What is a payout and payout schedule?
A payout is when money from a completed payment is deposited into your bank account.
A payout schedule is the time between:
When your client pays you, and
When the money arrives in your bank account
Payment processor differences
These timelines apply only to Bonsai Payments. If you are using other payout processors such as Stripe Payments or Paypal, these will each utilize their own payout timings. Please contact those providers directly for exact details.
Note: If you're new to Bonsai Payments, your account will start on a Limited Payout schedule.
This is normal and helps reduce risk while your account builds payment history.
As you continue to receive payments successfully:
Your account is automatically reviewed
Your payout speed improves over time
You’ll be moved to faster schedules (no action required)
How payout schedules upgrade
Payout schedules are automatically adjusted based on your history of using Bonsai Payments. Payout schedules update automatically based on:
Payment history
Account trust level
Successful transactions
Important: If your payout schedule changes, it will only affect future payments received. Any payments already received prior to their payout will be processed on the payout schedule they were received on.
Payout timelines
Users based in the United States
Payout schedule | Duration | Details |
Limited Payouts | 7 to 10 business days | Applies to initial payments through Bonsai. Helps protect both Bonsai and its users. |
Standard Payouts | 2 to 4 business days | For users with an established trust and payment history with Bonsai. |
Instant Payouts | Instant, often within 10 minutes. |
|
Users based in Australia
Payout schedule | Duration | Details |
Limited Payouts | 7 to 10 business days | Applies to initial payments through Bonsai. Helps protect both Bonsai and its users. You'll be automatically moved to Standard Payouts as you build trust. |
Standard Payouts | 2 to 4 business days | For users with an established trust and payment history with Bonsai. |
Users based in Canada and the United Kingdom
Payout schedule | Duration | Details |
Limited & Standard Payouts | 7 to 10 business days | We are not able to offer faster payouts at this stage. |
Why your payment may still be “pending”
If your client pays via ACH bank transfer, the payment does have a longer processing time, due to the payment needing to be handled by the client's financial institution.
Typical timeline:
2–5 business days for the client’s bank to process the payment
After processing, funds are paid out based on your payout schedule
Once the payment clears:
Your payout schedule begins
The payout timeline (e.g., 2–4 days) starts from that point
More information about ACH Bank Transfers can be found here.
Which payout schedule am I on?
Go to Payments in your Bonsai account
Open the action menu
Select Manage Payouts
Your current payout schedule will be highlighted
