Instant Payouts let you transfer money from Stripe to your bank account immediately instead of waiting for the standard payout schedule. This feature is only available if you have a Stripe Standard account.
What Are Instant Payouts?
Instant Payouts allow you to manually transfer funds from your Stripe balance to your bank account in minutes instead of waiting 2-3 business days for your regular payout schedule.
There's a fee: Stripe charges 1.5% of the transfer amount (minimum $0.50) for each instant payout.
Is Instant Payout Available to Me?
It depends on your Stripe account type:
Stripe Express Account (Most Common)
Instant Payouts: NOT available
Most kitchens on The Food Corridor have an Express account. Express accounts don't support instant payouts — you'll receive your money on your regular payout schedule (typically 2-3 business days after a payment is processed).
Stripe Standard Account
Instant Payouts: Available
If you have a Standard account, you can initiate instant payouts from your Stripe dashboard. You'll pay a 1.5% fee per transfer.
How to Check Your Account Type
Access your Stripe account through TFC (Billing tab > View Stripe Dashboard)
Look at your account settings or contact information
Standard accounts will have full access to all Stripe settings and features
Express accounts have simplified settings managed partly through The Food Corridor
Not sure which you have? Contact The Food Corridor support and we can let you know.
Can I Switch to a Standard Account?
No, but that's ok! Express accounts are best suited for use with The Food Corridor.
Standard accounts offer more features (including instant payouts), but they also come with:
More liability for chargebacks and disputes
More complex setup and verification requirements
Additional responsibilities for regulatory compliance
Express accounts offer simplified setup and reduced liability typically outweigh the benefit of instant payouts.
Why Do I Have a Standard Account?
If you've been with us for a while, you might have a Standard account. We used to set up all new customers with Standard accounts, but we've since switched to Express accounts because they work better for our kitchens' needs.
All new customers now start with an Express account automatically.
Want to switch to Express? We can't convert your existing Standard account, but we're happy to help you set up a new Express account. Just reach out to us and we'll get you started.
Understanding Your Regular Payout Schedule
If instant payouts aren't available to you, here's when you'll receive your money:
Standard payout schedule:
Payments are typically transferred 2-3 business days after they're processed
You can view your payout schedule in your Stripe dashboard
Schedule may vary based on your bank and account setup
Example:
Monday: Client pays their invoice
Wednesday or Thursday: Money arrives in your bank account
Learn more about Stripe payout timing here.
How to Use Instant Payouts (Standard Accounts Only)
If you have a Standard account:
Log into your Stripe dashboard
Go to Balance > Payouts
Click "Pay out funds instantly"
Enter the amount you want to transfer
Confirm the 1.5% fee
Select your bank account
Complete the transfer
Your money should arrive in your bank account within minutes (typically 30 minutes or less).
The Bottom Line
Most kitchens don't have access to instant payouts — and that's okay. Your regular 2-3 day payout schedule is still optimized for routine cash flow.
If you consistently need faster access to your funds, that might indicate a cash flow planning opportunity. We're happy to discuss strategies for managing your kitchen's finances more effectively.