Understanding Weekly Instructor Payouts on DriveBook
How does DriveBook pay instructors? Here's a clear breakdown of how weekly payouts work, what's deducted, and when funds arrive.
One of the most common questions from new DriveBook instructors is how and when they get paid. Here's a straightforward explanation of how the payout system works.
How Earnings Accumulate
When a student pays for a lesson or package through your DriveBook booking page, the payment is processed immediately via Stripe. The funds are held in your DriveBook earnings balance — visible in your dashboard under Earnings.
Your balance updates in real time. You can see exactly how much you've earned, which bookings have been paid, and what's pending.
The Weekly Payout Cycle
DriveBook pays out instructor earnings on a weekly basis. Funds earned during the week are transferred to your nominated bank account on the payout day.
The platform fee (a small percentage of each transaction that covers platform costs, payment processing, and features like AI answering and automated reminders) is deducted before payout. What you see in your payout is your net amount after the platform fee.
Setting Up Your Payout Account
You set up your bank account for payouts in your DriveBook dashboard under Settings → Payouts. You'll need to complete Stripe's identity verification, which is a standard requirement for any platform that handles payouts to individuals.
This is a one-time setup. Once verified, payouts are automatic each week — you don't need to request them.
What Appears on Your Payout Statement
Each payout includes a breakdown of:
- Lessons paid during the period
- Package purchases attributed to you
- Platform fee deducted
- Net amount transferred
This breakdown is available in your dashboard under Earnings → Payout History. It's useful for tax purposes and for reconciling your income records.
Pending vs Available Balance
Not all earnings are immediately available for payout. Stripe holds funds for a short period (typically 2–7 days for new accounts, reducing to 2 days once your account is established) to account for payment processing timelines and dispute windows.
Your dashboard shows two figures: your pending balance (payments that haven't yet cleared the holding period) and your available balance (funds ready to be paid out on the next cycle).
What Happens With Refunds
If a lesson is cancelled and a refund is issued, the amount is deducted from your earnings balance. If the refund is processed before your weekly payout, it reduces the payout amount. If it's processed after, it's deducted from the following week's payout.
Tax Considerations
DriveBook pays you as an independent contractor. Your earnings are your business income and are subject to tax. Keep records of your annual DriveBook earnings for your tax return. The platform provides an annual earnings summary in your dashboard, which you can export.
Consult a tax professional for specific advice about your situation, including GST registration obligations if your income exceeds the relevant threshold.
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