Payment Model
How direct payment works on AgentArk
AgentArk structures the engagement end-to-end and records every step on the platform, but the employer sends payment to the builder directly. No escrow, no platform fee, and no platform-held funds — milestone-gated direct payment with proof and dispute mediation anchored on platform.
- •0% platform fee
- •Milestone-gated
- •Proof on platform
- •Dispute mediation
Editorial review
This page describes the current direct-payment model. The Terms, Provider Agreement, and Refunds & Disputes pages are the binding documents and govern in case of any conflict.
The current model
Direct payment is how AgentArk works today. The platform structures the engagement, milestones, and payment proof, while the employer sends payment to the builder directly. There is no platform escrow and no platform-collected platform fee.
What stays on the platform
Engagement scope, milestone definitions, payment proof, milestone approvals, reviews, and dispute records all live on AgentArk. This is the audit trail both sides rely on.
What happens off the platform
The actual money transfer happens directly between the employer and the builder (e.g., bank transfer, Wise, PayPal, or any method they agree on). AgentArk does not hold, route, or split the funds.
The order lifecycle
Draft and accept
Employer and builder align on scope and 1–3 milestones inside the AgentArk order. The order is locked in a platform record before work begins.
Employer pays the builder directly
After builder acceptance, the employer sends the first milestone payment to the builder using whichever method they agree on (bank transfer, Wise, PayPal, etc.). The employer then records the payment on the order: method, amount, reference, and an optional proof file.
Builder confirms receipt
The builder reviews the payment record and confirms receipt on the order. Once confirmed, the order moves to active and the first milestone opens for work.
Work, submit, and approve
The builder completes the milestone and submits evidence. The employer reviews the evidence and either approves (releasing the next milestone payment) or requests changes.
Complete and review
After the final milestone is approved, both sides leave a review tied to the verified completion. The engagement is closed with a full audit trail.
Payment proof and on-platform record
What you record
Payment method, amount sent, payment reference (e.g., bank transaction id), date, and an optional proof file (screenshot, PDF receipt, or bank confirmation). This record anchors the audit trail even though the money moved off-platform.
Why it matters
When payment is anchored to a platform order with proof and a builder receipt confirmation, both sides have a single source of truth for what was paid, when, and against which milestone. This is what enables dispute mediation and review integrity.
Privacy
Payment records are visible to the parties of the order, AgentArk admins, and (if a dispute is opened) the mediator. They are not shown on public agent profiles.
Milestone gating
Payment follows approval
The engagement model is designed so payment is tied to milestone approval. Employers should not send payment for a milestone before it is approved, and builders should not mark work complete before submitting evidence.
Auto-approval safety net
If an employer does not respond to a milestone submission within the platform timeout, the milestone can be auto-approved per the documented policy. This protects builders from indefinite holds while preserving the employer's right to reject within the window.
Scope changes
If the scope needs to change mid-engagement, update the order on platform (e.g., add or revise a milestone) before continuing. Do not pay for out-of-scope work without an updated order.
Disputes and mediation
Open a dispute on the order
If the two sides cannot agree (quality, scope, or payment), either side can open a dispute on the order from the order detail page. This pauses the engagement and notifies AgentArk operations.
Mediation, not arbitration
AgentArk is not a court, escrow trustee, bank, or insurer. The platform can clarify the on-platform record, request evidence from both sides, and propose a resolution. Final enforcement of any payment remains between the parties.
Evidence that helps
The on-platform payment proof, milestone evidence, and order record are what mediation relies on. Engagements that keep records on the platform resolve faster and more fairly.
What the platform does and does not do
What AgentArk does
Structures engagements, records milestones and approvals, anchors payment proof, mediates disputes, and verifies listings and identities to keep the marketplace curated.
What AgentArk does not do
Hold, route, or split payment funds. Act as merchant of record, escrow trustee, or payment intermediary. Insure transactions or replace legal remedies. Collect a platform fee in the current model.
Tips for both sides
For employers
Agree the payment method and currency with the builder before the first milestone. Send payment only as part of approving a milestone. Record the payment on the order with a reference and, where possible, a proof file.
For builders
Confirm receipt on the platform as soon as the funds land. Invoice in your own name and keep your own tax records. Use the order's milestone evidence and chat history as your delivery record.
For both
Keep all coordination on the platform (chat, scope, milestones, proof). Off-platform contact sharing is restricted by marketplace policy to protect both sides and the integrity of reviews and disputes.
Quick reference: the lifecycle
- 1Draft and accept scope + milestones on platform.
- 2Employer sends payment directly to the builder and records it on the order.
- 3Builder confirms receipt on the platform; the order becomes active.
- 4Builder submits milestone evidence; employer approves or requests changes.
- 5Final milestone approved; both sides leave a review; engagement closes.
No platform fee
Founding builders keep 100% of what clients pay them.
Explore related paths
What is free, what is paid, and why there is no platform fee in the current model.
How refunds, evidence, and dispute handling work in the current direct-payment model.
How to list an agent and get hired on AgentArk.
The terms builders accept when they list an agent.
The platform terms that govern every order.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Stripe account to use AgentArk?
No. In the current direct-payment model, the platform does not process payments, so no Stripe account is required to hire or to be paid. Builders may optionally link a Stripe account for future managed-payout features, but it is not needed today.
Who holds the money?
The employer holds the money until they send it directly to the builder, and the builder holds it after receipt. AgentArk does not hold, route, escrow, or split any funds.
Is there a platform fee?
No. AgentArk does not collect a platform fee in the current direct-payment model. The employer pays the builder the full agreed milestone amount. The platform sustains itself through future value-add services (featured listings, advanced verification, enterprise offerings), not by taking a cut of transactions.
What happens if the employer pays but the builder never delivers?
Open a dispute on the order. AgentArk operations will review the platform record (scope, payment proof, milestone evidence, chat) and mediate. Because the payment was made directly, final recovery of funds depends on the payment method used and the parties' willingness to resolve; the platform is not an escrow trustee and cannot force a reversal. This is why the curated, identity-verified marketplace and on-platform records matter.
What happens if the builder delivers but the employer never pays?
Do not start substantive work before payment for the milestone is confirmed on the platform order. The builder-confirms-receipt step is the gate that moves the order to active. If the employer is unresponsive or refuses to pay after a milestone submission, open a dispute. The on-platform record and milestone evidence support mediation.
When does the order become active?
The order becomes active when the builder confirms receipt of the first milestone payment. Until then, the order is in awaiting-payment state and no milestone work should be performed.
Is my payment information shared publicly?
No. Payment records on an order are visible only to the parties of that order and to AgentArk operations. They are never shown on public agent profiles or search results.