"Fees" can mean a few different things in TripWorks, which is what makes them confusing. Here's how to tell them apart: what your guest pays, what you absorb, and where to see each.
In this article
The guest's Booking Fee
At checkout, guests may see a Booking Fee line. That's TripWorks' fee on the transaction, added to the guest's total — so it's paid by the guest, not you. (Whether it shows as its own line or is folded into the total is a display choice; either way the guest pays it.)
The processing fee you absorb
Separately, there's a card-processing fee that comes out of your side — it's withheld from your payout rather than added to the guest's bill. So your payout is your sales minus the fees you absorb. A couple of specifics:
- Amex and international cards carry a slightly higher processing cost, and that difference is on your side.
- Tips aren't charged the platform Booking Fee — card processing on tips is handled separately (billed monthly, not per booking). See are tips subject to platform fees?
Your exact fee rates are set on your account. If you want to review or adjust how fees are split between you and your guests, contact TripWorks — it isn't a self-serve toggle in Setup.
If you'd rather your guests cover card costs
You can add your own surcharge (under Taxes & Surcharges) to pass card-processing costs on to guests — that's a separate, operator-controlled line item from the fees above. See pass credit card fees to your customers.
Where to see and reconcile them
- On the booking: the guest Booking Fee appears in the booking's totals (what the customer pays).
- On your payouts: the payout report is the place to reconcile "what am I actually being charged" — each deposit shows your sales with the fees you absorb netted out.
Frequently asked questions
What fees does my guest pay vs. what do I pay?
Your guest may pay a Booking Fee (added to their total at checkout). You absorb the card-processing fee, which is withheld from your payout rather than charged to the guest. If you'd like guests to also cover card costs, add a surcharge.
Where do I see the fees I'm being charged?
The payout report is the best place — it shows each deposit as your sales minus the fees you absorb. The guest's Booking Fee shows on the booking's totals.
What's the difference between the Booking Fee and a surcharge?
The Booking Fee is TripWorks' fee on the transaction (paid by the guest). A surcharge is a line item you create yourself under Taxes & Surcharges — for example, to pass credit-card costs to guests. They're separate and can both appear.
Why is my payout less than my sales total?
Because the processing fees you absorb are withheld from the payout. Your payout equals your sales minus those fees (and any refunds). The payout report breaks this down per deposit.
Are tips charged a fee?
Tips aren't charged the platform Booking Fee. The card-processing cost on tips is handled separately and billed monthly rather than taken out of each booking. See Are tips subject to platform fees?
Can I change how fees are split with my guests?
The split between the guest Booking Fee and what you absorb is set on your account, not a Setup toggle — contact TripWorks to review it. You can always add a surcharge yourself to pass card costs to guests.
Do I get the processing fee back when I refund?
That depends on your account's refund settings. Whether the processing fee is returned on a refund is configurable — check with TripWorks if you're unsure how yours is set.
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