Payments and payouts

Bukavilla doesn't hold your money

This is the most important thing to understand: Bukavilla is a platform that connects you with guests. It doesn't hold funds, process transactions, or guarantee payment outcomes. Guests pay you directly through whatever payment method you both pick.

Practical consequences:

• You don't get a payout schedule from Bukavilla — you get one from your payment processor (or for self-arranged payments, the funds arrive directly from the guest)
• You don't get a tax form from Bukavilla — payment processors handle tax reporting where required, and self-arranged payments are between you and your local tax authority
• Bukavilla takes 0% commission on bookings — the only deductions are processor fees, where applicable
• Any payment dispute (refund, chargeback, missed transfer) is between you and the guest. Bukavilla isn't a party to the transaction and can't reverse it.

The payment options you can offer

Bukavilla supports a wide catalog of payment methods. Pick the subset that fits your guests and your market — a villa serving Indonesian guests might lead with GoPay and bank transfer; a US-focused villa might lead with card via Stripe and Zelle; a long-stay villa for repeat guests might prefer self-arranged direct payment.

Available options span:

• Card processors — Stripe Connect for most countries, DOKU for Indonesia, others as they roll out. Automated identity verification, settlement, and tax handling per the processor.
• Local payment methods — GoPay, OVO (Indonesia); PromptPay (Thailand); UPI (India); PIX (Brazil); SPEI (Mexico); SEPA (Europe); Zelle, Venmo (US); M-Pesa (Kenya); plus many country-specific bank transfer options. Configured per villa with the credentials/instructions guests need to pay.
• International transfer services — Wise, PayPal, Revolut, and bank transfer for cross-border guests.
• Self-arranged direct payment — share your preferred payment details with guests through the booking message thread and arrange the transfer directly. No processor, no automated tracking, just a private transaction between you and the guest.

Configure your payment options in /m/(owner)/profile/payments (mobile) or the equivalent desktop settings.

Card processors

For card acceptance with automated processing:

• Stripe Connect — most countries; Stripe handles identity verification, bank linkage, and any tax forms required. Funds settle on Stripe's schedule (typically 2 business days).
• DOKU — Indonesia; alternative processor with payment methods popular in that market. Funds settle per DOKU's schedule.

Each processor handles its own onboarding. Once connected, your villa starts accepting that method automatically and bookings paid through it auto-confirm on payment success.

Local payment methods

Local methods are configured per villa with the details guests need to pay you (account number, e-wallet ID, instructions). When a guest picks one at checkout, they see your instructions and transfer the funds; you confirm the booking once you've received payment.

Most local methods carry no processor fee but require manual reconciliation — you check the funds arrived, then mark the booking confirmed.

Self-arranged payments

Some hosts and guests prefer to arrange payment directly through the booking message thread rather than going through any processor or pre-configured method. The host shares bank details, a payment app handle, or any other agreed-upon method; the guest pays directly.

This is a legitimate, supported option, but worth understanding:

• Bukavilla isn't part of the transaction and doesn't track it
• The booking stays pending until you mark it confirmed after receiving funds
• Disputes (refunds, chargebacks, missed transfers) are between you and the guest
• It's the most flexible option but the least automated — best for repeat guests or local-market arrangements where it's the natural fit

Refunds

Bukavilla doesn't process refunds. How you refund depends on how the guest paid:

• Card or processor-based payments — refund through your processor's dashboard. Card refunds typically reach the guest's card in 5–10 business days.
• Local payment methods or self-arranged payments — return the funds to the guest through the same method (bank transfer back, e-wallet refund, etc.).

The booking record on Bukavilla tracks refund status (requested, approved, processing, completed) so you have an audit trail — but the actual money movement happens entirely outside Bukavilla.

What Bukavilla charges

• 0% commission on bookings
• First 3 confirmed bookings on every villa are free — no subscription required
• After 3 bookings, monthly subscription based on your average daily rate (ADR). See the pricing page for the full tier ladder.
• Same flat fee per villa whether you list one or twenty — no bundle discounts, no commission.

ADR is computed from your trailing 90 days of confirmed paid bookings, weighted by nights. Cancellations are excluded.

What processors charge

Fees vary by method:

• Stripe — typically around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction; varies by country
• DOKU — varies by method
• Local methods — usually no fee or a flat per-transaction charge
• Self-arranged payments — depends on what you and the guest pick (bank transfer fees, PayPal charges, etc.)

These come out of the booking total. What lands with you is the booking total minus whatever fees apply for the method used. Bukavilla never touches the difference.