If you run a pilates or fitness studio, you already know the juggle. Clients book in, payments roll through, and you’re managing instructors, timetables and about a hundred other moving parts. Cash flow matters. A lot.
That’s where Instant Payouts come in.
At Clovo, we use Stripe to securely process payments. Instant Payouts give eligible businesses the option to access funds from successful card payments almost immediately, rather than waiting for the standard payout schedule. It can be a handy tool when you need faster access to your money, whether that’s to cover rent, pay instructors or invest back into your studio.
Here’s what you need to know.
Becoming eligible for Instant Payouts
Not every account can switch on Instant Payouts from day one. New Stripe users are not immediately eligible. Stripe assesses accounts before enabling the feature, and you can check your eligibility directly in your Stripe Dashboard.
To receive an Instant Payout, you also need to add an eligible external payout method. In Australia, this is typically a supported debit card, and in some cases certain bank accounts. You only need to add an eligible method once, but it must be set up correctly before you can request an instant transfer.
There are also daily limits. Instant Payouts are subject to a maximum daily volume and a maximum of 10 instant payouts per day. If you reach your daily cap, you will need to wait until the next reset period before requesting another instant transfer. For Australian accounts, daily limits reset at midnight Sydney time.
How fast are Instant Payouts compared to normal payouts?
Under a standard payout schedule, funds are automatically transferred to your nominated bank account on a rolling basis. Depending on your settlement timing, it can take a couple of business days before money from a client booking lands in your account.
With Instant Payouts, once a card charge is successful and the funds are available in your Stripe balance, you can request a payout at any time. That includes weekends and public holidays. In most cases, the money arrives in your linked debit card account within 30 minutes.
That difference can feel significant. Instead of planning around business days and bank processing times, you have the option to pull funds through when you need them.
It is worth noting that availability depends on the payment method. Card payments are generally available for Instant Payouts as soon as the charge is complete. Bank debits, such as ACH in other regions, must first fully settle before they can be paid out instantly.
What are the extra fees?
Convenience comes at a cost.
In Australia, Stripe charges a 1.5 percent fee on the amount of each Instant Payout. This is in addition to your usual payment processing fees. So if you request a $1,000 Instant Payout, the fee would be $15.
There are also minimum and maximum amounts per transaction. In Australia, Instant Payouts must be at least $0.50 AUD and can be up to $9,999 AUD per payout, subject to your daily volume limits.
If you do not request an Instant Payout, your funds will continue to be paid out according to your normal payout schedule at no additional instant fee.
Is it right for your studio?
Instant Payouts are not necessarily something you will use every day. Many studios are perfectly happy with standard settlement timeframes once their cash flow is predictable.
But for newer studios, seasonal dips, big equipment purchases or those weeks where everything seems to land at once, having the option to access your funds within minutes can provide real flexibility.
At Clovo, our goal is to make bookings and payments simple, transparent and supportive of how real studios operate. Instant Payouts are just one more tool in the mix, giving you greater control over when your hard earned revenue hits your account.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible or whether Instant Payouts make sense for your business, it is worth jumping into your Stripe Dashboard and reviewing your payout settings. A small fee for faster access might be exactly what you need, or it might be something you keep in your back pocket for the weeks when cash flow feels a little tighter.
