No products in the cart.
Fees, Commission & Payouts
This page explains how The Aartisian charges fees, how commission is calculated, how Stripe payment processing fees work,
and how/when payouts are made to sellers. We aim to keep fees simple, visible, and fair.
Plain-English summary
• You may pay (1) a subscription fee (depending on your plan), (2) platform commission on sales, and (3) Stripe processing fees.
• VAT/tax responsibility: Seller (you).
• Early adopters (Growth): 6 months free + 5 commission-free transactions/month for Year 1 (commission credits paid out quarterly).
• You may pay (1) a subscription fee (depending on your plan), (2) platform commission on sales, and (3) Stripe processing fees.
• VAT/tax responsibility: Seller (you).
• Early adopters (Growth): 6 months free + 5 commission-free transactions/month for Year 1 (commission credits paid out quarterly).
1) Subscription fees
Choose the subscription package that fits your selling stage:
| Plan | Subscription price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | £0 subscription (commission-only) | Listing fee applies (see Section 6). |
| Plus | £7.99/month or £21.58 every 3 months | No listing fee. |
| Growth | £15.99/month or £43.18 every 3 months | No listing fee. Early adopters may receive a complimentary premium period and a commission-free allowance in their first year only. |
Renewal rules
• Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing period (monthly or quarterly), unless cancelled before renewal.
• If you are on a promotional/free period (e.g., early adopter Growth free months), renewal begins after the free period ends unless cancelled beforehand.
• If prices change in the future, changes will apply from your next renewal where permitted and will be communicated in advance.
• Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing period (monthly or quarterly), unless cancelled before renewal.
• If you are on a promotional/free period (e.g., early adopter Growth free months), renewal begins after the free period ends unless cancelled beforehand.
• If prices change in the future, changes will apply from your next renewal where permitted and will be communicated in advance.
2) Platform commission (per sale)
Platform commission is charged on successful sales and is made up of a percentage fee plus a fixed fee (per order).
Your commission rate depends on your subscription plan.
| Plan | Commission (percentage) | Partner Card Processing Fees + Shipping Processing |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 17.5% | £0.35 per order |
| Plus | 15% | £0.35 per order |
| Growth | 12.5% | £0.35 per order |
Commission base (what commission applies to)
Option A: Commission is calculated on item subtotal only (excluding shipping and taxes).
Option B: Commission is calculated on item subtotal + shipping (excluding taxes).
Option C: Commission is calculated on item subtotal + shipping + taxes.
Suggested wording: “Commission is charged at the plan rate on subscription.”
3) Payment processing fees (Stripe)
Stripe processes customer payments and charges processing fees. These fees are separate from The Aartisian platform commission.
Stripe fees can vary depending on payment method, card origin, and whether currency conversion is required.
| Stripe fee type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK cards | ~1.5% + £0.20 | Typical for UK card payments. |
| US cards (domestic) | 2.9% + $0.30 | Applies to US domestic card transactions. |
| International cards | Additional 1.5% | Added on top of the base card fee. |
| Currency conversion | Additional 1% | Applies when Stripe converts currency. |
| Stripe Link (UK) | ~1.2% + £0.20 | Where available/used. |
| ACH Direct Debit (US) | ~0.8% (capped at $5) | US bank debit method. |
| Invoicing (where applicable) | From 0.4% per paid invoice | Applies if invoicing features are used. |
| Disputes / chargebacks | Fee applies if lost (e.g., ~£15 in the UK) | The exact fee depends on Stripe and may change. |
Note: Stripe publishes and may update its fees. Where Stripe fees change, the updated fee structure will apply automatically.
4) Payouts (when and how you get paid)
Standard payout cadence
- Payout schedule:
Bi-weekly. - First payout timing:
Bi-weekly. - Payouts are sent to the bank account you connect during the onboarding process.
- Payout timing may be affected by account verification, risk checks, public holidays, and dispute investigations.
Quarterly payout of early-adopter commission credits
Early adopters on Growth may receive 5 commission-free transactions per month for Year 1.
For qualifying transactions within the monthly allowance, platform commission is waived/credited, and credits are paid out quarterly.
Quarterly credit dates + payout timing
• Q1: Jan–Mar (paid by 15 April)
• Q2: Apr–Jun (paid by 15 July)
• Q3: Jul–Sep (paid by 15 Oct)
• Q4: Oct–Dec (paid by 15 Jan)Also specify: “Credits are paid within X business days after quarter-end, once refund/chargeback windows are accounted for.”
5) Refunds, returns & how they affect fees/credits
Refunds and returns can affect payouts, commission, and early-adopter commission credits. To keep things fair, only
successfully completed, non-refunded orders remain eligible for commission-free credits.
Refund/return rules
Add your final rules here so sellers and customers see the same terms everywhere:
• Return window:
• Who pays return shipping: If a no-fault return
• Condition requirements:
• Made-to-order / personalised items:
Add your final rules here so sellers and customers see the same terms everywhere:
• Return window:
14 • Who pays return shipping: If a no-fault return
buyer, however if agreed as faulty or incorrect sale then seller• Condition requirements:
unused, original packaging, previously advised as non-returnable• Made-to-order / personalised items:
final sale or previously exceptionsHow fees are handled when an order is refunded
- If an order is refunded, the related payout may be adjusted.
- If the platform commission was charged, it may be reversed/offset (subject to your final policy and payment provider rules).
- If a transaction was counted as “commission-free” and later refunded/charged back, it may become ineligible and be deducted from the quarterly credit calculation.
6) Chargebacks & disputes
A chargeback is when a customer disputes a payment through their bank/card provider. Stripe may charge a dispute fee,
and the order amount may be temporarily withheld while the dispute is investigated.
Who absorbs dispute fees?
Seller at fault: Seller absorbs dispute/chargeback fees if the dispute is lost.
Marketplace at fault: The Aartisian absorbs dispute fees.
Combined fault of Saller and Marketplace: Shared responsibility depending on evidence/fulfilment status.
Suggested wording: “If a chargeback is lost, the Stripe dispute fee (e.g., ~£15 in the UK) will be applied as per the above fault conditions.”
- Disputed transactions may be withheld until resolved.
- Chargebacks may affect eligibility for quarterly commission credits (e.g., if the original sale is reversed).
- We encourage sellers to keep proof of fulfilment (tracked delivery, order messages, and photos where relevant).
7) VAT & tax responsibility
VAT/tax responsibility sits with the seller.
Sellers are responsible for understanding and meeting their tax obligations,
including VAT registration (where applicable), pricing, invoicing, and reporting.
Note
The Aartisian does not provide tax advice. If you’re unsure, consult a qualified accountant or tax professional.
The Aartisian does not provide tax advice. If you’re unsure, consult a qualified accountant or tax professional.
8) “No hidden fees” — what we do (and don’t) charge
We keep fees transparent. Here’s what to expect:
What we charge
- Subscription fees (Plus/Growth) as shown above.
- Platform commission per sale (by plan) as shown above.
- Starter listing fee: £2.50 every 3 months (Starter plan only).
- Stripe processing fees (charged by Stripe).
What we don’t charge
- No listing fees on Plus or Growth.
- No “joining fee” to open a shop (unless explicitly introduced in the future and communicated clearly).
- No surprise add-ons—any optional services (if offered) will be clearly priced upfront.
Last updated: 6th January 2026