EL
    ExperienceLocalDocs
    Dashboardexperiencelocal.io
    Getting Started
    • Introduction
    • Quick Start Guide
    • Set Up Your Property
    • Create an Experience
    • Embed the Widget
    • Invite Team Members
    Features
    • Experiences
    • Bookings
    • Resources & Amenities
    • Analytics & Reports
    Billing & Account
    • Plans & Pricing
    • Compare Plans
    • Transaction Fees
    • Plan Limits
    • Manage Subscription
    • Founders ProgramLimited

    Understanding Transaction Fees

    Transaction fees are a small percentage of each booking processed through ExperienceLocal. Here's everything you need to know about how they work.

    How Transaction Fees Work

    Guest Pays
    $100
    Full booking price
    Stripe Takes
    ~$3.20
    2.9% + $0.30
    Our Fee (3%)
    $3.00
    Starter plan example
    You Receive
    $93.80
    Net after fees
    Automatic Collection

    Fees are calculated automatically when each booking is processed

    Monthly Billing

    Fees are totaled and charged at the end of each billing cycle

    Transparent Pricing

    No hidden fees—just your subscription plus transaction fees

    Important: Transaction Fees vs. Stripe Fees

    Transaction fees are separate from Stripe's payment processing fees (≈2.9% + $0.30). Stripe fees are charged by Stripe directly and apply to all online payments regardless of platform.

    Fee Rates by Plan

    PlanTransaction FeeOn $100 BookingOn $500 Booking
    Free5%$5.00$25.00
    Starter3%$3.00$15.00
    Professional
    Popular
    		2%$2.00$10.00
    Enterprise1%$1.00$5.00

    Calculate Your Costs

    Use this calculator to compare total monthly costs (subscription + transaction fees) based on your expected booking volume.

    Fee Calculator

    Compare total costs by monthly booking volume

    $10,000
    $1,000$100,000
    Free
    5% transaction fee
    SubscriptionFree
    Trans. Fees$500
    Total$500
    Best Value
    Starter
    3% transaction fee
    Subscription$79
    Trans. Fees$300
    Total$379
    Professional
    2% transaction fee
    Subscription$199
    Trans. Fees$200
    Total$399
    Enterprise
    1% transaction fee
    Subscription$499
    Trans. Fees$100
    Total$599

    * Does not include Stripe payment processing fees (≈2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)

    Who Pays the Fee?

    Default: Hotel Pays

    • • Fee is deducted from the hotel's payout
    • • Guest sees and pays the full booking price
    • • Clean pricing for better conversion
    • • Industry standard approach

    Alternative: Pass to Guest

    • • Build fee into experience price
    • • Guest effectively pays the fee
    • • Makes prices less competitive
    • ⚠️ Not recommended

    How We Compare

    ExperienceLocal offers some of the lowest transaction fees in the industry, especially at higher plan tiers.

    PlatformTransaction FeeNotes
    FareHarbor6%No monthly fee option
    Peek Pro6-8%Volume-based discounts
    Rezdy2-5%Depends on plan
    Checkfront3-5%Plus monthly fee
    ExperienceLocal
    You are here
    		1-5%Lowest at scale

    Real-World Examples

    Here's how transaction fees work for typical bookings:

    Free Plan

    Morning Yoga Class

    A wellness session at the resort spa

    Booking Price$50.00
    Transaction Fee (5%)-$2.50
    You Receive$47.50
    Starter Plan

    Wine Country Tour

    Half-day local vineyard excursion

    Booking Price$200.00
    Transaction Fee (3%)-$6.00
    You Receive$194.00
    Professional Plan

    Private Yacht Charter

    Full-day sailing experience

    Booking Price$500.00
    Transaction Fee (2%)-$10.00
    You Receive$490.00

    * Stripe payment processing fees (~2.9% + $0.30) are not shown. Final payout will be slightly lower after Stripe fees are deducted.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are there any other hidden fees?
    No hidden fees. You pay your subscription (if on a paid plan) plus transaction fees on bookings. That's it. We don't charge setup fees, cancellation fees, or any other surprise charges.
    What about Stripe's payment processing fees?
    Stripe charges their standard payment processing fees (approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) separately. These are industry-standard payment processing fees that apply to all online payments.
    Can I pass the fee to guests?
    Technically yes, you can build the fee into your pricing. However, we don't recommend this as it can make your prices less competitive. Most hotels absorb the transaction fee as a cost of doing business.
    When are fees deducted?
    Transaction fees are calculated in real-time as bookings come in, but they're collected at the end of each billing cycle (monthly). You'll see a detailed breakdown on your invoice.
    Do refunded bookings incur fees?
    If you issue a full refund, the transaction fee for that booking is not charged. For partial refunds, the fee is adjusted proportionally. Note that Stripe's payment processing fees are generally not refundable.

    Ready to Get Started?

    Compare all plans or start your free trial today.

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