MoveMentors never holds anyone's money. Card payments go straight to the host's own Stripe account, and other payments (cash, bank transfer, PayPal and so on) go straight from the student to the host. We take no commission on class payments. This article explains how that works and what it means for you.
The principle: direct routing
When a student pays for a class:
- By card: the student pays on Stripe's secure checkout page, and the money lands in the host's own Stripe account (a Standard account the host connects to MoveMentors). We are not in the money path.
- Another way (bank transfer, PayPal, cash and so on): the student pays the host directly, using the details the host added. We never touch the money.
MoveMentors takes the booking and keeps the record. We don't hold money for anyone, we don't pay hosts out, and we don't take a cut of class payments.
Why direct routing
Three reasons:
1. Trust
Hosts can disconnect Stripe from MoveMentors at any time. Their Stripe account and its balance stay theirs.
2. Speed
Stripe pays card payments out to the host's bank on the host's own Stripe payout schedule. Other payments arrive as fast as the method the student uses.
3. Simplicity
Because money never passes through MoveMentors, hosts deal with Stripe, their bank or their payment app directly, the same way they would without us.
The tradeoffs
Direct routing means:
- Refunds come from the host. Cancelling a booking does not send a refund by itself. The host refunds card payments from their own Stripe Dashboard and sends other refunds back directly. See Refunds.
- Hosts handle their own taxes. For card payments, Stripe sends any tax forms (such as the US 1099-K) to the host. See Tax forms and 1099.
- Chargebacks go to the host. If a student disputes a card payment with their bank, it is handled on the host's Stripe account. See Disputes and chargebacks.
In exchange, hosts pay no platform commission, get paid directly and own the relationship with their clients.
How we make money
Hosts can use MoveMentors on the Free plan for as long as they like. We earn from:
- Optional paid plans, billed monthly or yearly. Teachers: Pro $9.99 a month or $99 a year, Premium $19.99 a month or $199 a year. Studios: Pro $49 a month or $499 a year, Premium $99 a month or $999 a year. See pricing.
- Optional $5 boosts for teacher sessions.
- Prepaid credit for add-ons, such as text reminders and video hosting.
- Ads on Free teacher profiles.
We do NOT take a fee from bookings. The price the student pays is what the host receives, minus Stripe's processing fee for card payments (about 2.9% plus 30 cents in the US; it varies by country).
Method-by-method overview
| Method | Money flow | When the booking confirms | Who handles refunds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card (Stripe) | Student's card to the host's Stripe account, then to the host's bank | When the payment goes through | Host, from their Stripe Dashboard |
| Bank transfer | Student's bank to the host's bank | Straight away | Host |
| PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Wise | Student's account to the host's account | Straight away | Host |
| Cash or card in person | Student to host at the class | Straight away | Host |
| Crypto | Student's wallet to the host's wallet | Straight away | Host |
See Stripe Connect explained and Manual payment methods for the details.
The booking and payment lifecycle
A typical card booking:
- The student picks a class and chooses to pay by card.
- The booking is created and the seat is held for 30 minutes.
- The student pays on Stripe's secure checkout page.
- When the payment goes through, the booking confirms and the confirmation email goes out.
- The money sits in the host's Stripe balance.
- Stripe pays it out to the host's bank on the host's schedule.
While the seat is held, the student's booking page says "Finish paying to confirm your spot". If the student doesn't pay within 30 minutes, the reservation is released automatically, nothing is charged and no email is sent.
A typical booking paid another way:
- The student picks a class and one of the host's other payment methods (for example cash or bank transfer).
- The booking confirms straight away.
- The student pays the host directly, using the payment details shown on the booking page.
- When the money arrives, the host clicks Mark paid on the booking. This records the payment; the booking was already confirmed.
The difference: a card booking confirms only when the payment goes through. Other bookings confirm at once, and the host keeps track of who has paid.
What lives in our database
We store:
- The booking: who booked, which session, how many people, the price and the status.
- For card payments: Stripe's reference for the payment. Never card numbers.
- For other methods: the method chosen and whether the host has marked it paid.
- The payment details hosts add for students, such as a PayPal handle or bank details.
We do NOT store:
- Card numbers, security codes or expiry dates. Stripe handles all of that on its own pages.
- Bank balances.
- Crypto wallet contents.
Refunds: who can issue them
| Scenario | Who refunds |
|---|---|
| Card payment | The host, from their own Stripe Dashboard |
| Paid another way | The host, directly (a bank transfer back, cash and so on) |
| Retreat paid in installments | The host; only payments already collected can be refunded |
The host's cancellation policy tells the student what they are owed. If a host doesn't send a refund that is owed, the student should contact the host first, then email support@movementors.com. See Disputing a booking.
Currency handling
Each class is priced in the currency the host sets.
When a student pays by card in a different currency from their own, their card issuer handles the conversion and may add its own fee. The student's statement shows the converted amount.
For other methods, the student and host agree on how to handle any conversion (for example sending the equivalent amount in the host's currency).
Stripe Connect: direct vs destination charges
Card payments are created directly on the host's own Stripe account. Stripe calls these direct charges. This means:
- The student's bank statement shows the host's business, not MoveMentors.
- The host's Stripe account is the merchant for the payment.
- Stripe's fee comes out of the payment before payout.
- Chargebacks and refunds are handled on the host's Stripe account.
The alternative, destination charges, would put the payment on a MoveMentors account first and then pass it on to the host. We use direct charges so that we never hold host money, not even briefly.
What this means for hosts
Connect Stripe once. Teachers do this on /mentor/settings/payments; studios connect it during studio setup. After that:
- Students pay by card on Stripe's checkout page.
- The money lands in your Stripe balance.
- Stripe pays out to your bank on your payout schedule.
- You report your earnings on your taxes.
For other methods, add your details once and click Mark paid when each payment arrives. There is no Stripe fee on those.
What this means for students
You see the host's payment options when you book. Card payments go through Stripe's secure checkout page; other methods go straight to the host.
You always have a record: your booking page and the confirmation email. If you have an account, your bookings are also listed in My Bookings.
For refunds: if you are owed one under the host's cancellation policy, the host sends it. Card refunds go back to your card. Other refunds depend on the host sending the money back.
Next steps
- Stripe Connect explained: the card-payment setup.
- Manual payment methods: the alternatives.
- Refunds: how refunds work for each method.