1. What MakeChapa charges
MakeChapa charges a single platform commission of 10% of the agreed project value. It is deducted from the freelancer's earnings at the moment escrow is released. There is no listing fee, no proposal fee, no monthly subscription and no withdrawal fee charged by MakeChapa.
2. Payment-processing fee (pass-through)
Money entering the platform is processed by Chapa. The Chapa processing fee is passed through to the client at cost and displayed before payment is confirmed. MakeChapa adds no margin to it. The rate used in the examples below is the standard rate configured on the platform; the exact fee for your payment is always shown at checkout.
3. Who pays what
| Party | Pays |
|---|---|
| Client | Project value + Chapa processing fee |
| Freelancer | 10% platform commission, deducted from the payout |
4. Worked examples
The table on this page is generated from the same calculation the platform uses at checkout and at settlement, so the figures you see here are the figures applied to your transaction.
5. VAT treatment
Where VAT applies it applies only to the platform commission, never to the project value.
- VAT contained in the commission = commission x 15/115
- Commission net of VAT = commission x 100/115
VAT charging is currently not activated. It will be enabled only after our tax adviser confirms the treatment and our registration details are finalized, and users will be notified before it takes effect. VAT registration details: Pending finalization by legal/tax adviser.
6. Payouts
Freelancer payouts are made to the bank or mobile-money account registered on the profile, after the two-person internal approval required for every outgoing payment. MakeChapa does not charge a payout fee. Any fee charged by the receiving bank or mobile-money provider is outside our control.
7. Refunds
If a contract is cancelled before release, the escrowed project value is returned to the client wallet in full. Processing fees already paid to Chapa are not refundable. See section 9 of the Terms of Service.
8. Changes to pricing
We will give at least 30 days' notice in the app before increasing the commission rate. Contracts already funded keep the rate that applied when they were funded.
9. Platform Communications
By accepting this document you agree to receive platform communications from MakeChapa in your in-platform inbox.
- Operational notices — policy and fee changes, security alerts, verification requests, escrow and payment issues, and dispute updates. These are required to run your account safely and cannot be switched off while your account is open.
- Promotional messages — product news, tips, offers and community updates. These are optional: you can turn them off any time under Account -> Notifications -> Promotional announcements, and turning them off never affects your operational notices, payouts or contracts.
We deliver announcements to your MakeChapa inbox so a permanent record stays with your account. We do not sell your contact details, and we never ask for passwords, PINs or one-time codes in any announcement.