Holds, reserves and payout delays
The time a payment succeeds and the time cash reaches your bank are different.
Map the timeline
Distinguish authorization/capture, settlement into a provider balance, payout creation, payout initiation and bank receipt. An advertised payout date may name only one of these steps. Weekends and intermediary banks can matter.
A reserve is not a percentage fee
A rolling or other reserve is a held balance under specified release conditions. Record the basis, notification process, duration, release rules and what can extend it. Do not deduct it as a permanent processing cost.
Plan the cash requirement
Consider payroll, refunds and annual-service obligations against the slowest documented payout scenario that is relevant to your agreement. Ask how to appeal a review and what records remain accessible during an account restriction.
Use the right clock
| Stage | Meaning | Cash-flow question |
|---|---|---|
| Payment captured | The customer payment succeeded | Can it still be refunded or disputed? |
| Balance available | Settlement conditions have been met | Is a reserve or other restriction applied? |
| Payout sent | The provider initiated the transfer | What is the scheduled transfer date? |
| Bank receipt | Funds reached the destination | Are bank days, currency or intermediary fees involved? |
Stripe describes a typical first-payout window of 7–14 days, depending on country, industry and risk. Its later payout schedule is a separate setting. Lemon Squeezy describes twice-monthly payout creation and a 13-day holding period; bank receipt can add 1–5 days. These are different schedules, not interchangeable “daily payout” promises.
Stripe payout documentation → · Lemon Squeezy payout schedule →
For a planning example, $1,000 daily net sales with a seven-day total delay ties up approximately $7,000 before any reserve. Enter your own documented delay in the cash-flow tool.
Useful next steps
Payout and reserve calculator → · Stripe payout conditions → · Lemon Squeezy payouts →
Read the product-specific evidence
Provider-specific conditions and primary sources: