Finance
What You'll Be Charged (Producers)
Exactly what appears on your Stripe Checkout, how the platform fee works, GST, overage royalties, and receipts.
This page is for producers, schools, and theatres paying for a licence. It explains every line item you'll see at checkout and every charge that can follow.
At checkout — the upfront charge
When your licence is approved and the contract is signed, you're redirected to Stripe Checkout. The total is the sum of:
- Licence fee — flat per performance, percentage of projected gross, or hybrid (the greater of), as set by the rights-holder
- Rental package (musicals only) — scores, parts, librettos, plus a refundable deposit if applicable
- Perusal fee — only if you didn't already pay one and the rights-holder credits it forward
- GST / VAT / sales tax — calculated automatically by Stripe based on your billing country (see Tax)
How the platform fee works
The platform fee (typically 10% of the licence fee, set by the platform) is absorbed by the rights-holder, not added to your bill. You pay exactly the price quoted — the rights-holder receives that amount minus the platform fee and Stripe processing fees. There is no separate "platform surcharge" on your invoice.
Card processing fees
Stripe's standard processing fee (~1.7% + A$0.30 domestic, ~3.5% international) is also borne by the rights-holder, deducted from their net payout. You are not charged a card surcharge.
Overage royalties (after the season)
If your contract uses a percentage royalty and your actual box office gross × royalty% exceeds your upfront fee, the difference is invoiced as an overage after close-out. Stripe auto-creates a payment link and emails it to you; payment is due within 7 days. If actual gross is lower, there is no refund — the upfront fee is a minimum guarantee.
Rental late fees and damages
If you return physical materials late or damaged, the rights-holder adds late-fee or replacement charges in the rental tab and Stripe sends you a payment link. Your rental deposit is automatically refunded on clean return; partial deductions appear on the receipt.
Receipts and tax invoices
- Sent automatically by email on every successful payment
- Available any time under Licences → [licence] → Payments as PDF
- Includes ABN/VAT number of the rights-holder organisation (not the platform) — the contract is between you and them
Refunds
See Refund Policy for the full window and admin-charge schedule.
Disputes and chargebacks
If something is wrong, contact the rights-holder first via the Messages tab on your licence — most issues resolve in 24h. Initiating a chargeback with your bank automatically suspends the licence and locks materials until the dispute is resolved with Stripe.