Payments & fees
What is Service fee?
A service fee is a charge added to a fan's payment by the platform, separate from the creator's price, so the creator's earnings are not reduced by the full cost of running the platform.
Some platforms take their whole cut from the creator's side, so a £10 item pays the creator £8. Others split the cost by adding a visible service fee for the buyer. The creator's price stays the headline figure, and the fee is shown separately before the fan pays.
The key test of a fair service fee is transparency. The fan should see the full amount before confirming, with the fee clearly labelled, so the price shown is the price paid.
On MyShrine, the fan pays a 10% service fee on top of the creator's price and the creator keeps 90% of that price. A £30 custom request costs the fan £33, and the creator receives £27. Creators always see and set their own price; fans always see the total including the fee before paying, and the checkout shows the fee as its own line.
When comparing platforms, add the service fee and the creator's cut together to see the full picture. A buyer-side fee can mean a higher total for fans, which is worth considering when setting prices.