Regarding payments on Squarespace, it's important to distinguish between two main contexts: payments made to you through your online store and payments for services you purchase from Squarespace, like subscription fees or extra features.

Payments Received Through Your Online Store

If you operate an online store using Squarespace, payments are managed through third-party payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal. The time it takes to receive funds depends on the specific payment processor you're using:

Stripe

• Payout Schedule: After your first successful sale, Stripe typically has a waiting period of 7-10 days for the initial payout. After this initial period, payouts usually occur on a rolling basis (e.g., daily or weekly) based on your account's payout schedule settings.
• Transfer Times: Once the payout is initiated, it generally takes 2-7 business days for the funds to appear in your bank account, depending on your bank's processing time.

PayPal

• Payout Schedule: PayPal funds are available almost immediately after a transaction is completed. You can then manually transfer the funds to your bank account.
• Transfer Times: The transfer from PayPal to your bank can take 1-5 business days, depending on your bank's processing times.

Payments Made to Squarespace

When you make payments to Squarespace for services such as website subscriptions, domain purchases, or additional features, the payment is processed immediately upon transaction. Here are some specifics:

Subscription Fees

• Monthly and Annual Plans: You are billed instantly for the amount due, and your subscription is extended accordingly. If you choose a monthly plan, you will be billed on the same date every month. For annual plans, billing occurs once per year on the anniversary of your initial purchase.

Domain Purchases

• Domain Registration: When purchasing a domain through Squarespace, the payment is processed immediately, and the domain is typically active within minutes, though it can take up to 24-48 hours for DNS propagation.

Practical Considerations and Steps

1. Setup Payment Processors:

2. Integrate Stripe and/or PayPal via the 'Payments' settings in your Squarespace dashboard.

3. Verify Account Details:

4. Ensure your banking information is correctly entered in your payment processor accounts to avoid delays.

5. Understand Fees:

6. Be aware that Stripe and PayPal charge transaction fees (usually a percentage plus a fixed amount per transaction). These fees will be deducted before you receive your payout.

7. Monitor Transactions:

8. Regularly check your Stripe or PayPal dashboards for any transaction issues or pending verifications to mitigate delays.

9. Customer Service:

10. In case of any discrepancies or delays, contact customer support for Stripe or PayPal for assistance, as Squarespace does not control the fund transfer timing.

Limitations

• Initial Delay for New Accounts: New Stripe accounts often experience longer initial payout delays as part of their verification process.
• Bank Processing Times: The time it takes for funds to transfer from Stripe or PayPal to your bank account is subject to your bank's processing times, which Squarespace cannot influence.
• Regulatory Holds: Some transactions might be subject to regulatory reviews or holds, which can delay payouts.

By understanding these contexts and following the practical steps, you should be well-equipped to manage your expectations regarding how long it takes to receive payments from your Squarespace online store.