Why payout timing matters more in a launch month
A course launch concentrates most of a month's revenue into a few days, while ad spend, affiliate commissions and contractor invoices are due around the same time. If the platform pays out monthly, or holds part of each sale, the money can arrive weeks after the bills.
Payout timing has three parts: the delay between a sale and when the funds become available, the payout frequency, and any special rules for new accounts, risky businesses or bank changes. The help docs for each platform describe these differently, so the table below normalises them.
Payout rules side by side
From each platform's help centre on 30 October 2026. Bank processing can add time after the payout is sent.
| Platform | Normal timing | Frequency | New accounts | Holds and reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable Payments | About 2 business days after each sale | Daily, business days only | First payout may take up to 4 to 6 weeks while Stripe verifies the account | No reserve; payouts held if earnings exceed $500 without tax forms |
| teachable:pay (being replaced) | Daily on a 2-business-day rolling basis | Daily, weekly (Thursdays) or monthly; Free plan monthly on the 15th | New schools may face a 100% reserve with a 14-day unlock | Standard 10% reserve released 45 days after purchase |
| Thinkific Payments | 2 business days in the US and Australia; 3 in Canada, UK and EEA (its FAQ also cites 7 calendar days for Canada); 7 in Hong Kong and Singapore | Daily by default; weekly, monthly or manual possible | First payout within 7 to 14 days | Higher-risk businesses may be on a 14-calendar-day schedule |
| Kajabi Payments | T+7 transaction delay for new accounts; shorter delays such as T+2 may become available after the first sale | Daily, weekly or monthly; new accounts start monthly | Starts monthly with T+7 | 7-day pause after a bank account change; may be restricted to monthly after a chargeback |
| Podia (Stripe or PayPal) | Deposited by the processor in about 5 business days | Set by Stripe or PayPal, not Podia | Stripe first payout usually 7 to 14 days after first transaction | Podia does not hold funds; first payout may take longer depending on industry risk and location |
Teachable: two systems during a transition
Teachable is moving sellers from teachable:pay to Teachable Payments in waves. Its transition article says Teachable Payments removes the 10% reserve, pays in full at the time of sale and debits refunds and disputes from a connected bank account when extra balance is needed. Its payout article says payouts arrive about 2 business days after each sale on business days, and that funds marked in transit may take 1 to 2 more business days to reach the bank.
If your school is still on teachable:pay, the older rules apply: a standard 10% reserve released 45 days after purchase, possibly a 100% reserve with a 14-day unlock for new schools, and Free plan payouts on the 15th of the following month. Check which system your school is on under Sales before you plan a launch budget.
Both systems hold payouts if earnings pass $500 and the W-9 or W-8BEN has not been submitted.
Thinkific, Kajabi and Podia
Thinkific Payments pays daily by default, with each payout containing payments from the country-specific delay earlier: 2 business days in the US. Its article also says higher-risk businesses may be placed on a 14-calendar-day schedule, and that changing the schedule yourself requires access to Instant Payouts; otherwise you email Thinkific's payments team.
Kajabi Payments starts new accounts on monthly payouts with a T+7 transaction delay, set for regulatory and compliance reasons; daily or weekly options and shorter delays may become available after your first sale. Updating your bank account triggers a mandatory 7-day verification pause on all payouts. Schedule changes take 1 to 2 business days to take effect.
Podia does not hold funds: payments go straight to your Stripe or PayPal account, and Podia says deposits generally arrive within about 5 business days. Stripe's own documentation lists 2 business days as the settlement timing for US accounts and a minimum payout of 0.01 USD.
Cash-flow example: a $20,000 launch week
Assume $20,000 of sales spread evenly across Monday to Friday of launch week ($4,000 a day), on an account that has already received earlier payouts. The figures ignore processing fees and refunds to keep the timing visible.
On Teachable Payments or Thinkific Payments in the US, each day's sales pay out about 2 business days later, so Monday to Wednesday sales, roughly $12,000, have been paid out by Friday and the full $20,000 by the following Tuesday. On teachable:pay with the standard 10% reserve, $2,000 is held until 45 days after each purchase, so it returns in the second month after launch.
On a new Kajabi account on monthly payouts with T+7, none of the launch money is in your bank in launch week; it arrives with the next monthly payout after the T+7 delay. If you also changed bank accounts that month, add the 7-day verification pause.
On a brand-new Stripe account behind Podia, Stripe says the first payout typically completes 7 to 14 days after the first live payment, so a first-ever launch should expect the money one to two weeks out.
| Scenario | Paid out by Friday of launch week | Fully paid out | Held longer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable Payments or Thinkific Payments (US, established) | About $12,000 | Following Tuesday | Nothing |
| teachable:pay, standard reserve | About $10,800 | Most by following Tuesday | $2,000 for 45 days after each sale |
| Kajabi Payments, new account | $0 | Next monthly payout after T+7 | Whole amount until that payout |
| Podia on a new Stripe account | $0 | 7 to 14 days after first payment, then Stripe schedule | Depends on Stripe review |
Launch-month checklist
- Connect and verify the payment account at least a month before launch so the first-payout delay is behind you.
- Submit tax forms early; Teachable holds payouts above $500 without them.
- Do not change bank details in launch month; Kajabi pauses payouts for 7 days after a change.
- Ask whether your account is still on a new-account schedule (Kajabi monthly with T+7, Teachable 4 to 6 weeks for the first payout).
- Hold back cash for refunds: Teachable Payments now debits refunds from your bank account when the balance is short.
- Schedule affiliate commission payouts after your own refund window closes.
Questions before you decide
How fast does Teachable pay out?
Teachable Payments pays about 2 business days after each sale, daily on business days, with no reserve. A new account's first payout can take up to 4 to 6 weeks while Stripe verifies it, and payouts stop above $500 if tax forms are missing.
Why is my first Kajabi payout so slow?
Kajabi starts new accounts on monthly payouts with a T+7 transaction delay for compliance reasons. Faster schedules and shorter delays may become available after your first sale, and changes take 1 to 2 business days.
Does Podia hold my money?
No. Podia says payments go directly to your Stripe or PayPal account and it does not hold or process your funds. The processor sets the schedule; Podia says deposits generally arrive within about 5 business days.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Teachable: get paid with Teachable Payments Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Teachable: from teachable:pay to Teachable Payments, what's changing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Teachable: teachable:pay Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Thinkific: Thinkific Payments payouts Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Kajabi: Kajabi Payments payouts Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Kajabi: bank updates and payout schedule timing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Podia: how quickly do I get paid Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Stripe: payouts documentation Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.