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Payments and Fees
How Payments Work
We've designed our payment system to be simple, secure, and fair for everyone.
For Clients
Book & Pay Deposit
When you book an appointment, you'll pay a 30% deposit to secure your time slot with the braider.
Receive Confirmation
You'll get an email confirmation with your appointment details and payment receipt.
Get Your Service
Visit your braider at the scheduled time and enjoy your service.
Final Payment
The remaining 70% is automatically charged to your card 24 hours before your appointment.
For Professionals
Receive Booking
When a client books, you'll receive the 30% deposit (minus service fee) directly to your account.
Get Notified
You'll be notified about the new appointment with all the client details you need.
Provide Service
Deliver your amazing braiding service to your client at the scheduled time.
Receive Final Payment
The remaining 70% (minus service fee) is automatically sent to your account.
Complete Booking Workflow
Appointment Selection & Payment
Client chooses braider, service, date/time and pays either a 30% deposit or full amount. Payment details are securely processed.
Pending Status
All appointments enter "Pending" status awaiting braider approval. Both client and braider receive notifications.
Braider Review
Braider reviews request in their dashboard and can:
After Confirmation
Once the appointment is confirmed:
Service & Payment Distribution
Client receives service from braider. Payment is automatically split:
Security & Fast Payouts: Your payment information is securely processed through Stripe. Braiders receive funds daily, typically arriving within 1-2 business days after payment processing.
Service Fee Explanation
Listing on Hare is completely free. When clients choose to book through Hare, a 13% service fee applies — split evenly between the client and the professional (6.5% each). This fee serves as a finder's fee and covers secure payment processing, deposit protection, scheduling, and customer support.
Why Do We Charge a Service Fee?
The service fee helps us cover the costs of running and improving Hare, including:
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Seamless Booking Experience: Hare makes it easy for clients to find, book, and pay for appointments, while professionals can manage their schedules and grow their businesses.
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Marketing and Exposure: We invest in marketing to bring more clients to Hare, helping professionals reach a wider audience.
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Customer Support: Our team provides support to both clients and professionals, ensuring a smooth and professional experience.
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Secure Payments: We handle secure payment processing, including credit card fees, so professionals don't have to worry about payment logistics.
How Is the 13% Service Fee Split?
The 13% service fee is divided as follows:
Client Pays 6.5%
The client pays half of the service fee (6.5% of the base service price). This fee is added to their total at checkout.
Braider Pays 6.5%
The professional contributes the other half of the service fee (6.5% of the base service price). This fee is automatically deducted from the professional's earnings during payment processing via Stripe's application fee.
This split ensures that both clients and professionals share the cost of using Hare, making it fair and sustainable for everyone.
Stripe Payment Processing
We use Stripe Express accounts to process payments securely and transfer funds directly to professionals' bank accounts. Setting up a Stripe account takes about 10 minutes and requires basic verification. Learn more about Stripe account setup.
Can I use my own booking and payment methods?
Absolutely. Hare is a directory first — your profile is free, and clients can contact you directly using your phone number, website, or any other method you provide.
If a client chooses to book through Hare, our scheduling, deposit protection, refund policies, and notifications apply. Hare charges a 13% service fee (split evenly between you and the client) as a finder's fee and to cover payment processing and customer protections.
You are never required to use Hare's booking system. Many professionals use Hare for visibility and handle bookings their own way.
Payment Breakdown Example
Example Calculation for a $200 Service
This example includes New York City sales tax (4.5%) and shows how payments are distributed.
| Payment Component | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Base Service Price | $200.00 | Original price set by braider |
| Client Service Fee (6.5%) | $13.00 | Added to client's total |
| NYC Sales Tax (4.5% of service + client fee) | $9.59 | Collected and remitted to tax authorities |
| Total Price with Tax | $222.59 | What client sees and pays |
| How the payment is split: | ||
| Initial Deposit (30% of total) | $66.78 | Client pays when booking |
| Remainder (70% of total) | $155.81 | Client pays 24hrs before appointment |
| Service fees and disbursements: | ||
| Service Fee - Client portion (6.5% of base price) | $13.00 | Added to client's total |
| Service Fee - Professional portion (6.5% of base price) | $13.00 | Deducted from braider's earnings |
| Total Service Fee (13% of base price) | $26.00 | Total fee for Hare |
| Sales Tax Remitted | $9.59 | Paid to tax authorities |
| Braider Receives | $187.00 | 93.5% of base service price (after 6.5% fee) |
Important Tax Information
As the payment processor, Hare is responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax to the appropriate tax authorities. The sales tax is calculated based on the location where the service is performed.
Sales tax does not affect the professional's earnings or our service fee calculation. Our 13% total service fee (split as 6.5% each between client and professional) is calculated on the base service price only, not on the tax amount.
Tax and Service Fee Considerations
Operating in New York City means navigating specific tax requirements that affect our payment processing. Here's how we handle taxes and what it means for our service fees:
Tax Collection and Remittance
As a marketplace facilitator, Hare is responsible for:
- Collecting the 4.5% NYC sales tax on beauty services
- Maintaining proper tax records
- Filing and remitting taxes to the appropriate authorities
- Providing tax documentation to professionals and clients
This creates additional administrative overhead and compliance requirements for Hare.
Impact on Economics
The current 13% service fee is designed to cover:
- Payment processing costs (credit card fees average 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
- Development and maintenance
- Customer support for both clients and professionals
- Marketing to help professionals grow their business
While our service fee is competitive and designed to be sustainable, we continuously evaluate it against our operating costs, including tax compliance obligations.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
We understand that plans can change. Here's our fair and transparent refund policy:
Deposit Policy
The 30% deposit is fully refundable if the braider declines your appointment or if you cancel before the braider confirms. Once a braider confirms your appointment, the deposit becomes non-refundable, as it secures your booking slot.
Appointment Expiration Policy
To ensure prompt service and efficient scheduling, pending appointments have an automatic expiration timeframe:
- For appointments scheduled more than 24 hours in advance: Braiders have 24 hours to respond
- For appointments scheduled 12-24 hours in advance: Braiders have 12 hours to respond
- For appointments scheduled less than 12 hours in advance: Braiders have 6 hours to respond
If a braider does not respond within the expiration timeframe, the appointment will be automatically canceled, and you will receive a full refund. A countdown timer is displayed on your pending appointments in the dashboard.
Remainder Payment Policy
For the remainder payment (70%), refunds follow this policy after braider confirmation:
- 100% refund of remainder if cancelled 24+ hours before appointment
- 75% refund of remainder if cancelled 12-24 hours before appointment
- 50% refund of remainder if cancelled 6-12 hours before appointment
- 25% refund of remainder if cancelled 3-6 hours before appointment
- No refund for cancellations with less than 3 hours notice or no-shows
Braider Cancellation Policy
If a braider cancels your appointment after confirmation:
- You will receive a full refund (100% of all payments made) regardless of when the cancellation occurs
- This applies to both deposit payments and full payments
- The refund will be processed automatically back to your original payment method
Full Payment vs. Deposit Payment
Our system offers two payment options:
- Deposit Payment (Default): Pay 30% deposit at booking, with remaining 70% automatically charged 24 hours before the appointment
- Full Payment: Pay 100% upfront when booking, with the same refund policies applied proportionally (30% non-refundable after confirmation, remainder subject to tiered refund schedule)
Rescheduling Policy
We understand that plans change. Our rescheduling policy is designed to be fair and flexible:
- All reschedules must be made at least 24 hours before the appointment
- First reschedule: Free (no additional fee)
- Subsequent reschedules: 20% of booking cost per reschedule
- Rescheduling requests made within 24 hours of the appointment are not permitted through the app and fall under our cancellation policy
- For urgent rescheduling needs within 24 hours, clients may contact their braider directly through the in-app chat, but approval is at the braider's discretion
FAQ for Professionals
Q: Why do I have to pay a service fee?
A: The service fee helps us maintain and improve Hare, including marketing, customer support, and secure payment processing. By contributing a small percentage, you gain access to more clients and a professional booking system that saves you time and helps grow your business.
Q: How is the service fee calculated?
A: The service fee is 13% of the base service price (not including sales tax). This fee is split equally between the client and the professional, so you only pay 6.5% of the base service price.
Q: How quickly will I receive payments?
A: Funds are transferred to your bank account daily, typically arriving within 1-2 business days after a payment is processed.
Q: What happens if a client disputes a charge?
A: Our support team will work with you to gather any necessary information to respond to the dispute. We have systems in place to protect braiders from fraudulent disputes.
Q: Do I need to report these earnings for taxes?
A: Yes, all earnings through Hare are reportable income. Stripe will provide you with 1099-K forms for tax filing purposes if you meet reporting thresholds.
FAQ for Clients
Q: Why am I charged a deposit?
A: The 30% deposit helps secure your appointment and compensates braiders for reserving their time. It also reduces no-shows and last-minute cancellations.
Q: Is my payment information secure?
A: Yes. Hare uses Stripe, which maintains the highest level of security certification in the payments industry (PCI Level 1). Your card details are never stored on Hare's servers.
Q: What if I need to cancel?
A: If you cancel before the braider confirms your appointment, you'll receive a 100% refund. After confirmation, your 30% deposit becomes non-refundable, as it secures your booking slot. For the remainder payment (70%), refunds follow our tiered policy based on when you cancel. For rescheduling, your first reschedule is free, but subsequent reschedules will incur a fee of 20% of the booking cost. All reschedules must be made at least 24 hours before your appointment.
Q: What if I need to reschedule?
A: We understand that plans can change. Your first reschedule is completely free with no additional fees. If you need to reschedule more than once, each subsequent reschedule will incur a fee of 20% of your total booking cost. Please note that all reschedules must be made at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment time.
Q: Will I get a receipt?
A: Yes, you'll receive email receipts for both the deposit and the final payment automatically.