dashboard

The host earnings page shows three rolling totals: pending (charged but not yet released), available (released, awaiting transfer), and paid out (already wired). Each booking line links to its receipt and the source (marketplace or widget).

Open earnings dashboard

Where each dollar goes

Booking totalThe amount the renter sees on their card statement. Your hourly rate × hours, plus optional insurance, plus tax. There's no service fee added on top.
Platform fee10% marketplace / 3% widget. Funds NicheShift operations, Stripe Connect, insurance integration, and your support team.
Stripe processing feeStripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge. Not the same as the platform fee. Stripe keeps this regardless of whether the booking later cancels.
Insurance premiumWhen the renter binds a Thimble policy, the premium pass-through is paid to Thimble. NicheShift does not keep any portion of the premium.
Sales taxCollected when applicable based on your business location. NicheShift does not remit on your behalf at MVP. Your tax pro should review what you owe; Stripe issues a 1099-K at year-end if you cross the threshold.
Your payoutWhatever remains after the platform fee. Stripe wires it to your linked bank account on the next-business-day schedule.

Taxes (the short version)

NicheShift is not a tax advisor. The notes below are practical orientation; talk to your accountant about specifics.

W-9 (US hosts)

Stripe collects your W-9 during Connect onboarding. You must complete it to receive payouts. If you operate as a company, supply the EIN; otherwise your SSN.

1099-K (US hosts)

Stripe issues a 1099-K to US hosts who cross the federal threshold ($20,000 / 200 transactions for 2025; check current rules) in a calendar year. Some states have lower thresholds; Stripe handles the state-specific paperwork.

Sales tax

We don't collect or remit sales tax. Talk to your tax advisor about whether short-term commercial space rentals trigger sales tax in your state and how to register if so.

Receipts and invoices

Each booking generates a PDF receipt linked from the booking detail page. The host dashboard has an earnings export (CSV) for any time range; use it for your accountant.

What happens to my payout if a booking is refunded?

Renter cancels with full refund

Platform fee is refunded too. You take the booking off your earnings; Stripe absorbs its processing fee. No payout deducted (or your next one shrinks if you were already paid).

Renter cancels with partial refund

Platform fee is retained (the renter eats it as part of the policy haircut). Stripe processing fee is not refunded. You keep the un-refunded portion of your share.

You cancel a confirmed booking

Renter receives 100% refund regardless of the listing policy. If you cancel within 24 hours of start, a $25 late-host penalty deducts from your next payout and the cancellation is flagged for admin review.

Chargeback (renter disputes their card)

Stripe holds the disputed amount during investigation. We work the dispute with you and respond to Stripe with evidence (booking, license acceptance, messages). Outcome takes 60-90 days.

Full cancellation policy

Payout isn't arriving?

  • Stripe still pending verification? Open the host dashboard banner that prompts you to finish Stripe onboarding. Payouts unlock as soon as Stripe approves your ID + bank.
  • Bank rejected the transfer? Stripe retries once. If it fails again, the host dashboard surfaces an alert and the funds stay in your Stripe balance until you update the account.
  • Don't see the booking on your earnings page? Wait for the payment status to flip from pending to confirmed (instant bookings are immediate; request bookings depend on your acceptance).
Contact billing