Payment Reserve Calculator

Online marketplaces often hold a percentage of seller revenue in reserve to cover potential refunds, chargebacks, and disputes. A payment reserve calculator shows how much of monthly sales are immediately available and how much is held back, so cash flow can be planned around the gap.

Reserve percentage and hold period vary by marketplace. Etsy typically holds 75% of a new seller's revenue for 45 days. Amazon holds around 50% for 14 days. eBay holds 100% for new accounts for 21 days. These figures are defaults; the actual reserve depends on account history and performance, and a custom marketplace accepts any percentage and hold period.

Reserved Amount = Monthly Sales x (Reserve Percentage / 100). Immediate Available = Monthly Sales - Reserved Amount. Cash Availability Score = (Immediate Available / Monthly Sales) x 100. Daily Release Estimate = Reserved Amount / Hold Period. Cash Gap = Monthly Expenses - Immediate Available, where a positive value is a shortfall business expenses must cover from savings or credit until reserved funds release.

A step-by-step view shows the formulas and arithmetic behind each result.

A seller expecting $5,000 in monthly sales on a marketplace holding 50% for 14 days has Reserved Amount = 5,000 x 0.50 = $2,500 and Immediate Available = 5,000 - 2,500 = $2,500, for a Cash Availability Score of (2,500 / 5,000) x 100 = 50%. The Daily Release Estimate is 2,500 / 14 ≈ $178.57 per day. With $3,000 in monthly business expenses, the Cash Gap is 3,000 - 2,500 = $500, a shortfall to cover until reserved funds release.

Marketplace sellers across many industries use payment reserve calculations to ensure they have enough working capital to keep their business running while platforms hold a portion of their earnings.

• New Etsy Sellers: A handmade jewelry seller expecting $2,000 in monthly sales sees that Etsy will hold $1,500 in reserve at 75%, leaving only $500 immediately available, useful for budgeting material costs during the first 45-day hold period.
• Amazon FBA Sellers: A seller shipping products through Fulfillment by Amazon estimates cash flow with a 50% reserve over 14 days, comparing it to other platforms to decide where to list products first.
• Multi-Platform Sellers: A seller operating on both Etsy and eBay switches between marketplace presets to compare which platform ties up more capital, informing inventory purchase decisions.
• Seasonal Business Planning: A holiday ornament seller expecting $10,000 in December sales checks whether the $2,500 immediately available (at 75% reserve) covers $4,000 in material and shipping expenses, revealing a $1,500 cash gap that requires savings or a line of credit.
• E-commerce Startups: A new seller evaluating which marketplace to launch on compares reserve policies side by side. Shopify charges no reserve by default, while eBay may hold 100% for new accounts, making Shopify a better choice for sellers with limited starting capital.
• Financial Planning: A seller preparing a business plan uses the daily release estimate to project when reserved funds become available, building a realistic cash flow timeline for investors or loan applications.