Creator Payouts

Spoonify pays creators for monthly subscriptions earned through the Service. This Creator Payouts policy explains how payouts work, what fees apply, and the responsibilities you have as a creator. It is part of our Terms of Service and is incorporated by reference. Words like “Creator,” “Service,” and “Content” have the same meaning as in the Terms.

Today, creators earn through a monthly subscription that unlocks their subscriber-only recipes. Payouts are processed by Stripe Connect. By onboarding as a Creator, you also agree to the Stripe Connected Account Agreement.

To be eligible for payouts you must:

• Be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your country);
• Reside in a country that Stripe Connect supports;
• Hold a bank account in your name (or a business you legally represent) that can receive ACH, SEPA, or local equivalents;
• Complete identity verification (KYC) and provide accurate tax information;
• Have a Spoonify account in good standing, with no unresolved violations of our Terms or community guidelines.

We may reject or revoke Creator status at our reasonable discretion, for example for repeated policy violations, suspected fraud, or inability to verify identity. If we revoke Creator status, we will still pay out any earned, non-disputed funds, subject to applicable holds and our Terms.

To get paid, you will be redirected to Stripe to complete onboarding. You may be asked to provide:

• Legal name, date of birth, and address;
• Government-issued ID (passport, driver’s license, or national ID), and in some cases a selfie for matching;
• Bank account details for your payout destination;
• Tax information (U.S. residents: W-9; non-U.S. residents: W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; other jurisdictions: locally required equivalents);
• Business details if you are onboarding as a company (entity type, tax ID, beneficial owners).

Spoonify does not store full government ID numbers or bank account numbers. Stripe verifies and stores this information under its own Privacy Policy.

Here is the path a subscription payment takes from a reader to your bank account:

1. 01

   A reader subscribes

   Someone pays your monthly subscription price. Payment is captured by Stripe on your connected account.

2. 02

   Fees come out

   Spoonify takes $2 + 10% as a platform fee. Stripe deducts its payment-processing fee. The rest is yours.

3. 03

   Funds clear

   Money becomes available in your Stripe balance after a short pending period (typically a few business days, depending on country and payment method).

4. 04

   Monthly payout to your bank

   Available funds are transferred to your verified bank account on a monthly schedule. Your Stripe dashboard shows every payout, refund, and fee.

You set your own monthly price in your Creator settings. Minimum payout thresholds may apply (typically $1 USD or local equivalent).

Spoonify charges a $2 + 10% platform fee on each subscription payment ($2 flat plus 10% of the subscription price). On top of that, Stripe charges payment-processing fees. We do not mark up Stripe’s fees.

Example assumes a U.S. card transaction in USD using current Stripe pricing of 2.9% + $0.30. Real-world fees vary by country, payment method, and currency conversion. Your Stripe dashboard always shows the exact fees for each transaction.

Creator subscriptions are currently priced and settled in USD. Buyers pay in USD through Stripe Checkout. Your Stripe-supported bank account receives payouts in USD (or Stripe may convert to your local settlement currency, with any conversion fee disclosed in your Stripe dashboard).

Refunds

Subscription refunds are governed by our Terms of Service and the rules of the platform where the subscription was purchased. When a buyer is refunded, the corresponding amount of your earnings is reversed. If you have already been paid, the refunded amount is deducted from future payouts or, if your balance is insufficient, debited from your linked bank account up to the refunded amount.

Chargebacks

A chargeback occurs when a buyer disputes a charge with their card issuer. Stripe automatically holds the disputed amount and charges a dispute fee. We work with you to gather evidence, but the card network has the final decision. If the dispute is lost, the funds and fee are deducted from your payouts. If it is won, the funds are returned.

Reserves and holds

In limited circumstances — new accounts, sudden spikes in volume, elevated dispute rates, or suspected fraud — we or Stripe may place a temporary reserve or hold on a portion of your balance to cover potential refunds and chargebacks. We will tell you what is being held and why, and release the funds as soon as the underlying risk subsides.

You are responsible for determining, collecting, reporting, and remitting any taxes that apply to your earnings. Spoonify is not your tax advisor, but here is what to expect from us:

• U.S. creators: Form 1099-K is issued through Stripe when you meet the federal threshold for the relevant tax year, or the lower threshold in states that require it. Stripe’s tax dashboard surfaces the forms when ready.
• Non-U.S. creators: Stripe collects a W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E and may withhold tax where treaty rates or U.S. law require it.
• Sales tax / VAT / GST: for digital products sold in jurisdictions where we are required to collect tax, we calculate, collect, and remit those taxes where applicable. Where we are not the merchant of record, you are responsible.

If your tax situation is complex, please consult a qualified tax professional in your jurisdiction.

Subscriber-only recipes and other paid Content must meet the standards in our Terms. In addition:

• Recipes must be original (or properly licensed/credited) and tested at home with home equipment.
• Photos and videos must be your own work, or licensed for commercial use, and accurately reflect the dish.
• Disclose any material relationships (sponsorships, gifted products) in a way that complies with applicable advertising laws, including the U.S. FTC Endorsement Guides.
• Do not present AI-generated text or imagery as original work without clearly disclosing it.
• Do not use subscriber-only recipes to advertise unrelated goods or services or to circumvent platform rules.

We may remove paid Content that does not meet these standards and refund affected subscribers. Repeat violations may result in suspension or termination of Creator status.

From time to time we may run promotions, discount subscriptions, or offer free trials. We may absorb the cost of these promotions (in which case your earnings are unchanged), share the cost with you (in which case we will tell you in advance), or run opt-in campaigns you can join from your dashboard. We will never discount your work without your opt-in unless we are absorbing the cost.

Transfers

Creator accounts are personal and may not be sold or transferred without our prior written consent. If you operate as a business and your legal entity changes (for example, you incorporate or are acquired), contact us at support@spoonify.dev so we can update your records.

Closure

You may close your Creator account at any time. Active subscribers will be notified, charges will stop at the end of the current billing period, and remaining funds will be paid out to your bank account on the next scheduled payout, subject to applicable holds.

Inactivity

If your Creator account is inactive for an extended period and we cannot reach you, applicable unclaimed-property (escheatment) laws may require us to remit your balance to your state or country. We will make a reasonable effort to contact you before that happens.

We may update this policy — including platform fees, payout thresholds, and supported countries. When we make material changes that affect Creators, we will notify you in the app or by email at least 30 days before the change takes effect, except where the change is required by law or addresses a serious risk (for example, fraud), in which case it may take effect immediately. Your continued use of the Creator features after the effective date means you accept the updated policy.

Creator and payout support: support@spoonify.dev. You can also contact us or visit the Help center.

For questions specific to your Stripe Connected Account — identity verification, bank account changes, and tax forms — see the Stripe Help Center.