How it works
How a Pact works, start to finish.
Every paid Pact runs on real escrow: the buyer's money is captured upfront and held by Trustap, our licensed escrow partner — never by the other party, and never by us. It only moves when the work is confirmed done. Here is the complete flow for each listing type.
You need something done — workers come to you
Post the job with the price you'll pay. Workers apply, at the listed price or with their own offer. You pick one, pay, and the money goes into escrow — not to them.
Workers apply at the listed price, or with their own offer if you allow offers.
Your payment is secured in escrow before any work starts. Exact location and contact details unlock for both parties at seal.
The worker delivers on any schedule — same-day or weeks out; payment waits in escrow. They submit photo proof; you release. No response to proof within 24 hours? Funds auto-release to the worker.
- Posting is free. Fees apply only when you seal a pact and move funds into escrow.
- You see the full cost (price, platform fee, tax) before paying.
- Cancel any time before proof is submitted for a full refund. If the worker cancels, they're restricted from new work.
- First payout needs a one-time payout-account setup; money lands in 2–3 business days.
You offer something — buyers request it
List what you offer at your price. Buyers send a request; you accept one, and the buyer completes payment. The accept and the payment are two separate moments, because the person paying is the one who applied.
At the asking price, or their own offer if you enabled offers. The listing preview shows exactly what you'll receive after fees.
Once accepted, the buyer has 24 hours to complete payment. Exact location and contact details unlock at seal.
Submit proof when done. No response from the buyer within 24 hours? Funds auto-release to you.
- Cancel before proof and the buyer is refunded in full. If the seller cancels, they're restricted from new work.
- Free items skip escrow entirely — no money, no fees, sealed instantly when the buyer confirms.
You organize — people RSVP or buy tickets
Free events take RSVPs — no money, no escrow, sealed instantly when the attendee confirms. Ticketed events sell real escrow-backed tickets: each ticket is its own protected transaction, settled automatically after the event ends.
- Capacity-limited events fill first-come, first-served. Double-booking is impossible.
- QR check-in at the door; used or invalid codes are flagged instantly.
- Ticket refund rules are set by the organizer — full refund until 24 hours before, or all sales final — and shown before you buy.
- If the organizer changes the event time, every existing ticket holder may refund freely regardless of the policy.
- Ticket money releases to the organizer after the event ends, not before.
Where the money goes
On every paid pact, both sides pay a small fee — that's how Pact and the escrow service stay running. Every number is shown before you commit, to the cent.
Both the buyer and the seller pay the same flat 5.5% + $0.40 fee. Sales tax, where applicable, is calculated on the price plus the fee. Try the live fee calculator →
The escrow lifecycle
Every paid pact moves through the same protected states:
- Seller never delivers? The buyer can cancel for an immediate refund at any time before proof is submitted. They're never stuck waiting. Pacts that both sides simply abandon (no proof, no action) auto-refund the buyer after a year of total inactivity.
- Buyer never responds to proof? Funds auto-release to the seller 24 hours after proof, with reminders along the way. Nobody can hold the other hostage.
- Something's wrong? Either party can raise a dispute any time between seal and release. Funds freeze and you work it out privately with Pact Support. The other side never sees your conversation. Our team reviews both sides and rules within 48 hours: full payout or full refund.
See it with real numbers
The fee calculator shows the exact cost and payout at any price.