Understanding Transaction Fees
Every transaction on Equipoise includes a small fee that covers payment processing and platform costs. This guide explains how fees work and how to configure them for your store.
Fee Structure
We charge a simple, transparent fee on each transaction:
| Transaction Type | Total Fee | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Store/Product Sales | 3.9% + $0.35 | Payment processing (2.9% + $0.30) + Platform (1% + $0.05) |
| Ticket Sales | 3.9% + $0.35 | Payment processing (2.9% + $0.30) + Platform (1% + $0.05) |
| Donations | 3.4% + $0.30 | Payment processing (2.9% + $0.30) + Platform (0.5%) |
Note: Donation fees are lower to support charitable giving.
Inclusive vs Exclusive Fees
You can choose how fees are handled at checkout. This is configured separately for products and tickets.
Inclusive Fees (Default for Products)
When fees are inclusive, they're baked into your listed price:
- Customer sees and pays your listed price
- You receive your price minus the fees
- No separate fee line item at checkout
Example: You list a product at $25.00
- Customer pays: $25.00
- Fees deducted: $1.33 (3.9% + $0.35)
- You receive: $23.67
Exclusive Fees (Default for Tickets)
When fees are exclusive, they appear as a separate service fee:
- Customer sees your price plus a service fee line item
- You receive your full listed price
- Fees are passed to the customer
Example: You list a ticket at $25.00
- Your price: $25.00
- Service fee: $1.38
- Customer pays: $26.38
- You receive: $25.00
Note: The exclusive fee is slightly higher ($1.38 vs $1.33) because fees are calculated on the total amount, not the base price.
Configuring Fee Display
From Your Dashboard
- Go to Settings
- Click the Checkout tab
- Configure your preferences:
- Product fees inclusive: Toggle on to bake fees into product prices
- Ticket fees inclusive: Toggle on to bake fees into ticket prices
- Click Save Checkout Settings
Common Configurations
| Business Type | Products | Tickets | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Store | Inclusive | N/A | Clean pricing, no surprises |
| Event Venue | N/A | Exclusive | Industry standard for events |
| Mixed Business | Inclusive | Exclusive | Best of both worlds |
| Nonprofit | Inclusive | Exclusive | Donors cover via fee offset |
Donor Fee Offset (Donations)
For donations, we offer a special fee offset option at checkout:
- Donors see a checkbox: "Add $X.XX to cover processing fees"
- If checked, the donor covers the fees
- 100% of their intended donation reaches you
- If unchecked, fees are deducted from the donation
Example: $100 donation
- With offset: Donor pays $103.83, you receive $100.00
- Without offset: Donor pays $100.00, you receive $96.30
Fee Calculation Formula
For Inclusive Fees
Your Net = Listed Price - (Listed Price × 3.9% + $0.35)
For Exclusive Fees
Because fees are charged on the total, we use:
Total = (Base Price + $0.35) ÷ (1 - 0.039)
Service Fee = Total - Base Price
This ensures you receive exactly your listed price after fees.
Viewing Fees on Transactions
To see the fees for any transaction:
- Go to Orders or Tickets
- Click on any transaction
- View the fee breakdown in the details panel
Tips for Pricing
With Inclusive Fees
- Factor fees into your pricing strategy
- Round to clean prices ($25.00, not $24.67)
- Consider your margins after fees
With Exclusive Fees
- Price products/tickets at round numbers
- Communicate the service fee in your marketing
- Common for concert tickets, conferences, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different fee settings for different products?
Currently, fee settings apply to all products or all tickets. Individual product fee settings are not available.
Why are exclusive fees slightly higher?
Exclusive fees must account for the fact that payment processing fees are charged on the total amount (including the fee itself). The formula ensures you receive exactly your listed price.
Can I negotiate lower fees?
High-volume accounts may be eligible for negotiated rates. Contact our sales team to discuss your needs.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. The fees shown above are the complete cost. There are no setup fees, monthly minimums, or hidden charges.