Fairground

Selling Merch

Learn how to sell merchandise on Fairground, including earnings, taxes, and payouts.

How Merch Sales Work

When a fan purchases your merchandise:

  1. Customer pays the full price (product + shipping + tax)
  2. Fairground takes a small platform commission
  3. You receive the remainder via Stripe Connect

Your payout includes the product price, shipping fees, and any tax collected.

Understanding Your Earnings

For each merch sale, here's how the money flows:

  • Product price goes to You (minus commission)
  • Shipping fees go to You
  • Sales tax goes to You
  • Platform commission goes to Fairground

Example Sale

If a customer pays £50 total:

  • Product: £40
  • Shipping: £5
  • Tax: £5

And the platform commission is 2%, you receive: £50 - £1 (commission) = £49

Tax Responsibilities

Important: Fairground does not withhold or remit sales tax on your behalf. When tax is collected on your sales, that money is included in your payout.

What This Means For You

As a merch seller, you are responsible for:

  1. Understanding your tax obligations - Sales tax rules vary by location
  2. Tracking tax collected - Keep records of tax from each order
  3. Remitting tax to authorities - Pay collected tax to the appropriate tax jurisdictions
  4. Filing tax returns - Report and file as required by your local laws

Tax Jurisdictions

Fairground automatically calculates tax based on where your customer is located. The platform handles:

  • Determining the correct tax rate
  • Applying tax at checkout
  • Showing tax breakdown on orders

You handle:

  • Collecting the tax (automatic - included in your payout)
  • Remitting to authorities
  • Record keeping

Getting Help With Taxes

We recommend:

  • Consult a tax professional - Tax laws are complex and vary by location
  • Use accounting software - Tools like QuickBooks or Wave can help track tax
  • Keep good records - Download order reports regularly for your records

Payouts

Merch earnings follow the same payout process as music sales:

  1. Earnings hit your Stripe balance after successful payment
  2. Stripe transfers to your bank automatically
  3. Money arrives in 1-2 business days

Refunds

If you issue a refund for a merch order:

  • The full refund amount (including tax) is deducted from your earnings
  • You may need to adjust your tax records accordingly
  • Refund details appear in your order history

Questions?

If you have questions about your tax obligations, please consult with a qualified tax professional in your jurisdiction. Fairground cannot provide tax advice.