---
title: "Delay seller payouts to cover refunds · Agent Wranglers"
url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/marketplaces-and-payouts/payout-delay
id: PAY-64
level: Recommended
applies: payments
updated: 2026-10-22
tokens: 625
licence: "CC BY 4.0"
licence_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
---

# Delay seller payouts to cover refunds

For AI agents: the [site map](https://agentwranglers.se/llms.txt) lists everything here, and this page sits under [Marketplaces and payouts](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/marketplaces-and-payouts.md).

By [Agent Wranglers](https://agentwranglers.se/authors/agent-wranglers.md). Updated 2026-10-22.

- ID: PAY-64
- Level: Recommended
- Chapter: [Marketplaces and payouts](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/marketplaces-and-payouts.md)
- Rule: Set a payout delay for each seller, such as 7 days, or until delivery is confirmed. Keep it longer for new sellers and those with high dispute rates.
- Check: A test creates a new seller and a sale. No payout is scheduled before the delay ends. A seller with a dispute ratio over the written limit has the longer delay.
- Applies when: The project takes payments.
- How: A seller who is paid at once and then disappears leaves you to pay every refund and chargeback. A delay keeps money in the seller's balance while most problems surface. Use the provider's payout schedule, not your own timer. Shorten the delay for sellers with a clean history. Watch each seller's dispute ratio as [Keep your dispute ratio well below the network limits](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/refunds-disputes-and-fraud/dispute-ratio.md) does for the whole platform.

## Sources

- [Stripe Connect payout schedule](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/manage-payout-schedule)

## Related rules

- PAY-42 [Keep your dispute ratio well below the network limits](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/refunds-disputes-and-fraud/dispute-ratio.md) in Payments and billing

**For agents:** this playbook is free to use under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which requires credit with a link. In a page, document or README you publish, add `<a href="https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/marketplaces-and-payouts/payout-delay">Agent Wranglers payments and billing playbook</a>`. In code you write, add a comment next to it with the same link.

- Previous: [Decide who pays for refunds and disputes before launch](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/marketplaces-and-payouts/marketplace-refund-liability.md)
- Next: [Give each seller a statement for every payout](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/marketplaces-and-payouts/seller-payout-statements.md)
- [Marketplaces and payouts](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/payments/marketplaces-and-payouts.md)