"Manual payment methods" is everything that is not card-via-Stripe. These methods route money directly from student to host, with the host confirming receipt manually.
This article is the consolidated reference for both sides. Students wondering "what does it mean when a host accepts PayPal?"; hosts wondering "should I enable bank transfer?".
The pattern
All manual methods follow the same shape:
- Student picks the method at booking.
- Booking is created in
PENDINGstatus. - Student receives an email with the host's payment instructions.
- Student initiates the payment off-platform (bank transfer, sending PayPal, etc).
- Host receives the money.
- Host clicks "Mark paid" on the booking dashboard.
- Booking moves to
CONFIRMED. Student receives a confirmation email.
The host's "Mark paid" click is the trust step. Some hosts mark immediately on receipt; some wait until the money has cleared in their bank.
Bank transfer
The student sends money to the host's bank account via wire transfer, ACH (US), SEPA (EU), Faster Payments (UK), Pix (Brazil), or similar.
Host setup
In settings, the host enters:
- Account holder name.
- Account number or IBAN.
- Routing number / sort code / SWIFT / BIC as applicable.
- Bank name and country.
We display these details in the booking confirmation email so students can initiate the transfer.
Student experience
The confirmation email contains all the details plus a "reference" to use (typically the booking ID or "Class: <title>"). The reference helps the host match incoming transfers to the right booking.
The student initiates the transfer via their own bank's interface. The host watches their bank account; when the money lands, they confirm in the dashboard.
Speed
- Domestic: 1-2 business days (US ACH; EU SEPA Instant; UK Faster Payments is minutes).
- International: 3-5 business days, sometimes longer for less common corridors.
Fees
For the host: typically zero on incoming domestic transfers; some banks charge $10-25 on incoming international wires.
For the student: depends on their bank. Some banks charge a wire fee; ACH/SEPA/Faster Payments are usually free.
When to use
- Standard for many EU, UK, Australia, Brazil mentors.
- Good for high-value bookings (workshops, retreats) where the lack of fees adds up.
- Bad for last-minute bookings (the speed does not match).
Refund logistics
The host has to manually send the money back to the student's account. The student provides their account details. We do not automate this.
PayPal
Host setup
Enter your PayPal handle (email address linked to your PayPal account, or @username if you have a PayPal.Me handle).
Student experience
The student receives the host's handle. They open PayPal (web or app), send the amount with a memo of the booking ID.
Goods and Services vs Friends and Family
PayPal has two transfer types:
- Goods and Services: PayPal takes a ~3% fee, the student gets PayPal buyer protection.
- Friends and Family: zero fee for the receiver, no buyer protection.
Many hosts ask for F&F to avoid the fee. This is technically against PayPal's terms (F&F is meant for personal transfers). PayPal occasionally enforces; mostly they ignore.
If you are a student paying a small amount to a known host: F&F is fine. If you are paying a large amount to an unknown host: insist on G&S for the buyer protection.
If you are a host: accepting F&F means you absorb policy risk; accepting G&S means you pay a fee or pass it on.
Speed
Minutes.
Fees
- F&F: 0% for receiver.
- G&S: ~3% for receiver.
Refund logistics
Host initiates a refund inside PayPal. Funds return to the student's original source (their PayPal balance, the card used to fund, etc).
Venmo (US only)
Same shape as PayPal but US-only and Venmo-only.
Host setup
Enter your @venmo-handle.
Student experience
Student opens Venmo, sends to the handle with a memo.
Speed
Minutes.
Fees
Zero between US bank accounts. Credit card funding adds 3% (the student pays the fee, not the host).
Refund logistics
Host initiates a refund inside Venmo. Money returns to the student's Venmo balance.
Cash App (US only)
Same shape as Venmo, with $cashtag instead of @handle.
Speed
Minutes.
Fees
Zero between US bank accounts.
Zelle (US only)
Zelle is bank-to-bank instant transfer. Most US banks support it; the student and host need to have Zelle enabled in their respective banks.
Host setup
Enter the phone number or email tied to your Zelle.
Student experience
Student goes into their bank's Zelle interface, sends to the host's handle.
Speed
Minutes during banking hours.
Fees
Zero on both sides.
Refund logistics
Zelle has NO recall mechanism. To refund, the host sends a new Zelle payment back to the student. The student provides their Zelle handle.
If the student sent to the wrong handle by typo, the money is essentially lost (unless the recipient voluntarily returns it). Triple-check the handle before sending.
Cash
Pay on arrival. The student books, the booking sits in PENDING, the student shows up and hands the host cash. The host clicks "Mark paid" after the class.
Speed
Day-of.
Fees
Zero.
Use cases
- Drop-in casual classes.
- Hosts who explicitly prefer cash.
- Students without cards / digital wallets.
Risks for hosts
Higher no-show rate. A student with no money committed has less commitment. Some hosts cap unpaid bookings per student to mitigate.
Risks for students
If you forget cash, you may need to leave class to find an ATM. Bring the exact (or close to exact) amount; hosts rarely make change.
Crypto
The host configures pairs of (network, wallet address). Common ones: Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, Polygon, Base. Each network has its own address format.
Student experience
Student receives the wallet address and the amount. Student opens their wallet, sends the cryptocurrency.
Speed
Minutes to hours depending on network. Bitcoin tends to be slowest (10-30 minutes for a confirmation); Ethereum and L2s like Solana / Base are seconds to minutes.
Fees
The student pays network gas fees on top of the booking amount. Variable.
Volatility
The dollar value of cryptocurrency moves. The class might cost $30 in USD; if the student paid 0.0007 BTC and BTC dropped 20% by the time the host received it, the host receives $24 worth. Some hosts have policies to handle this:
- "I refund the exact amount of crypto you sent."
- "I refund the dollar equivalent at refund time."
Hosts should state their policy clearly. Students should ask before paying if it matters.
Confirmation
Hosts wait for at least one network confirmation before marking paid. Some hosts wait for 3-6 confirmations for higher-value bookings.
Custom / other
If the host has a payment method not in the list (a local fintech, a regional bank product, etc), they can configure a "custom" method with a name and free-form instructions.
The student sees the name and instructions in the booking email and follows them.
Examples
- Wise (TransferWise): international transfers with a real exchange rate.
- Revolut: same idea, EU-popular.
- PIX (Brazil): instant bank-to-bank in Brazil (might be configured as custom or as bank transfer).
- WhatsApp Pay: in regions where it is dominant.
The mechanics are method-specific. Hosts: be clear in your instructions. Students: read carefully.
Recommended combinations
The most common host configurations:
- US-based solo mentor: Stripe + Venmo + cash.
- EU-based solo mentor: Stripe + bank transfer + PayPal.
- Asia-based mentor: Stripe + bank transfer + (local method).
- Cash-heavy in-person studio: Stripe + cash, with cash being the dominant in-class payment.
- Brand-new mentor without Stripe: cash + PayPal + bank transfer.
If you can only enable one method: enable Stripe. Card payments are the friction-free path for the largest student base.
Common questions
Why does my booking show PENDING for days? For Stripe: it should never. Stripe captures instantly. If you see PENDING on a Stripe booking, that is a bug; email support.
For manual methods: PENDING is normal until you have sent payment and the host has confirmed. If you sent payment a while ago and the host has not confirmed, message them or email support.
Can a host accept multiple methods? Yes. The booking form lets the student pick. Most hosts enable 2-3 methods to cover the most common preferences.
What if I sent payment to the wrong handle? Depends on the method.
- Stripe: not possible (we initiate the charge).
- Venmo / Cash App / PayPal: the receiver can voluntarily return; you cannot force.
- Zelle / bank: contact your bank; they may be able to recall, but no guarantee.
- Crypto: send to the wrong address = lost. No recall.
Triple-check handles before sending.
Next steps
- How payments work: the architecture.
- Refunds: refunding for each method.
- Disputes and chargebacks: when something goes wrong.