All Things Getting Paid

Whether you're a new expert navigating the platform for the first time or looking to learn more to take the leap and sign up as a new expert, this guide is designed to give you peace of mind and a deeper understanding of all things payments.

We’ll Cover:

1. The Expert Session fair and transparent pricing model (aka how we make money)
2. How to securely connect your bank using Stripe 
3. How to collect & track your earnings made on the Expert Session platform
4. How the checkout process works for the the learners booking sessions with you
5. Refunds & Cancellations

Simple, Fair, & Transparent Pricing Model

Our business model is straightforward: when you host a successful session, you'll receive 80% of the revenue from that session, and we'll retain 20% as a service fee. We believe in the value of your expertise that you are bringing to our platform and are committed to ensuring that you receive the majority of the session revenue. This fee is all-inclusive and simplified, covering all costs related to providing a secure, user-friendly platform, a shareable and bookable profile, messaging, and secure payment processing. There are no hidden costs, additional monthly platform fees, or ongoing subscription costs.

Our cost structure is designed to be transparent, uncomplicated, and fair. With this model, we only earn a commission when you do, and our success as a company is tied to your success as an expert who is getting paid on the platform.

You will not incur any ongoing costs if you are not earning on the platform which means there is no risk to get started and try it out!

💡 In Summary:

• You keep 80% of your earnings from every completed session
• 20% of each session is retained as an all-inclusive platform fee (including any Stripe Transaction fees)
• There are no additional or monthly fees to use Expert Session outside of the 20% per session fee
• Zero Risk: If you do not earn anything, you do not pay anything

Syncing Your Payment Account with Stripe

Your monthly earnings above $100 are directly deposited into your bank account that has been connected via Stripe. ❗ Without completing this step, you will be ineligible to be booked and collect payment.

What is Stripe?

Expert Session has partnered with Stripe as our third party payment processing provider. Stripe enables us to collect payments on your behalf and directly deposit them into your bank account in a streamlined and secure way for both you and the learners who book with you.

To learn more about Stripe, you can visit their website here and access their dedicated support portal.

How to Access the Stripe Connection Process Step:

You will be prompted to complete this step during the step-by-step guided profile tool when you first sign up. If you skipped the guided onboarding pop-up, you will be prompted to complete the required steps in order to publish your profile with a banner at the top of every screen. You will also be prompted to connect Stripe directly from your Expert Dashboard.

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Requirements for Syncing Your Payment Accounts via Stripe:

• Must have a USA based bank account
• Must have a US Social Security Number
• Must be authorized to legally collect payment in the United States

Why is syncing with Stripe required?  

• Identity Verification: Stripe enables Expert Session to verify users' identities to issue compliant payouts
• Streamlined Payouts: Stripe makes it easy to deposit your earnings directly to your bank account, minimizing delays
• Hassle-Free Tax Compliance: With Stripe, we can verify whether you have met earning thresholds and streamline the process of issuing required year-end tax documents.

Your trust and security are our top priorities, and syncing with Stripe helps us maintain the highest standards while providing you with a seamless experience. 

Step by Step For Connecting your Bank With Stripe

Here is a step by step overview of what to expect during the syncing process:

Step 1: Email & Phone Verification 

Launch the Stripe Connection Window from Expert Session. Stripe will guide you step by step to request the required information to add your payout account and verify your identity. The first screen you will see your email and be asked to provide your phone number for verification.

Step 2: Tell us About Your Business

After you have successfully verified your phone number/email you will be asked to confirm what type of business entity you are signing up as. The options are individual, company, or nonprofit. Unless you have filed legal paperwork to formally register as a business or nonprofit, you will be considered an individual.

Step 3: Verify Your Personal Details

In order to verify your identity, you will need to provide your full legal name, date of birth, and last 4 digits of your US social security number. (If you do not have a US social security number or an equivalently accepted tax ID number that allows you to collect income within the United States, you will be unable to continue.) If Stripe has any difficulties verifying your identity, you may be asked to provide another form of verification by providing a photo of your driver’s license, passport, or identity card.

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Step 4: Select and Account for Payouts

Next, you should sync your bank account to be eligible for bookings and automatic direct deposit payments. Expert Session does not collect, store, or have visible access to any banking information or credentials provided during the connection process. We will only deposit money into your linked account of choice and do not have the ability to withdraw funds.

Stripe will then guide you step by step on how to sync your bank based on the deposit account method you select. Your bank may require and additional identity verification process at this stage to confirm it is really you.

Options for Connecting your Bank via Stripe:

• Bank Credentials - login username and password
• Debit Card
• Manual Sync with Account & Routing Number

Step 5: Confirm and Submit

In the last step, you will be shown a summary screen including the personal details and successfully linked payout account to review for accuracy. If everything looks right to you, hit “Agree & Submit” to complete the process.

Once your payout account has been successfully linked and your identity has been verified, you are now officially ready to start collecting payment from Expert Session. 🎉💰

Collecting & Tracking Your Earnings

When and How You Get Paid

Your session earnings are paid out monthly on the 21st of each month. To qualify for automatic and direct deposit, your earnings balance must reach a minimum of $100. If you haven't reached this threshold, don't worry: your earnings will roll over to the next month and will be paid out once you meet the criteria.

💡 In Summary:

• Earnings are automatically direct deposited to your bank on the 21st of each month
• There are no steps or manual actions you need to take to trigger a payout
• Payments are only made on the monthly schedule if you have met the $100 minimum threshold
• If you have not met the minimum threshold, your earnings will be rolled over into the next month until you are eligible for a payout

Track and Manage Your Earnings

Want to see how much you've earned, check your balance, or check a payout status? You can get a detailed overview in the 'Payouts' tab of your Account Settings. Click on the "View Payouts Dashboard" button to launch your Stripe Dashboard and review in-depth insights about your earnings and payment history.

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Here, you'll find the following information to help you track your earnings:

• Amount Available to Payout: This is your current balance in your Stripe-connected account. This amount will be paid out on the next payout date if you've met the threshold.
• Available Soon/Pending Amount: These are funds pending to be added to your balance. They'll become available on a ~2-day rolling basis after a session has been completed and the payment has been captured. Once available, they move to the 'amount available.'
• Next Payout Date: This shows when your next payout is due, displayed in your local time.
• Payout Threshold Met: Icons indicate whether your available balance has met the payout threshold. A negative pending balance (due to refunds) will be deducted from the available balance.

A Streamlined Payment Collection Process for Leaners

At Expert Session, we've streamlined the payment process to make it as simple and efficient as possible. We understand that your time is best spent on sharing your expertise, not managing transactions.

Here's how our simple and secure payment process works for anyone who is booking a session with you:

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1. When a user books a session with you, they'll enter their credit card information before the booking is confirmed. This protects you from last-minute cancellations and ensures you're paid for your time and expertise. The process is standard to any typical e-commerce checkout experience, making it familiar and straightforward for your learners. (Learners will also have the option to store their payment details for future bookings, simplifying repeat sessions and encouraging ongoing learning.)
2. Our 20% session service fee will be automatically deducted at the time of payment. Neither you nor your learners will be prompted or charged separately for this cost. This fee is only deducted once, so your learners will not incur additional fees on top or in addition to this fee. We don’t double dip!
3. Your earnings will be reflected in your balance as soon as the session is complete. Your learners will be able to view their session transaction history from their own Expert Session account with the ability to access full payment details from each session meaning you can skip the hassle of issuing invoices or receipts.​

Future Payment Options Beyond Credit Card

We're always looking for ways to improve and enhance our platform, and that includes expanding our payment methods. Soon, users will have the option to pay for your sessions via popular platforms like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. This means even more convenience for your learners and a smoother process for you. We haven’t rolled this out yet, but be on the lookout for a feature update soon.

How do Refunds and Cancellations Work?

The refund and cancellation policy of the Expert Session platform is designed to protect both learners and experts from incurring charges or losing earnings when one party fails to show up or cancels a session within 24 hours.

The specifics of the policy can be summarized below and the exact terms and conditions can be reviewed here: https://expertsession.com/terms

1. Cancellations: A user must cancel a scheduled session with an expert at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled time to avoid being charged. If a cancellation is made with less than 24 hours' notice, or if the user fails to attend part or all of a scheduled session, they will be charged the full amount for that session. Similarly, if a user is more than 15 minutes late to a session without notifying the expert, the expert may choose to either complete the remaining time or cancel the session, but will still receive the full payment.
2. Refunds: If an expert fails to attend part or all of a scheduled session, the user will not be charged for the missed time. Generally, transactions facilitated by the platform cannot be cancelled or refunded unless explicitly agreed upon by both parties (the user and the expert), or if a cancellation and/or refund is required by law. Additionally, if a transaction is cancelled by the expert or the service (not the user), the user will be refunded all amounts paid, excluding the service charge and any taxes that were already remitted to a taxing authority.

💡 TL;DR Summary:

• Expert Session provides a platform for subject matter experts to host live, one-on-one sessions online. With Expert Session, experts can set their own rates, collect payment, and manage earnings all in one place.
• For experts, using Expert Session is free in terms of upfront costs, platform usage fees, or subscriptions. You can sign up, set up your profile, and host sessions without any initial investment.
• Experts must verify their identity and securing sync a payout account via Stripe to be eligible for bookings and to collect payment. 
• Payouts are processed monthly on the 21st, provided the expert's balance meets the $100 threshold.
• Experts can keep track of their earnings and payouts in their account settings.
• The booking and payment process is as easy and intuitive as any standard checkout process for anyone booking a session with you. Users pay for sessions by entering their credit card details at checkout before the session begins.
• The Expert Session platform has a refund and cancellation policy in place to protect both experts and learners from no shows, late cancellations, and missed time.

Joining Expert Session: More Than Just Earnings

While earnings are a key part of your Expert Session experience, we're about much more than just that. We offer you a platform to reach a wider audience, grow your personal brand, and inspire learners from anywhere. Plus, you'll be joining a community of top experts committed to sharing knowledge and making the world a brighter and more connected place.