Collecting and Getting Paid 101

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:

• The Expert Session fair and transparent pricing model (aka how we make money)
• How to collect & track your earnings made on the Expert Session platform
• How the checkout process works for the the learners booking sessions with you
• 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!

Pro Tip: You can control your earnings by setting your hourly rate to offset our commission and protect your profit margins. For instance, if you usually charge $100 per session, you can charge $120 to compensate for the 10% fee and safeguard your take home rate. As long as this rate is competitive for your service compared to other qualified experts on the platform offering similar sessions, you will basically be receiving all the benefits of the platform without incurring any profit loss from what you would usually charge.

We recommend conducting research and adopting a test-and-learn mindset to determine the ideal hourly rate for your sessions. This will help you maximize your session booking volume and take-home earnings. Consider the competitiveness of your industry, the value of your personal experience level, and the demand for the topics your sessions cover to ensure you are setting session rates that are fair and appealing to potential learners.

💡 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

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.

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 Learners

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 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.

Ready to get started? Share your profile link to start getting paid for sharing your expertise on the topics you love. 💖💰