Chargeback Cost Calculator
a sale isn't final for 120 daysA chargeback pulls the money back out of your balance first and asks questions later. Most creators only ever see it one dispute at a time, which hides the real number. This shows the yearly cost — and how much of what you've already been paid is still inside the window where a buyer can claw it back.
PPV, tips, customs, subs — everything paid by card.
Used to turn dollars into a number of disputes.
Card networks flag merchants above about 1%. Adult platforms typically run higher than retail. If you don't know yours, start at 1% and adjust.
Some platforms charge you a fee on top of taking back the sale, some don't. Check your platform's terms and put it here.
With a dated paper trail, creators win far more than the default near-zero. Be honest about yours.
Most platforms only take back your share, not theirs. This keeps the math to what actually leaves your balance.
Roughly the last four months of your-share sales can still be reversed. Don't treat it as spent — this is the amount to keep a cushion against.
Bar = expected reversals from that window at your rate.
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Estimates for planning only. Dispute windows, fees and what a platform reverses vary by platform and card network; the 120-day figure is the common card-network limit, not a guarantee. This is not legal or financial advice.
What is a chargeback, exactly?
A buyer asks their card issuer to reverse a payment. The money is usually pulled back out of your balance first, and you find out afterwards. It is different from a refund, which you choose to give.
How long can a sale be disputed?
Card networks commonly allow around 120 days from the transaction, and some categories allow longer. That is why recent income is never quite as final as it feels.
What actually wins a dispute?
A dated paper trail: proof of what was delivered and when, the conversation where it was requested, and a refund policy the buyer could see at the time of purchase. Keep it somewhere outside the platform, so a locked account does not also lock away your evidence.
Why does a high chargeback rate matter beyond the lost money?
Processors and platforms watch the ratio. Sustained high rates can mean fees, holds, or losing the ability to take card payments at all — which costs far more than the disputes themselves.