Payment processing
Stripe rates, no markup
Goldenhour’s card-processing fees pass through to Stripe at their posted rates: we don’t add a platform markup. We take no cut of a payment, a tip, or a payout, and nothing we charge scales with your transaction volume.
The rates
In-person (Tap-to-Pay)
2.7% + $0.05
iPhone Tap-to-Pay on any iOS app running goldenhour Terminal.
Online (deposit + checkout)
2.9% + $0.30
Any card transaction completed through the booking page or remote-charge action.
Comparison
Versus other beauty platforms
| Platform | In-person | Online | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldenhour (Stripe) | 2.7% + $0.05 (Tap-to-Pay) | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2-day, next-day after 90d |
| Square | 2.6% + $0.15 | 2.9% + $0.30 | Next-day |
| Fresha | 2.29% + $0.20 | 2.79% + $0.20 | Daily |
| GlossGenius | 2.6% flat | 2.6% flat | Next-day |
| Booksy | Variable | Variable | Variable |
Verified May 2026 against each platform’s public pricing page. Rates change; we re-verify this table quarterly.
What you get
Built into every transaction
Card-on-file via Stripe Setup Intent
Save a card at booking, from the client’s own account page, or from the card reader (tap or insert), for later no-show fees, add-on charges, or no-deposit visits. Clients can remove a saved card themselves. Secure tokenization: your system never touches the card PAN.
Auto-receipt by email + SMS
Every transaction triggers a branded receipt. Custom domain customers’ receipts come from their own email-from domain when verified.
Dispute defense via audit log
The audit log records every state change with a timestamp + actor. Upload to Stripe’s dispute portal to defend against chargebacks. Most beauty- business chargebacks resolve in the artist’s favor when consent + policy text is documented.
Klarna / Afterpay (optional, opt-in per tenant)
Stripe’s BNPL offers can be enabled per tenant. Useful for bridal-party packages or high-ticket recurring memberships. Same processing rate; the BNPL provider takes a separate cut on their side.
Square
Taking payments through Square
Taking card payments through your own Square account is not available yet. Until it is, card payments run through Stripe. Importing your clients and appointments from Square works today, under Settings, then Import.
A client who cancels before your cancellation window starts gets their deposit back automatically, through Stripe or Square, whichever took it: with a 24-hour window, that is a cancel 24 hours or more before the appointment. A client who cancels inside the window does not get the deposit back. With no window set, every cancel before the appointment gets it back.
FAQ
- What does goldenhour charge for card processing?
- Nothing. We don't mark up processing and we don't add anything of our own. The card-processing fee you pay goes to your payment processor: Stripe at their standard rate (2.9% + $0.30 online, 2.7% + $0.05 in-person Tap-to-Pay), or Square at your own Square rates if you take payments through Square. goldenhour takes no cut of a payment, a tip, or a payout, and nothing we charge scales with your transaction volume.
- How does this compare to Square / Vagaro / Fresha?
- Square's in-person rate (2.6% + $0.15) is slightly cheaper than Stripe but their online rate (2.9% + $0.30) is identical. GlossGenius is 2.6% flat for cards but bundles processing into a higher subscription tier. Fresha is 2.29% + $0.20 in-person, 2.79% + $0.20 online. The 0.1-0.3% delta matters more than it seems for high-volume operators; for solo artists doing <$5k/mo, the difference is under $15/mo.
- When do I receive my payouts?
- Your first payout lands 2-7 business days after your first appointment. After that, about two days after each sale. That is Stripe's default 2-day rolling schedule for new accounts, and it accelerates to next-day after the first 90 days of clean processing. Instant payouts (15 minutes) are available for a 1% fee per payout.
- What about chargebacks?
- Stripe handles the dispute mechanics. Goldenhour gives you three documents that defend most beauty-business chargebacks: the original booking confirmation with consent timestamp, the appointment record with no-show timestamp, and the audit log of every state change. Upload these to Stripe's dispute portal and most chargebacks resolve in your favor.
- Can I save a card on file for no-show fees?
- Yes, four ways: at booking (Settings decides whether that is off, optional, or required), from the client's own account page, from the client's profile in the dashboard, and from the card reader, where the same tap that pays can keep the card. Goldenhour uses Stripe to save the card without charging it. You can later charge it for a no-show fee per your cancellation policy. The customer consents each time, and every consent is stored in the audit log with the version of the wording they agreed to.