Trainer Payouts

Category: Management | Code: trainer_payouts

The Trainer Payouts addon fully automates the compensation of your trainers. Instead of manual bank transfers at the end of the month, Bookicorn handles billing after every course automatically – based on the compensation model you configure per trainer.

Prerequisite: Trainer Logins addon

Note: The Trainer Payouts addon requires the Trainer Logins addon. Automatic payouts only work when trainers have their own accounts.

What you get

• 3 compensation models: Hourly rate, percentage of revenue, monthly flat rate
• Automatic payout after each course via Stripe Connect
• Billing overview in the admin – who received what and when?
• Trainer self-service view – trainers can see their own payouts in the dashboard
• Stripe Connect onboarding for trainers (guided process)

Activation

Stripe Connect setup

For your studio (one-time)

Your studio must have Stripe Connect activated for payouts to trainers to be possible. This happens automatically when you activate the addon – provided you have already connected a Stripe account to Bookicorn.

For each trainer

Every trainer who should receive automatic payouts must create their own Stripe account (or connect an existing one). This process runs through Stripe Connect onboarding.

Note: The Stripe onboarding takes approximately 5–10 minutes for the trainer. Stripe reviews the information – usually within a few minutes, sometimes up to one business day.

What trainers need to provide at Stripe

• Full name and date of birth
• Address
• IBAN for payouts
• Tax number or tax ID
• Identity verification (national ID or passport)

Tip: Let trainers know in advance what they will need. The process is straightforward, but it helps to have the IBAN and an ID photo ready.

The 3 compensation models

You choose one compensation model per trainer. The model can be changed at any time – changes take effect from the next course onward.

Model 1: Per-course rate

The trainer receives a fixed amount per course delivered, regardless of how many participants attend.

Configuration:

• Amount per course: e.g. €30.00
• Optional: Different rates for different course types

Best suited for:

• Employed trainers or trainers with a fixed contract
• Courses with a stable, predictable number of participants
• Trainers who should earn the same amount regardless of occupancy

Model 2: Percentage of revenue

The trainer receives a percentage of the revenue generated by their course. The payout is directly tied to course occupancy.

Configuration:

• Percentage: e.g. 40%
• Basis: Net course revenue (after deducting cancellations)

Best suited for:

• Self-employed trainers who should think entrepreneurially
• Popular trainers who contribute disproportionately to studio occupancy
• The launch phase of new courses (lower risk for you)

Tip: The percentage model motivates trainers to actively fill their courses – they directly benefit from high occupancy. Communicate this transparently so trainers understand the logic.

Model 3: Monthly flat rate

The trainer receives a fixed amount per month, regardless of the number of courses or occupancy.

Configuration:

• Monthly amount: e.g. €800.00
• Payout date: e.g. the 1st or 15th of the month

Best suited for:

• Full-time trainers with a fixed number of hours
• Studio partners or studio managers with a trainer role
• Simplified billing without variable components

Automatic payout after each course

For the per-course rate and percentage models, the payout works as follows:

1. The course takes place
2. Bookicorn calculates the compensation (immediately after the course ends)
3. Stripe transfers the amount to the trainer's account
4. The trainer and admin can see the transaction in their overview

When exactly does the money arrive?

Stripe typically transfers funds to the trainer's bank account within 2 business days. The transfer itself is immediate – but banks need time to process the credit.

Note: Stripe fees are automatically deducted. For standard Stripe Connect accounts, that is approximately 0.25% + €0.10 per transfer. The exact terms depend on your Stripe agreement.

Billing overview in the admin

Under Finance → Trainer Payouts you can see all transactions at a glance.

What you see

• All payouts by date, trainer, and amount
• Status of each transaction (pending, transferred, arrived)
• Filters by trainer, time period, course type
• Export as CSV for accounting

Per trainer

Click on a trainer for the detail view:

• All courses for the period with revenue and compensation
• Total compensation for the month / quarter / year
• Stripe transaction numbers for accounting

What trainers see themselves

Trainers can see in their own dashboard:

• All their own payouts (date, amount, course)
• Status (pending, transferred)
• Annual overview for their own tax return

Switching the compensation model

You can change the model per trainer at any time:

Tip: Always change compensation models at the start of a new month or after a clarifying conversation with the trainer. Unexpected changes mid-month lead to confusion and a loss of trust.

Tips for choosing the right model

Decision guide

Transparency with trainers

Explain clearly to each trainer how their compensation is calculated. For the percentage model, it's important that trainers understand what the percentage is based on (gross course revenue? After cancellations?).

Start Stripe onboarding early

Initiate Stripe onboarding for new trainers in their first week – not just before their first course. Stripe verification can sometimes take a bit longer.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if a course is cancelled? If a course is cancelled, no compensation is paid out. If individual participants cancel, the percentage model is billed based on the actual revenue.

Can I combine different compensation models for the same trainer for different course types? Yes. You can, for example, set a per-course rate for yoga courses and a percentage for workshops.

Does my studio need to have Stripe Connect activated? Yes. The addon requires Stripe Connect at the studio level. This is set up automatically when activating the addon, provided you have already connected Stripe to Bookicorn.

Are the payouts recorded in accounting (DATEV export)? Yes. In the Finance Cockpit and in the DATEV export (separate addon), all trainer payouts are listed as separate expense items.

What happens if a trainer doesn't want to set up a Stripe account? Without Stripe Connect onboarding, no automatic payouts can be made. You can then pay the compensation manually – the addon still tracks the amounts for your own overview.

Can trainers change their own bank details? Yes. Trainers manage their bank details directly in their Stripe account, independently of Bookicorn.