Funding bounties

How to fund bounties and manage payments as a creator

Overview

Fund your bounties with a credit card and let bounty.new handle the rest. When you approve a submission, the developer gets paid instantly—no manual transfers, no hassle.

How it works

1. Create a bounty

   Set up your bounty with a clear description and reward amount.

2. Fund it

   Pay upfront with a credit card. Funds are held securely until work is approved.

3. Review submissions

   Developers submit solutions. You review and test their work.

4. Approve and pay

   When you approve a submission, the developer gets paid instantly.

Payment methods

Funding bounties

• Credit card: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
• Instant processing: Your bounty goes live immediately
• Secure: All payments processed through Stripe

Bounties must be funded upfront. This ensures developers get paid immediately when their work is approved.

Fees and pricing

Platform fees

Fee type	Amount	When charged
Platform fee	5%	When bounty is created
Card processing	2.9% + $0.30	When bounty is created

Developers receive 100% of the bounty amount. You pay the platform fee and processing fees upfront.

Example calculation

For a $500 bounty:

Bounty amount:        $500.00
Platform fee (5%):    $ 25.00
Card processing:      $ 15.20
─────────────────────────────
Total charged:        $540.20

Developer receives:   $500.00

Managing funded bounties

Approving work

When you approve a submission:

1. Developer receives the full bounty amount instantly
2. Bounty is marked as complete
3. You receive a receipt for your records

Cancelling and refunds

Unfunded bounties

Delete them directly—no refund needed since they weren’t funded.

Funded bounties

To cancel a funded bounty:

1. Request cancellation

   Click Request cancellation from the bounty menu.

2. Provide reason (optional)

   Help us understand why you’re cancelling.

3. Wait for refund

   Our team processes your refund manually.

4. Receive refund

   You’ll receive the bounty amount minus the 5% platform fee.

You cannot cancel a bounty that has an approved submission. Once work is approved, the developer must be paid. The 5% platform fee is non-refundable.

Refund calculation

For a $500 bounty:

Original amount:      $500.00
Platform fee (5%):    $ 25.00 (non-refundable)
─────────────────────────────
Refund amount:        $475.00

What happens during cancellation

• All pending submitters receive a notification email
• Bounty badge changes from “Funded” to “Cancelling”
• Delete button becomes available while waiting for refund
• Once refunded, bounty status changes to “Cancelled”

Payment security

How payment protection works

1. Funds secured: When you fund a bounty, money is held securely in our platform account
2. Protected: Neither party can access funds until work is approved
3. Released: Funds transfer instantly to the developer upon approval
4. Refunded: If cancelled, funds return to you (minus platform fee)

Dispute resolution

If there’s a disagreement with a developer:

1. Communicate directly

   Try to resolve the issue with the developer first.

2. Request mediation

   Contact [e-mail] for help.

3. Review process

   Our team reviews the work and original requirements.

4. Fair decision

   Funds are released based on a fair assessment.

Disputes are rare but taken seriously. Provide clear requirements upfront to avoid issues.

Best practices

Fund before promoting

Only share your bounty publicly after it’s funded. Unfunded bounties can’t accept submissions.

Set fair rewards

Pay market rates for the work required. Higher rewards attract better developers.

Be responsive

Approve or provide feedback quickly. Developers appreciate fast turnaround.

Clear requirements

Detailed requirements reduce disputes and lead to better submissions.

Troubleshooting

Payment method declined

• Verify card details are correct
• Check with your bank for blocks or limits
• Try an alternative payment method
• Contact [e-mail] if issue persists

Incorrect amount charged

• Review the fee breakdown: bounty amount + 5% platform fee + card processing
• Check your transaction history for details
• Contact [e-mail] if you believe there’s an error

Refund not received

• Refunds are processed manually and may take 3-5 business days
• Check that your cancellation request was submitted
• Contact [e-mail] for status updates

Can't cancel bounty

• Check if there’s an approved submission (cannot cancel if approved)
• Make sure the bounty is funded (unfunded bounties can be deleted directly)
• Contact [e-mail] for help

Need help?

Contact support

Questions about payments? Our team is here to help.