On Beam, financial transactions—such as receiving payments for webinars or 1:1 sessions—are securely processed through Stripe, our third-party payment provider. Beam handles the choice of payment processing methods, utilizing either Direct Charges or Destination Charges. The charge structure affects how payments are processed and who is responsible for certain aspects of the transaction. While Beam selects the charge method, understanding these differences can help you manage your earnings more effectively.

If you’d like more details about which charge method is applied to your account, contact our support team.

1. User (You)

As the content creator or service provider, you are responsible for managing your earnings and tax obligations, regardless of the charge method chosen by Beam. Here’s how each charge method works:

Direct Charges

• Payment Flow: Stripe processes payments directly on your behalf and deposits earnings into your Stripe account.

Your Responsibilities:

• Managing Transactions: You handle refunds, disputes, and chargebacks through your Stripe account.

• Fees: Stripe’s fees are deducted from your earnings before payout.

• Tax Compliance: You are responsible for handling tax obligations. Beam does not provide tax advice.

Destination Charges

• Payment Flow: Beam processes the payment, handles disputes, and then transfers the net earnings to your Stripe account.

• Your Responsibilities:

• Net Earnings: You manage your earnings after Beam processes the transaction and deducts any service fees.

• Tax Compliance: As with Direct Charges, you are responsible for tax obligations. Beam does not provide tax advice.

2. Beam

Beam is responsible for selecting the appropriate charge type for your transactions. The responsibilities differ based on whether we use Direct Charges or Destination Charges:

Direct Charges

• Minimal Involvement: Beam facilitates the Stripe setup, but you handle all transactions, refunds, and disputes directly.

Destination Charges

• Full Payment Management: Beam processes the entire payment, including handling refunds, disputes, and chargebacks. We deduct any service fees before transferring your earnings.

3. Stripe

Stripe securely handles all payment transactions. Regardless of the charge type, Stripe is responsible for:

• Payment Processing: Stripe manages customer payments, handles payouts, and ensures compliance with global financial regulations.

• Refunds and Disputes: Depending on the charge type, Stripe either works with you directly (for Direct Charges) or with Beam (for Destination Charges).

• Security: Stripe ensures that all payments are processed securely and complies with fraud prevention and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

Financial Disputes or Issues

• Direct Charges: You are responsible for handling payment issues such as refunds and chargebacks directly through your Stripe account.

• Destination Charges: Beam manages disputes, refunds, and chargebacks on your behalf, ensuring a smoother customer experience.

Direct Charges:

• You handle payments, refunds, and chargebacks directly through Stripe.

• You are responsible for tax obligations (Beam does not provide tax advice).

• Beam facilitates the platform but does not manage the transactions.

• Stripe ensures secure payment processing and compliance.

Destination Charges:

• Beam processes the payments, manages refunds, and handles customer disputes.

• You receive the net earnings after Beam deducts service fees.

• You are responsible for tax obligations (Beam does not provide tax advice).

• Stripe ensures secure payment processing and compliance.

If you’d like more information about which charge method is being used for your account, or have questions about payments, please contact our support team or visit our Help Center. For payment-related queries, you may also reach out to Stripe support.