Understanding your payouts

Updated Mar 11, 2026
Payments

Understanding Your Payouts

Every time a customer pays on your store, the money flows through Paystack and is settled directly to your bank account or mobile money. The Payouts page gives you a clear picture of your earnings, fees, and settlement history.

To view your payouts, click Payouts in your sidebar.


Payouts Dashboard

Your Payouts page shows four key metrics at the top:

Metric What It Shows
Total Sales Your total revenue from all paid orders, with order count
Settled Amount already paid to your bank/mobile money account
Pending Amount being processed (settles in 24–48 hours)
Total Fees Combined Paystack and Strawlo fees deducted from your sales

These numbers give you a real-time picture of your money flow.


How Payouts Work

When a customer pays on your store, here's what happens:

  1. Customer pays — Via card, mobile money, or bank transfer
  2. Paystack processes — The payment is verified and confirmed
  3. Fees are deducted — Paystack and Strawlo fees are taken automatically
  4. Settlement — The remaining amount is sent to your bank or mobile money account

You don't need to do anything — settlements happen automatically.


Fees Explained

Two fees are deducted from each transaction:

Paystack Processing Fee

This is the payment processing fee charged by Paystack. It varies by country:

Country Paystack Fee
Ghana 1.95% per transaction
Nigeria 1.5% + ₦100 (capped at ₦2,000)
Kenya 1.45% + KES 25
South Africa 2.9% per transaction

Strawlo Platform Fee

Strawlo charges a 1% platform fee on each transaction. This is how Strawlo sustains the platform.

Example Calculation (Ghana)

A customer pays GHS 100:

Amount
Sale amount GHS 100.00
Paystack fee (1.95%) − GHS 1.95
Strawlo fee (1%) − GHS 1.00
You receive GHS 97.05

The Fees card on your Payouts page shows a breakdown of total Paystack fees vs Strawlo fees so you always know exactly what you're paying.


Settlement Timing

Funds are settled to your bank account or mobile money within 24–48 hours (business days) after each successful payment. This is handled by Paystack.

What affects timing:

  • Weekends and public holidays may delay settlements
  • Bank processing times vary
  • Mobile money settlements are typically faster than bank transfers

Payout Statuses

Each payout has a status:

Status What It Means
Success Funds have been deposited to your account
Pending Settlement is queued and will be processed soon
Processing Settlement is currently being processed by Paystack
Failed Settlement failed — check your bank details

If you see a Failed status, verify your payment settings (bank account number, mobile money number) in SettingsPayments.


Payout History

Below the stats, you'll see a detailed list of all your payouts with:

  • Date — When the payout was processed
  • Reference — Unique reference number for tracking
  • Amount — The settlement amount
  • Status — Current status badge
  • Destination — Bank name or mobile money provider
  • Account — The account number receiving the funds
  • Fees — Fees deducted for this payout

On mobile, payouts are displayed as cards. On desktop, they appear in a table with pagination.


Filtering and Search

Use the filters to find specific payouts:

Filter by Status

Show only payouts with a specific status — All, Success, Pending, Processing, or Failed.

Filter by Date Range

Select a From and To date to narrow down payouts to a specific time period. Useful for monthly accounting or reconciliation.

Rows Per Page

Choose to display 25, 50, or 100 payouts per page on desktop.


Exporting Your Payouts

Export your payout data for accounting, tax, or record-keeping purposes.

Export as CSV

Click ExportCSV to download a spreadsheet file with all payout details including dates, references, amounts, statuses, destinations, and fees.

CSV files can be opened in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet application.

Export as PDF

Click ExportPDF to generate a printable payout report. The report includes:

  • Summary stats (total sales, settled, pending, fees)
  • Detailed fee breakdown (Paystack vs Strawlo)
  • Full payout table
  • Auto-opens the print dialog for easy printing or saving as PDF

Quick Tips

1. Check Payouts Weekly

Make it a habit to review your Payouts page weekly. Confirm that settlements are arriving in your bank account as expected.

2. Export Monthly for Accounting

Download a CSV or PDF at the end of each month for your financial records. This makes tax season much easier.

3. Watch for Failed Settlements

If you see a failed payout, check your bank details immediately in SettingsPayments. A wrong account number is the most common cause.

4. Understand Your Fee Structure

The fees card breaks down Paystack fees vs Strawlo fees. Use this to calculate your true margins and price your products accordingly.

5. Use the Date Filter for Reconciliation

When reconciling with your bank statement, use the date filter to match payouts to specific periods.


Frequently Asked Questions

When do I get paid?

Funds are settled within 24–48 business hours after each successful payment. Settlements happen automatically — you don't need to request them.

Can I change the payout schedule?

Payout timing is managed by Paystack and cannot be changed. All merchants receive settlements within 24–48 hours.

What if a payout fails?

Failed payouts are usually caused by incorrect bank details. Go to SettingsPayments, verify your account information, and save. The next settlement should go through successfully.

Are Pay-on-Delivery orders included in payouts?

No. Pay-on-Delivery orders are paid in cash directly to you. Only online payments (card, mobile money, bank transfer, payment links) appear in your payouts.

Do manual orders appear in payouts?

No. Manual orders are recorded as already paid outside Strawlo, so they don't go through Paystack and don't appear in payouts.

Can I get paid to a different bank account?

Yes. Update your bank or mobile money details in SettingsPayments. Future settlements will go to the new account.

Are there any withdrawal fees?

No additional withdrawal fees beyond the per-transaction Paystack fee and 1% Strawlo fee. There are no monthly charges, setup fees, or minimum balance requirements.

How do I handle refunds?

Refunds are processed manually through Paystack. Contact Paystack support or use your Paystack dashboard to issue refunds for specific transactions.


Need Help?

If you have questions about payouts:

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