Platform fees and payouts: what a membership community actually keeps

What to take away

Where the money actually goes

Gross dues are not revenue you can spend. Every dollar a member pays passes through at least two hands before it reaches your bank: the platform that hosts the community, and the processor that moves the card.

The platform fee is usually a percentage of gross monthly dues, sometimes with a floor. Rates here are as of 2026. Patreon publishes platform fees from 8% to 16% depending on your plan, plus payment processing.

Circle's published rate is a percentage of subscription revenue that depends on your plan tier; some tiers add a per-member charge. Mighty Networks charges a flat monthly plan and takes no percentage of subscription revenue, so you keep dues and pay card fees.

Kajabi and Thinkific charge flat monthly plans and pass card fees through. Kajabi's published plans start at $149 per month. Thinkific's published plans start at $49 per month.

The processor fee is separate and does not care which platform you use. Stripe lists 2.9% plus 30 cents for domestic cards. PayPal lists 2.99% plus 49 cents. On a $50 membership, that is roughly $1.75 to $1.99 gone before the platform takes its cut.

Here is one net-per-member example. A member pays $50 per month. The platform takes 5%, or $2.50. Stripe takes 2.9% plus 30 cents, or $1.75.

Refunds and chargebacks at 2% of gross add $1.00. Net per member is $50 minus $2.50 minus $1.75 minus $1.00, which is $44.75. That is a typical all-in take rate of about 10.5%.

Do the arithmetic with your own numbers: net per member equals gross dues minus platform fee minus processor fee minus refunds and chargebacks. Run it monthly, not annually, because churn hits the top line first.

What a payout hold costs you

A payout schedule is not a fee, but it behaves like one when payroll is due. Stripe's default is a two-day rolling payout in the US, with longer holds for new accounts and higher-risk categories.

Patreon releases earnings on the 5th of each month. Gumroad pays out every Friday.

The hold is a cash-flow problem, not an accounting one, and it is why annual plans are riskier than they look.

An annual plan at $600 pays the processor once and holds the balance as a liability for twelve months. The processor fee on that charge is $17.70 at Stripe's 2.9% plus 30 cents.

If the member cancels in month three, you refund the unused nine months, or $450, from cash you may have already spent. You keep $150 for three months of access. Compare that against the membership community analytics and benchmark guide before you price an annual tier.

Platform fees compared

These are the published models as of 2026.

If the table leaves you unsure which model fits, see the membership community publishing platform guide. It walks through how the underlying economics differ. A proper membership community platform review checks the payout terms and fee stacking. It does not check the feature list.

The paperwork behind the payout

Negative-option rules apply the moment you auto-renew. The FTC's ROSCA recap states that online offers must disclose material terms before billing information, get express informed consent before charging, and offer a simple way to stop recurring charges. State attorneys general may add duties on top.

Advertising claims about what members get must be truthful and supported, per the FTC's Advertising FAQs. Endorsements must reflect honest experience and disclose material relationships.

Member card and bank data is not your problem to store. The NIST small business quick-start guides cover the basics; your processor's documentation covers the rest. Refer to a security professional before you touch either.

Common questions

What percentage do membership platforms take?

Patreon publishes platform fees from 8% to 16% depending on your plan, plus payment processing. Circle's rate is a percentage of subscription revenue that depends on your plan tier.

Mighty Networks takes no percentage of subscription revenue and charges a flat monthly plan. Kajabi and Thinkific charge flat monthly plans, with Kajabi starting at $149 per month and Thinkific at $49.

How long until dues reach my bank?

Stripe defaults to a two-day rolling payout in the US. PayPal can hold funds up to 21 days on new accounts. Patreon pays monthly, on the 5th. Gumroad pays weekly on Fridays.

Do annual plans change the math?

Yes, and usually for the worse on cash flow. The processor pays you once and you hold the balance as a liability for twelve months. A mid-year cancellation means refunding from cash you may have already spent.

Where do I check current fee figures?

Each vendor's pricing page, Stripe's and PayPal's published rate cards, and your own processor statements. Do not rely on a benchmark from another community, because your mix of card types, refunds and chargebacks is different. The membership community platform setup checklist covers the order to configure billing, payouts and access. If you are still choosing where to launch, ask which markets make the most sense for a new membership community.