Online payments for bookings: how the money reaches your own account and what it costs

With an online payment for a booking, a payment provider collects the money from the guest's card and pays it out to your bank account. Direct to your account means the payment runs through your own merchant account with the payment provider, not through the booking platform's account. For a standard card from the European Economic Area, Stripe charges 1.5 % plus € 0.25 per payment in Austria and Germany. Whether a platform takes a commission on top is set out in its contract.

Who does what: payment provider and booking platform

The payment provider, Stripe for example, checks the card, collects the amount, holds it briefly and transfers it to your bank account. The booking platform knows what was booked, creates the payment for the right amount and keeps track of whether it has been paid.

Neither model is better by definition. A platform that collects the money takes set-up and reconciliation off your hands. Your own account gives you control and separates the costs cleanly: software here, payments there.

What does a card payment cost?

Stripe publishes the same standard prices for Austria and Germany. Prices as shown on the pricing pages on 11 October 2026. Apple Pay and Google Pay are card payments and cost the same as the card behind them.

Worked example: a guest pays € 80 with a standard card from Austria. 1.5 % is € 1.20, plus € 0.25, € 1.45 in total. € 78.55 arrives in your account. On a deposit of € 24 it is € 0.36 plus € 0.25, so € 0.61 or just over 2.5 %. The fixed part weighs more heavily on small amounts. For comparison: if a platform takes an additional 3 % commission, that is a further € 2.40 on € 80.

When does the money reach your bank account?

The amount is not available immediately after the payment. For Austria and Germany, Stripe states a standard period of three business days. For a new account it is seven calendar days at first, and the first payout usually arrives seven to fourteen days after the first payment. You choose whether payouts are daily, weekly, monthly or manual. The minimum payout is € 1.

Deposit, prepayment or card guarantee?

• Prepayment: the full price is charged at booking. Suits tours, classes and tastings with a fixed price.
• Deposit: part is charged straight away, the rest is paid on site or later. Suits rooms, groups and long appointments.
• Card guarantee: the card is stored but not charged. It is charged only for a late cancellation or no-show, under the terms the guest accepted.

A card guarantee is easier on guests but less certain for you. A later charge without the guest present can fail because the bank requires approval by the cardholder or the card has insufficient funds. A deposit is money that is already there.

What happens with a refund?

You return the amount in full or in part, and it goes back to the guest's card. On its standard pricing Stripe charges no separate fee for this, but it does not return the fee of the original payment. In the example above the guest gets € 80 back and you bear the € 1.45. If the takings have already been paid out, the refund is offset against your next payments. If that is not enough, Stripe debits the amount from your bank account.

What is a chargeback and what does it cost?

In a chargeback the cardholder contacts their bank and disputes the payment. The amount is debited from you immediately, and Stripe adds a fee of € 20. You can submit evidence, such as the booking confirmation, the cancellation terms and the attendee list. Contesting costs a further € 20, which is returned if you win. The cardholder's bank makes the decision.

• Cardholders can usually dispute up to 120 days after the payment. For services in the future, such as a booking, the period usually starts on the date of the service.
• Depending on the card network you usually have 7 to 21 days to respond.
• Prevention helps most: a name on the card statement that guests recognise, clear cancellation terms before payment, and a quick refund when a guest is in the right.

How this works in EachVisit

In EachVisit you connect your own Stripe account. Every guest payment is created directly in that account; technically this is Stripe Connect Standard with direct charges. The guest pays on Stripe's payment page by card, and on suitable devices with Apple Pay or Google Pay. You see payouts, refunds and chargebacks in your Stripe account. For each offer you choose payment on site, deposit, prepayment or card guarantee.

EachVisit takes 0 % commission and no margin on payments. Stripe's fees apply and are settled directly between you and Stripe. The plans cost per month: Solo € 19, Klein € 69, Mittel from € 129, Groß from € 299. What is missing: there is no PayPal, and without a working Stripe account online payment is not possible. Closed beta pricing is available on request. Regular plan prices are shown for reference; any later paid use requires your active acceptance.