Shopify payout reserves explained

What a reserve is

A reserve is money Shopify holds back from your payouts for a period, to cover possible disputes, chargebacks and refunds. Shopify says reserves generally do not stop you accepting payments.

The two types Shopify describes

Shopify's help page uses example figures. Your real terms are the ones in the email Shopify sent you; do not assume a duration or percentage from examples you read online.

• A fixed amount reserve: a specific sum held for a defined period.
• A percentage-based reserve: a percentage of each transaction held for a defined period, with the rest paid out as normal.

Where to see it

Shopify says reserved funds appear under Finance > Payouts > Reserve, which you can export. Your pending balance does not include reserved funds.

Appeals and requirements

According to Shopify, some reserves can be appealed by replying to the reserve email within the timeframe it states, and some cannot be appealed. If your email lists requirements instead, Shopify says the reserve is removed once you meet them. Check your email for which applies.

At expiry

Shopify says it reviews a reserve before its expiry date and may lift, keep, reduce or increase it. When a reserve ends, the funds are added to upcoming payouts, which can take several business days.