How are braiders charged on Braidz IQ, and what are the tier plans?
Braiders choose a monthly plan (Free, Pro $29/mo, or Elite $79/mo) and pay a small platform fee only when Braidz IQ introduces a brand-new client. Customers pay braiders directly; Braidz IQ never holds the service payment.
## The short version
Braidz IQ makes money in three transparent ways — and **never** takes a cut of the money a customer hands you for the actual braiding service.
1. **Monthly subscription** (Free, Pro, or Elite)
2. **New-Client Introduction Fee** — 20% of the first booking, only when we match you with a customer you have never served before
3. **Optional Boost listings** — pay to appear at the top of search in your city for a week
Repeat clients? Walk-ins? Customers who already follow you? **$0 fee.** That booking is 100% yours.
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## Subscription tiers
| Plan | Price | Best for | What you get |
|------|-------|----------|--------------|
| **Free** | $0 / mo | Trying the platform | Public profile, accept bookings, basic messaging, standard search ranking |
| **Pro** | **$29 / mo** | Full-time braiders | Everything in Free + priority search placement, analytics dashboard, AI Braid Care assistant for your clients, lower intro fee tier |
| **Elite** | **$79 / mo** | Salons & top earners | Everything in Pro + featured "Verified Elite" badge, top-of-search boost credits included, advanced booking automation, multi-stylist support |
You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime from **Dashboard → Billing**.
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## The New-Client Introduction Fee (20%)
When the Braidz IQ Match Engine sends you a customer you've **never booked before**, we charge a one-time **20% platform fee** on that first appointment total. After that first booking, every future appointment with that same client is fee-free forever.
- Fee is calculated at booking confirmation
- Charged to your card on file the day after the appointment
- Itemized on your monthly statement
This is how we keep the lights on without taking a cut of your ongoing relationships.
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## $25 Deposit (no-show protection)
Customers place a **$25 refundable deposit** through Stripe to confirm a booking. Braidz IQ holds nothing — the deposit either:
- Gets credited toward their service total, **or**
- Goes to **you** if they no-show per your cancellation policy
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## Optional: Boost listings
Want more visibility? Buy a weekly **Boost** to appear at the top of search in your city:
- **Basic Boost** — $15/wk
- **Pro Boost** — $30/wk
- **Premium Boost** — $50/wk
Completely optional. Free and Pro members can buy boosts à la carte; Elite members get monthly boost credits included.
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## How customers pay you
Customers pay you **directly** using your preferred method — Zelle, CashApp, PayPal, in-person card reader, or cash. Braidz IQ does **not** sit between you and your service revenue, which means:
- No payout waiting periods
- No chargeback risk on your service money
- You set your own deposit, balance, and refund policy
We only ever charge the **subscription** and the **new-client intro fee** to your card on file.
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## Quick example
You're on the **Pro plan ($29/mo)**. The Match Engine sends Aisha — a brand-new customer — for a $220 set of knotless braids.
- Aisha pays a **$25 deposit** through the app (held by Stripe)
- On appointment day, she pays you the **remaining $195** directly (Zelle/cash/your reader)
- Braidz IQ charges your card the **20% intro fee = $44** the next day
- Net to you: **$220 − $44 = $176** for this first booking
- Aisha rebooks next month → **$0 fee, full $220 is yours**
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## FAQ
**Do I have to use Stripe?** Only for the $25 deposit. Your service payment method is up to you.
**What if a customer cancels?** Your cancellation policy decides where the deposit goes. No intro fee is charged for canceled bookings.
**Can I be on the Free plan forever?** Yes. Free accounts can accept bookings and grow at their own pace.
**Where do I manage my plan?** Dashboard → Billing → Subscription.