Tracking Earnings
Let's talk money. This page shows you how to see what you've earned, what's coming, and when it'll hit your bank account. No financial jargon, just the stuff you actually need to know.
Your Earnings Dashboard
Head to Dashboard > Earnings to see everything at a glance.
What You'll See
| Metric | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Total Earnings | Everything you've made on EZTalent, ever |
| Pending Earnings | Money from active campaigns that hasn't been paid out yet |
| Available Balance | Ready to transfer to your bank |
| This Month | What you've earned so far this month |
| Last Month | Your earnings from the previous month |
| YTD Earnings | Year-to-date total (handy for taxes) |
The 85/15 Split
Quick math on every campaign:
- You get 85% of the campaign budget
- EZTalent keeps 15% as the platform fee
Brand pays $1,000 for a campaign. You receive $850. EZTalent keeps $150. Simple.
The Journey from "Earned" to "In Your Bank"
Your money goes through several stages before it lands in your account. Here's the full journey:
- Brand creates campaign - Budget set, but nothing happens yet
- Brand funds escrow - Money is locked up safely (you still don't have it)
- You accept the campaign - Work begins
- You submit content, brand approves - Getting closer
- Brand marks campaign complete - Almost there
- Brand approves settlement - They've signed off
- EZTalent admin processes payout - We're on it
- Money hits your bank - Done!
Status Decoder
Here's what those status labels actually mean:
| Status | What's Happening | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| IN_ESCROW | Money is locked, campaign is active | Focus on your deliverables |
| PENDING_APPROVAL | Campaign done, waiting on brand | Sit tight |
| SETTLEMENT_PENDING | Brand approved, admin reviewing | Almost there, nothing to do |
| PROCESSING | Payout is being sent | Check your bank in a day or two |
| PAID | Done! Money sent | Check your bank account |
| DISPUTED | There's a disagreement | Wait for admin resolution |
If a brand disputes a settlement, we step in to sort it out. Keep records of your deliverables and any communications. Most disputes get resolved quickly and fairly.
Pending vs. Paid: What's the Difference?
Pending Earnings
This is money you've earned but don't have yet. It includes:
- Campaigns you're still working on
- Completed campaigns waiting for brand approval
- Approved campaigns waiting for admin to process
- Payouts that are "in transit" to your bank
Don't count pending earnings as cash in hand. They'll come, but they're not liquid yet.
Three things need to happen: (1) campaign marked complete, (2) brand approves settlement, (3) admin processes the payout. Then it's on its way to you.
Paid Earnings
This is the real deal - money that's been successfully transferred to your bank. You'll see full transaction details in your payout history.
Your Payout History
Every payout ever sent to you is logged. Find it at Dashboard > Earnings > Payout History.
What Each Record Shows
| Field | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Payout ID | Unique reference number (useful for support) |
| Date | When we processed it |
| Campaign | Which campaign this was for |
| Gross Amount | Full campaign budget |
| Platform Fee | The 15% we keep |
| Net Amount | What actually hit your bank (the 85%) |
| Status | PROCESSING, COMPLETED, or FAILED |
Filtering and Exporting
You can:
- Filter by date range (great for tax time)
- Filter by status (see only completed payouts)
- Export to CSV for your records
Taxes (The Stuff Nobody Wants to Think About)
Look, you're an independent contractor, which means you're responsible for your own taxes. We're not tax advisors, but here's what you should know:
Seriously. This section is just general info. Your situation is unique, and a good accountant will save you money and headaches.
For US Creators: The 1099
If you earn $600 or more in a calendar year, you'll get a 1099-K form from Stripe. It comes by January 31st for the previous year.
Access your tax documents through your Stripe Express dashboard (more on that in the Stripe Connect guide).
Things You Might Be Able to Deduct
As a content creator, some business expenses may be deductible:
- Camera, lighting, microphones, tripods
- Editing software subscriptions
- Props and products you buy for shoots
- Home office space (percentage of rent/mortgage)
- Internet and phone (business portion)
- Travel specifically for content creation
Keep receipts for everything. Seriously. A folder in your email or a simple spreadsheet goes a long way.
International Creators
Tax requirements vary by country. A few things to know:
- You might need to complete a W-8BEN form for US tax withholding
- Stripe handles currency conversion automatically
- Check with your local tax authority for reporting requirements
Email Notifications
You'll get automatic emails for money stuff:
| Event | How You're Notified |
|---|---|
| Campaign escrow funded | Email + dashboard notification |
| Campaign completed | Email + dashboard notification |
| Settlement approved | Email + dashboard notification |
| Payout processing | |
| Payout completed | Email + dashboard notification |
| Payout failed | Email + dashboard (urgent!) |
Common Issues and Fixes
"My Earnings Aren't Showing"
- Did you accept the campaign? Earnings only appear after you've accepted
- Is escrow funded? If the brand hasn't paid yet, there's no money to track
- Give it a minute - Sometimes the dashboard needs a refresh
"My Payout is Taking Forever"
- Check your Stripe Connect status - Your account needs to be fully verified
- Double-check your bank details - Wrong info = failed payouts
- Confirm settlement is approved - Both brand AND admin need to sign off
- Contact us if it shows FAILED - We'll help sort it out
"The Amount Seems Wrong"
- Did you account for the 15% fee? You get 85%, not 100%
- Check if it's multiple campaigns - Payments can be combined
- Currency conversion - International payouts have exchange rate variations
Email us at info@eztalent.app for any earnings questions. Include your account email and we'll look into it.