How payment actually works.
Two separate payments, two separate channels — so you always know exactly where your money is going.
The two-part model
Service fee vs. goods payment.
- 1
Service fee — via Upwork. Our sourcing/inspection service fee is paid through a formal Upwork contract. Upwork acts as a neutral third party, keeping both sides protected under documented terms — your payment, and our right to be paid for completed work.
- 2
Goods payment — via Wise, Airwallex, or Payoneer. Payment for the goods themselves (what you're buying from the supplier) does NOT go through Upwork — its 10-20% cut makes it uneconomical for larger sums. Instead, pay us directly via whichever of Wise, Airwallex, or Payoneer suits your situation best, and we pay the supplier on your behalf.
- 3
Verify it yourself. The calculator below shows what each platform takes when you pay us, and again when we pay the supplier, so you can see exactly where the money goes.
Our commitment
We never pick up your goods before your payment clears.
We place the purchase order and arrange pickup from the supplier only after we've received your goods payment in full. We do not pre-fund orders on a client's behalf under any circumstances — this protects both sides from the risk of paying (or shipping) before the other side has held up their end.
Fee calculator
Estimate your goods-payment cost.
Enter an amount to compare Wise, Airwallex, and Payoneer side by side.
Simulated estimate only, not a binding quote — actual fees are confirmed at time of payment. For bank-transfer methods, the supplier's own receiving bank may also deduct a small incoming-wire handling fee not shown here.