Entry fees that land in your account, not ours
By Smart Wrestler · Updated 2026-09-14
Two payments, two directions, both transparent: parents pay you the entry fee through Stripe; you pay Smart Wrestler one hosting fee when you publish.
Quick answer
Smart Wrestler tournament payments run on Stripe. The host connects a Stripe account; parents pay the entry fee by card at registration and it settles directly into that account on Stripe's schedule, never held by Smart Wrestler. A registration fee of $2.50 per wrestler (entry fees up to $50) or $3 (above), plus card processing, is added to the parent's total and shown before they pay, so the host receives the full entry fee. The host pays one hosting fee at publish based on reserved capacity ($100 to $325; $0 for free entry events). Hosts issue full or partial refunds from the billing page or Stripe.
What does a parent pay?
The entry fee the host set, plus the Smart Wrestler registration fee, plus card processing, itemised on a payment summary before Stripe checkout. On a $20 entry fee: $20.00 entry, $2.50 registration fee, $0.99 card processing, total $23.49. The parent receives a receipt and a payment received notification, and the wrestler appears on the roster the moment the payment succeeds.
What does the host receive, and when?
The full entry fee, $20.00 in the example, into the host's own Stripe account as each registration is paid. Stripe keeps its processing fee, Smart Wrestler keeps its registration fee, and payouts to the host's bank follow the host's Stripe payout schedule. Smart Wrestler never holds the money and there is nothing to request. The host's business name appears on the parent's card statement because the host is the seller.
What does the host pay Smart Wrestler?
- Individual events, by reserved capacity: up to 150 wrestlers $100; 151 to 300 $150; 301 to 500 $225; 501 to 800 $325; larger by quote.
- Team events, by team count: up to 4 teams $50; 8 teams $90; 16 teams $140; 32 teams $200.
- Paid once when you publish. Raising capacity into a higher tier costs only the difference; lowering it before registration closes refunds the difference.
- Free entry tournaments: no hosting fee at any size.
How do refunds work?
The host issues refunds from the tournament billing page or directly in the Stripe dashboard; both stay in sync. A full refund releases the wrestler's entry (they come off the roster, weigh ins, and brackets) and returns Smart Wrestler's registration fee too. A partial refund keeps the wrestler entered and returns only the amount chosen. Stripe does not return its processing fee on refunds, which is normal for card payments everywhere. The refund policy you chose at setup (full, partial, or none) is shown to parents at registration; the buttons work regardless so you can make exceptions.
What happens with incomplete or failed payments?
On a paid tournament, an abandoned or failed payment leaves no registration behind; the parent simply registers again. Check in and weigh in are blocked for unpaid entries and the screen says so, which keeps unpaid wrestlers out of brackets. If a parent's card was charged but the wrestler does not appear, contact support rather than taking a second payment; the payment can be located and matched.
What does the host need to set up?
- Connect a Stripe account from the host dashboard. Verification can take time and may ask for documents; start it the day you decide to host.
- Set the entry fee and refund policy in the tournament wizard.
- Pay the hosting fee for the capacity you reserve and publish. Registration cannot open until Stripe can accept charges and the hosting fee is paid; the page names whichever is missing.
Payments at a glance
Direct to host
Entry fees settle into your Stripe account; never held by us.
Transparent fees
Registration and processing fees itemised to the parent before payment.
One host fee
Capacity based, paid at publish, never on tournament morning.
Refund control
Full or partial, from the billing page or Stripe, in sync.
No unpaid entries
Roster, check in, and brackets only include paid wrestlers.
Team events
$50 registration fee per team entry; team hosting fees by team count.
Frequently asked questions
Does Smart Wrestler take a percentage of entry fees?
No. It charges a flat registration fee per wrestler ($2.50 to $3) added to the parent's total, plus the host's capacity based hosting fee.
Can we take cash at the door?
Paid tournaments register and pay online so the roster and money always match. Walk ups can register on their phone at the venue.
How long until entry fees reach our bank?
On your Stripe payout schedule, typically a couple of business days after each payment, with no Smart Wrestler delay.
What if we cancel the tournament?
Refund registrations from the billing page; full refunds return the registration fee too. Contact support about the hosting fee.
Keep exploring
Connect Stripe and open registration
Entry fees to your account, one published hosting fee, refunds in a click.