This guide explains how Programa Pay transaction fees work so you can decide whether to absorb them as a business cost or pass them on to your clients.
What fees apply
When a client pays an invoice through Programa Pay, transaction fee applies based on the payment method chosen:
Bank transfer (direct debit): 1% of the total invoice amount, capped at $25
Credit or debit card: 3.5% of the total invoice amount
Programa Pay transaction fees are based on fees charged by our payments partner, Stripe, who charges a fee on every transaction processed through their platform.
The Programa Pay fee covers this Stripe transaction cost in full.
How the fees work in practice
Card payment examples (3.5% fee):
$100 invoice → $3.5 fee
Bank transfer examples (1% fee, capped at $25):
$500 invoice → $5.00 fee
$2,500 invoice → $25.00 fee
$10,000 invoice → $25.00 fee (cap applied)
The 1% bank transfer fee is capped at $25. This means once an invoice reaches $2,500, the fee stays at $25 regardless of how large the invoice total is.
Absorbing fees vs passing them on to clients
You have two options for every invoice you send:
Absorb the fee yourself
The processing fee is deducted from your payout. Your client pays the face value of the invoice with no additional charge. This is the simplest experience for clients and avoids any conversation about fees.
Pass the fee on to your client
The processing fee is added to your client's total before they pay. Your client pays the invoice amount plus the fee, and you receive the full invoice amount in your payout.
Neither approach is right or wrong. Some studios build processing costs into their pricing; others prefer to itemise them transparently. Consider what is consistent with how you have communicated your billing terms to clients.
How to pass fees on to clients
When sending an invoice, toggle on Pass on Programa Pay fee to client in the sending panel:
Toggle on Pass on Programa Pay fee to client
Continue to send the invoice as normal
Your client will see the fee clearly before confirming payment - there are no surprise charges at checkout.
Need more help understanding transaction fees? Contact our support team via live chat for personalized assistance.