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Direct Client Fee Calculator

No marketplace cut—only the payment rail. Default payout is Stripe’s published US online card rate (2.9% + $0.30). Edit for your corridor.

You keep

$970.70

Client amount
$1,000.00
Payout fee
$29.30
After payout
$970.70
You keep
$970.70

Fees stay on this device. Share a link to reopen the same numbers. No account. Platform-vs-platform analysis is on Compare.

Goal

Billing

Marketplace fee profile

Marketplace fee is 0%. Choose a payout rail for processor fees. Source: Direct contract — no marketplace commission..

Payout

Set-aside & extra payout fields

Marketplace fee is 0%. Choose a payout rail for processor fees. Verified US online card rate: 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge. International cards and other Stripe products cost more — edit or use Custom if your dashboard differs. Payout source.

You keep

$970.70

How the fees work

Direct contracts skip Upwork/Fiverr commission. What you keep depends on how the client pays: Stripe, PayPal, Wise, or another processor.

Stripe’s US online card rate used in the table is verified at 2.9% + $0.30. PayPal and Wise defaults on this site are estimates—replace with your quote.

Verified model · Fees reviewed 28 Sep 2026 · source

Formula

Take-home ≈ invoice × (1 − payout %) − payout fixed fee. To hit a net: invoice ≈ (target net + fixed) ÷ (1 − payout %).

Example take-home amounts

Table uses Stripe 2.9% + $0.30, marketplace fee 0%, no set-aside. Switch payout rails in the calculator for PayPal or Wise estimates.

InvoiceStripe feeYou keepCharge to net that amount
$100.00−$3.20$96.80$103.30
$250.00−$7.55$242.45$257.78
$500.00−$14.80$485.20$515.24
$1,000.00−$29.30$970.70$1,030.17
$2,500.00−$72.80$2,427.20$2,574.97
$5,000.00−$145.30$4,854.70$5,149.64

Frequently asked questions

What fees apply on direct freelance work?
Usually only the payment processor. Stripe’s published US online card rate is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge. PayPal and Wise vary by product and corridor.
How do I quote so fees don’t eat my rate?
Use What to charge: enter the net you want and the payout fee. The worksheet backs into the invoice total.
Does this calculate income tax?
No. Optional set-aside is a personal reserve only—not tax advice, VAT, or a filing estimate.
Is Stripe the only verified payout?
On this site Stripe’s US card rate is marked verified. PayPal and Wise start as editable estimates because published products differ.
Is PayQube a payment company?
No. It is an independent worksheet and is not affiliated with PayPal, Stripe, or Wise.

Also see Compare platforms.

Using the direct client payout worksheet

Direct work skips marketplace commission, but payment processors still charge. The calculator above assumes a 0% marketplace fee and focuses on the payout rail so you can quote a rate that still hits your target net.

Marketplace fee is zero—processor fee is not

Without Upwork or Fiverr in the middle, the client amount can equal your invoice total. What you keep then depends on how the client pays. Stripe’s published US online card rate is 2.9% + $0.30 (verified here). PayPal publishes several products, so PayQube keeps a cross-border-style estimate you should replace with your quote. Wise fees are corridor-specific.

Defaults on this page are labeled Estimate when they are not a single published product rate. Replace them with the quote your processor shows for the corridor you actually use.

Building a rate that survives fees

Many freelancers pick a comfortable net hourly rate first, then ask what to charge so that net survives processor fees and a personal set-aside. That is exactly What to charge mode. Project mode works the same way for fixed scopes.

Set-aside on PayQube is optional cash you choose to hold back. It is not a calculation of income tax, VAT, or corporate tax. Keep your bookkeeping and filing separate.

How to use the Direct calculator

Pick Stripe (verified US card), PayPal (estimate), Wise (estimate), or Custom under Payout. Edit the percent and fixed fee until they match your processor’s quote.

Leave marketplace fee at 0% unless you still pay an agency or referral cut outside the processor.

PayQube is not a bank, payment company, or tax advisor—and is not affiliated with PayPal, Stripe, or Wise.