> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kelviq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Fees

> Understand Kelviq's transaction fees and additional charges

Kelviq operates as a [Merchant of Record](/getstarted/merchant-of-record), handling payments, tax compliance, and global selling on your behalf. You pay a transaction fee when a payment succeeds. There are no setup fees, monthly fees, or minimum transaction requirements.

## What's included

Your transaction fee covers everything you need to sell globally:

* Payment processing (cards, wallets, local payment methods)
* Sales tax, VAT, and GST calculation, collection, and remittance
* Fraud protection and chargeback handling
* Localized pricing in 135+ currencies
* Compliance with regional regulations
* Usage metering and billing
* License key generation
* Digital product and file delivery
* Feature and entitlement management
* Customer billing portal

## Transaction fees

Every successful payment starts with a base fee. The base rate changes after your organization processes \$5,000 in total sales volume. A recurring charge or international card can add another percentage to the same transaction.

| Fee component                           | Rate          | When it applies                                                                           |
| --------------------------------------- | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Base fee, up to \$5,000 in total volume | 2.9% + \$0.40 | Successful transactions processed before your organization reaches \$5,000 in total sales |
| Base fee, after \$5,000 in total volume | 3.5% + \$0.40 | Subsequent successful transactions after your organization reaches \$5,000 in total sales |
| Recurring billing                       | +0.7%         | Subscription payments and renewals                                                        |
| International card                      | +1.5%         | Cards issued outside the United States                                                    |

<Note>
  The recurring and international-card percentages are added to the applicable base rate. The fixed \$0.40 is charged once per successful transaction.
</Note>

### How the \$5,000 threshold works

The threshold is based on your organization's cumulative processed sales volume, not the number of payments or the volume for a single month. You pay 2.9% + \$0.40 on transactions processed before reaching \$5,000. After your total processed volume reaches \$5,000, subsequent transactions use the 3.5% + \$0.40 base rate.

The rate change does not alter fees on transactions that were already processed.

## All fee combinations

The additional percentages stack when a charge is both recurring and paid with an international card.

| Transaction type                     | Up to \$5,000 in total volume | After \$5,000 in total volume |
| ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| One-time payment, domestic card      | 2.9% + \$0.40                 | 3.5% + \$0.40                 |
| One-time payment, international card | 4.4% + \$0.40                 | 5.0% + \$0.40                 |
| Subscription, domestic card          | 3.6% + \$0.40                 | 4.2% + \$0.40                 |
| Subscription, international card     | 5.1% + \$0.40                 | 5.7% + \$0.40                 |

### Example fees on a \$100 charge

This example uses a \$100 gross charge. If the payment includes tax, the gross amount is the full amount charged to the customer.

| Transaction type                     | Fee before the \$5,000 threshold | Fee after the \$5,000 threshold |
| ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------: | ------------------------------: |
| One-time payment, domestic card      |                           \$3.30 |                          \$3.90 |
| One-time payment, international card |                           \$4.80 |                          \$5.40 |
| Subscription, domestic card          |                           \$4.00 |                          \$4.60 |
| Subscription, international card     |                           \$5.50 |                          \$6.10 |

## How fees appear in Transactions

The **Fee** column under **Payouts → Transactions** shows the total fee deducted from a payment. It combines the applicable base rate, recurring fee, and international-card fee into one amount. Tax is shown separately.

For a successful transaction:

```text theme={null}
Net = Gross - Fee - Tax
```

[Learn how to read the Transactions page →](/payouts/transactions)

## Payout fees

<Note>
  Currently, Kelviq is bearing the payout fee.
</Note>

Transaction fees and payout fees happen at different stages. The transaction fee is deducted when a customer pays. A payout fee would typically apply later when funds are sent to your bank account or eligible debit card, but Kelviq currently covers this cost.

[Learn how Kelviq payouts work →](/payouts/overview)

## Refunds

When you issue a refund to a customer, the original transaction fee is **retained**. This applies to both full and partial refunds.

| Scenario       | What happens                                                |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Full refund    | Customer receives full amount; original fee retained        |
| Partial refund | Customer receives partial amount; proportional fee retained |

<Warning>
  Our payment partners charge non-refundable processing fees on the original transaction. We pass this cost structure through to maintain transparent pricing.
</Warning>

## Disputes and chargebacks

When a customer disputes a charge with their bank, a **\$15 fee** applies regardless of the dispute outcome.

| Outcome  | Fee  | Transaction amount   |
| -------- | ---- | -------------------- |
| You win  | \$15 | Returned to you      |
| You lose | \$15 | Refunded to customer |

### Reducing disputes

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Clear billing descriptors" icon="receipt">
    Use a recognizable business name on statements so customers remember the purchase.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Proactive support" icon="headset">
    Make it easy for customers to contact you before they escalate to their bank.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Accurate descriptions" icon="file-lines">
    Set clear expectations about what customers are purchasing and delivery timelines.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Easy cancellation" icon="ban">
    For subscriptions, provide a simple way to cancel to prevent "friendly fraud" disputes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="When are fees deducted?">
    Fees are deducted automatically from each transaction before the payout reaches your account.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are there monthly fees or minimums?">
    No. You only pay when you make a sale. There are no setup fees, monthly fees, or minimum transaction requirements.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How is 'international' determined?">
    A transaction is considered international when the customer's card is issued outside the United States. Since Kelviq is the Merchant of Record registered in the US, this applies regardless of where your business is located.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do fees apply to free trials?">
    No. Fees only apply to successful paid transactions. \$0 trial authorizations do not incur fees.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What about failed transactions?">
    No fees are charged for declined or failed transactions.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>