Revenue Split & Payouts
Work in Progress
This documentation is still being expanded and refined. Features, screenshots, and descriptions may change until Talescape's public release. If something is unclear or you need help, please ask on the official Talescape Discord. We're happy to clarify or update pages as needed.
Talescape’s revenue model is designed to be simple and fair. When a story sells, taxes are deducted first, followed by store and platform fees. From the remaining net amount, Talescape takes up to a 15 % share depending on your Bard tier, and you keep the rest.
1. Revenue Breakdown
| Stage | Recipient | Typical Share | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes (VAT & Regional) | Governments | ≈ 0 – 25 % | Automatically deducted depending on the buyer’s region. |
| Store Fee | Platform (e.g. Steam, Google, Apple) | 15 – 30 % | Fixed percentage charged by the store hosting the sale. |
| Talescape’s Share | Talescape | Up to 15 % (of net) | Used to maintain infrastructure, moderation, and community contests. |
| Your Payout | Bard | 55 – 70 % (of net) | The remainder after all deductions, which is your actual revenue. |
Talescape’s exact share depends on your Bard tier and is capped at 15 %. Percentages may vary slightly depending on regional tax rates and platform policies.
2. Example Calculation
Example: € 4.99 story (19 % tax) sold on Steam at the maximum 15 % Talescape share
| Step | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Sale | Total paid by customer | € 4.99 |
| Taxes | VAT (19 %) | − € 0.80 |
| Subtotal | Subtotal after taxes | € 4,19 |
| Store Fee | Steam (30 % of net) | − € 1.26 |
| Talescape Share | 15 % of net | − € 0.63 |
| Your Payout | Final amount you receive | € 2.30 |
3. Payment Processing
Payouts are currently processed through PayPal. To receive payments, you must have:
- A verified PayPal account linked to your Bard profile.
- Correct payout information associated with your PayPal account.
- Completed any required identity or verification steps requested by PayPal.
Additional transaction or currency conversion fees may apply depending on your PayPal account and location. You can review the current fee structure here:
https://www.paypal.com/de/digital-wallet/paypal-consumer-fees
Once your minimum payout threshold is reached, you may request a payout manually from your Bard dashboard at any time. Processing begins after your request and typically completes within a few business days.
If no manual request is made, your balance will remain available in your account until you choose to withdraw it.
Additional payout providers such as Wise may be added in the future.
4. Refunds and Holding Period
Each sale includes a short refund clearance period based on store policies (typically 14–30 days). During this time, revenue is shown as pending in your Bard dashboard. Once the period ends, funds become eligible for payout.
5. Transparency and Reporting
The Earnings & Payments section provides complete visibility into your revenue:
- Detailed breakdown of completed and pending transactions
- Automatic deduction of taxes, store fees, and platform share
- Exportable payout summaries for accounting or tax purposes
All calculations are transparent, so you always see exactly how your final payout is determined.
6. Future Support
Talescape plans to expand payout options over time, including additional payment providers and currency support. Any changes will be documented in advance and reflected automatically in your Bard dashboard.
Talescape’s revenue model ensures that creators are rewarded fairly and transparently, while the platform remains sustainable for the long term.