Understanding Payouts & Revenue
How revenue flows from reader purchases to your bank account — understanding fees, payout timing, and your revenue dashboard.
This guide provides a complete picture of how money flows through BookAuth — from the moment a reader clicks "Buy Now" to when the funds arrive in your bank account.
What You'll Learn
- The complete revenue flow from sale to payout
- How to read your revenue dashboard
- Fee structure breakdown
- Historical payout tracking
The Revenue Flow
Step-by-Step: What Happens When a Reader Buys Your Book
- Reader clicks "Buy Now" on your book page
- Stripe processes the payment — card is charged
- Stripe processing fee is deducted (2.9% + $0.30)
- BookAuth platform fee is deducted (2-5% based on your plan)
- Net revenue is held in your Stripe account
- After the holding period (7 days for new accounts), funds are released
- Payout is deposited to your linked bank account
Fee Summary
For a $9.99 book sale on the Pro plan:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | $9.99 |
| Stripe fee (2.9% + $0.30) | -$0.59 |
| BookAuth fee (3% Pro) | -$0.30 |
| Your net revenue | $9.10 (91.1%) |
Your Revenue Dashboard
Navigate to Revenue > Dashboard to see:
Summary Cards
- Total Revenue — lifetime gross sales
- Net Earnings — after all fees
- This Month — current month's earnings
- Pending Payouts — funds in transit to your bank
Revenue Chart
A line chart showing your earnings over time (daily, weekly, or monthly view). Use this to:
- Identify sales trends
- Measure the impact of promotions
- Track growth month-over-month
Recent Transactions
A table of recent sales showing:
- Book title
- Sale price
- Fees deducted
- Net revenue
- Date and time
- Buyer (anonymized)
Fee Structure by Plan
| Plan | BookAuth Fee | Stripe Fee | Your Take on $9.99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 5% ($0.50) | 2.9%+$0.30 ($0.59) | $8.90 (89.1%) |
| Pro | 3% ($0.30) | 2.9%+$0.30 ($0.59) | $9.10 (91.1%) |
| Business | 2% ($0.20) | 2.9%+$0.30 ($0.59) | $9.20 (92.1%) |
Revenue Reports
Monthly Revenue Report
Available at the end of each month in Revenue > Reports:
- Total sales count
- Gross revenue
- Fees breakdown
- Net earnings
- Top-selling books
- Revenue by book
Year-End Report
At year end, a comprehensive report includes:
- Annual revenue summary
- Per-book breakdown
- Fee totals (useful for tax deductions)
- Monthly trend comparison
Exporting Data
- CSV export — download transaction history for your accounting software
- PDF report — formatted summary for records
- Available on all plans
Understanding Refunds
If a reader requests a refund:
- The refund is processed through Stripe
- Your net revenue is adjusted (the sale amount is returned)
- Stripe's processing fee is NOT refunded — Stripe retains their fee on refunds
- BookAuth's platform fee IS refunded — you're not charged BookAuth's fee on refunded sales
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do I get paid?
A: Stripe pays out to your bank daily after the holding period (7 days for new accounts, potentially shorter for established accounts).
Q: Can I see individual transaction details?
A: Yes. The Revenue Dashboard shows every transaction with full fee breakdowns.
Q: What currency are payouts in?
A: USD by default. You can configure your payout currency in your Stripe dashboard.
Q: How do discount codes affect my revenue?
A: Discount codes reduce the sale price. Fees are calculated on the discounted price (not the original).
Q: Are there minimum payout thresholds?
A: Stripe has a $1.00 minimum payout. Earnings below this accumulate until reached.
Related Articles
- Connecting Stripe for Payouts
- Book Pricing — Free, Paid & Subscriber-Only
- Understanding Platform Fees by Plan
- Sales Analytics — Tracking Your Performance