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All Help Articles
60 articles across 6 topics — everything you need to know about RateCards.
Getting Started
15 articles- How to Create Your AccountSimple steps to get started on the RateCards platform. Sign up with email (or your Google email account) and get your profile live in minutes.
- What is RateCards?RateCards is a portable AI storefront for service providers. It makes it easy to sell your services through a link-in-bio or QR code.
- Who can sell with RateCards?Anyone who wants to get paid for their labor or professional services: independent contractors, freelancers, tradespeople, home services, personal services, side-hustles, engineers, creators,...
- How can I use RateCards to earn?Use RateCards to sell any service — independent contractors, trades, personal services, fitness, freelance, gig work, side-hustles, remote work, professional consulting and more.
- How do I set up my first rate card?Setting up your first rate card takes a few minutes: add a title, price, billing frequency, availability, and service location, then save.
- How many rate cards (services) can I add?Starter includes up to 15 rate cards. Solo and Business are unlimited — add a separate card for each service you offer.
- How do I edit, reprice, or delete a rate card?Update any rate card anytime from the Rate Cards tab: edit, share, make private, duplicate, take offline or delete it. Price changes apply to new bookings only.
- How does the link-in-bio feature work?Your RateCards profile has a unique URL that works as a link-in-bio storefront of your services. Anyone who clicks it can view all your services and pay you in seconds.
- Can RateCards replace my website?Yes. RateCards can act as your own mini-website — share, sell, and get hired without the cost, complexity, and effort of building a regular website.
- Can I hire other people on RateCards?Yes. You can hire other independent service providers across the platform
- Who can see my profile and rate cards?Public rate cards show on your profile. Private rate cards stay off it and open only for people you send the link to. Available on every plan.
- Who can open a RateCards account?To sell on RateCards you need to be 18 or older and based in the U.S., with a U.S. bank account to get paid. One personal account per person.
- What can't I sell on RateCards?RateCards is for legal services. Some goods and services aren't allowed, including weapons, drugs, gambling, adult services, and MLM or get-rich-quick offers.
- What AI tools are included?Rate Advisor suggests what to charge from real market data. Profile Enhancement and the Rate Card Generator write and polish your listings. Included during your Starter free period and on paid Starter, Solo and Business plans.
- How do new clients find me on RateCards?Share your link everywhere you already have an audience, and show up in the Discover marketplace. On Solo and Business you also get a Discover boost and local SEO.
Payments & Earning
16 articles- What happens after someone books my rate card?Every booking moves through three stages: 1) Pending Offer 2) Active Project 3) Completed Project
- Do my clients need the RateCards platform to pay me?No. They simply click your link, choose a service, and pay with a credit or debit card.
- How do recurring payments work?Choose a recurring billing frequency on a rate card, and your client's card is charged automatically on that schedule until either of you cancels.
- How do invoices work?For complex jobs, create a custom invoice — add your service, hours, rate, and any materials, then send it for payment. Included on every plan.
- What is the Pay button?The Pay button is a general-purpose "Pay" option on your RateCards profile that lets clients, friends or family pay you any amount.
- How do I use Payment Links?Create a link for any amount, send it by text, email or DM, and your client pays in their browser. No rate card, invoice or client account needed.
- Can I get paid in person with a QR code?Yes. Every rate card and your profile come with a custom QR code. Show it on your phone, truck, business card, poster, or flyer — customers scan it and pay.
- Can international clients pay me?Usually, yes. Clients anywhere can pay with a supported card in their browser, and you're paid out in U.S. dollars to your U.S. bank.
- What happens if a recurring payment fails?If a client's card is declined on a recurring charge, Stripe automatically retries the payment over the following days and your client is prompted to update their card.
- What payment methods are accepted?Credit & debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, plus Diners Club, JCB, and UnionPay where supported. Prepaid cards work too.
- How do I accept or decline a booking?When a client books a rate card, it arrives as a pending offer. Nothing is charged until you accept, so you never work on trust.
- How do tips work?Clients can add a tip on top of the agreed price when a job is complete. Tips are paid out with your earnings and are available on every plan.
- How do I create a payment link?A payment link lets you charge any amount without setting up a rate card. Create one in seconds and send it by text, email, or DM.
- My client's card was declined — what can they do?Declines are decided by your client's bank, not by RateCards. Most can be fixed by checking the card details, calling the bank, or trying another card or digital wallet.
- I see a RateCards charge I don't recognizeRateCards processes payments for independent service providers. A RateCards charge usually means you paid a provider through their RateCards link. Here's how to check.
- I'm a client — how do I cancel a recurring payment or get a refund?You can cancel a recurring service anytime. Refunds are decided by the provider you paid, so contact them first.
Payouts & Fees
10 articles- What are the fees?There's no setup fee, and each membership plan comes at a different price. Two service/platform fees apply per transaction — a service fee deducted from your payout, and a booking fee may be added to your client's total.
- How do I set up my Stripe account to get paid?Set up your connected Stripe Connect account from the Wallet tab in a few minutes so your earnings pay out to your bank automatically.
- When and how often do I get paid?Once a job is marked complete, Stripe pays it out to your bank automatically, typically about 2 business days later. Your first payout takes 7–14 days.
- How do I update my bank or payout details?Go to the Wallet tab > tap Manage Payout Account (or Manage Wallet) button to update your linked bank account.
- Can I issue a refund or cancel a charge?Refunds are at the seller's discretion — you decide whether to offer one and within what time frame, based on your own policy.
- What if there's a dispute or chargeback?If a customer formally disputes a charge with their bank (a "chargeback"), it's handled through Stripe, which manages the bank's dispute process.
- My payment method says it's linked to another account.This usually happens when the same card or bank account is already connected to a different RateCards or Stripe account — Stripe links each payment method
- Can I cover the booking fee for my clients?Yes. You can choose to cover the client booking fee on any rate card, so your client pays exactly your listed price.
- Why is my payout delayed or on hold?Most delays come from a first payout (7–14 days), unfinished Stripe verification, a weekend or holiday, or a problem with your bank details. Here's how to check each one.
- Will I get a 1099-K or other tax forms?If your payments pass the IRS reporting threshold, Stripe issues a Form 1099-K through your Stripe Express dashboard. Either way, all your earnings are taxable.
Plans & Subscriptions
7 articles- What do the RateCards plans cost?There are three plans — Starter, Solo, and Business. Starter is free for your first 6 months, and every plan lowers your per-transaction service fee as you move up.
- Is Starter free, and what happens after 6 months?Starter is free for your first 6 months with no credit card required. After that it continues at $5/mo billed annually, or $7/mo billed monthly.
- How do I upgrade, downgrade, or cancel my plan?Upgrades take effect immediately and are prorated; downgrades and cancellations take effect at the end of your billing period. First-time upgrades have a 7-day refund guarantee.
- What is the AI Voice Receptionist?The Voice Receptionist answers client calls when you can't. It's a $50/mo add-on on Solo and included on Business, with a monthly spend cap you control.
- Can I change how my profile looks?Every profile starts on the Default design. Solo and Business add 7 more designs and any accent color; Business also lets you replace the RateCards logo with your own.
- How do team seats work?Team seats are a Business feature. One owner seat is included, and additional seats are $35/mo each — with owner-controlled permissions.
- What are the email marketing and CRM contact limits?Solo includes 5,000 emails a month and 1,000 CRM contacts; Business raises that to 50,000 and 10,000. A $19.99/mo top-up adds more.
Account & Security
9 articles- Updating your profile and account settingsChange your name, services, prices, payout details, skills, location, links, and availability.
- Troubleshooting & FAQQuick fixes for the most common issues, and how to reach support.
- I can't log in — how do I reset my password or recover my account?On the sign-in screen, tap 'Forgot password' and enter the email you signed up with. We'll send a reset link — follow it to choose a new password.
- Is my payment information secure?Payments are processed by Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified provider — the highest level in the payments industry.
- How do I close my account and delete my data?You can request account closure and deletion of your personal data at any time. First, make sure any pending payouts have cleared and cancel any active subscription.
- Where can I find the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy?Links to our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Payments Terms, Refund Policy, and community and usage policies.
- How do I contact RateCards support?Ask the in-app Support Assistant, or email support@ratecards.app. We aim to reply to email within 1–2 business days.
- How do I turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)?2FA adds a second check when you sign in. If you sign in with Google, it's managed in your Google Account. If you sign up with email, you turn it on in RateCards.
- How do I report a profile, user, or copyright issue?Use the Report a Violation form to send a profile or listing straight to our Trust & Safety team. Copyright claims go to copyright@ratecards.app.
Sharing & Bookings
3 articles- Sharing your link and QR codePut your rate card in your bio, email signature, your SMS texts, and on a printable QR code.
- How clients book and payWhat your clients see: open the link, pick a service, pay in about 30 seconds.
- Managing bookings and your scheduleTrack pending offer requests, confirm projects, manage active projects, and keep your calendar under control.
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