When a learner buys a course, the money flows from your academy through Stripe Connect into your own Stripe account, then out to your bank. This article explains how payouts are timed, what fees come out, and how refunds work so there are no surprises on payday.
Where the money goes
Because Klimb uses Stripe Connect, every charge lands directly in your connected Stripe account — Klimb never holds your funds. From there, Stripe pays out to the bank account you set up during onboarding. If you haven’t connected yet, start with Connecting your Stripe account.
When payouts land
Payouts follow Stripe’s payout schedule for your account, which is typically a rolling daily or weekly transfer once funds clear. A few notes:
- New accounts often have a short initial hold while Stripe verifies activity — this is normal and resolves on its own.
- After the first payout, funds settle and pay out on Stripe’s regular cadence.
- You can view exact payout dates and amounts anytime in your Stripe Dashboard, and a summary in Klimb’s revenue and payout reports.
If payouts stall, the most common cause is an incomplete Stripe verification task. Open your Stripe Dashboard and clear any outstanding requests.
The platform fee
Klimb charges a platform fee — a small percentage of each sale — that depends on your subscription plan. Higher plans carry a lower percentage, so as your sales grow it’s often worth comparing plans on the pricing page.
The fee is taken per transaction on the amount the learner actually pays:
- It’s calculated after any coupon discount, on the final charged amount.
- Stripe’s own processing fee applies separately, as with any Stripe account.
- Your payout equals the sale amount minus the platform fee and Stripe’s processing fee.
A quick example: on a course sold for 100 with a 25% coupon, the learner pays 75. The platform fee and Stripe fee are calculated on that 75, and the remainder is what reaches your bank.
Refunds
When you refund a purchase, the learner gets their money back through Stripe and the refunded amount is deducted from your Stripe balance — usually netted against your next payout. Things to know:
- Refunding revokes the learner’s entitlement to that course unless you choose to keep their access. See Issuing refunds and revoking access.
- Stripe’s processing fee on the original charge may not be returned, per Stripe’s policy.
- Because a refund moves money, Klimb asks you to confirm before processing it.
Disputes and chargebacks
If a learner disputes a charge with their bank, Stripe handles the chargeback process in your Stripe Dashboard. Respond with evidence (proof of access, your refund policy) to contest it. Disputes are deducted from your balance until resolved.
Reading your earnings
For a clear view of gross revenue, fees, refunds, and net payouts over time, use Revenue and payout reports. For the authoritative record of every transfer to your bank, your Stripe Dashboard is always the source of truth.
Understanding these mechanics helps you price confidently — factor the platform and processing fees into your target take-home when you set prices in Pricing your courses.