Sponsorship bookings and payments held until delivery
Brands pay only after a newsletter accepts, and LetterBid holds the money until the work is approved. Newsletters get paid automatically through Stripe every month. No invoices to chase, no prepaying strangers.
How do secure sponsorship payments work?
Secure sponsorship payments are payments held by a neutral party until the agreed placement has been delivered. On LetterBid, the brand pays once the newsletter accepts the booking, LetterBid holds that payment, and it is released to the newsletter only after the brand approves the delivery report or the review window ends.
The two biggest worries in newsletter sponsorships are mirror images of each other. Brands don't want to prepay a publisher they have never worked with and hope the ad goes out. Newsletter creators don't want to run an ad and then spend weeks chasing an unpaid invoice. Holding the payment solves both: the money is committed before the send, but it only moves when the work is done.
Pricing is simple. The brand pays the exact price shown, the newsletter receives 75% and LetterBid keeps 25%. Joining is free for both sides, there are no subscriptions, and newsletters receive their earnings by Stripe on the 15th of each month once their balance reaches $100.
Bookings and payments built on trust
Payment held until approval: Once a brand pays, LetterBid holds the money. It is released only after the brand approves the delivery report, or automatically when the 3-day review window ends.
Full refund if not delivered: If the newsletter cancels after payment, doesn't send the delivery report within 5 days, or doesn't answer a problem report within 72 hours, the brand gets a full refund.
Automatic Stripe payouts: Newsletters connect Stripe from Earnings & payouts. Earnings go out on the 15th of every month without a request, once the balance is at least $100.
Clear booking windows: Placements need at least 48 hours notice. For dates 7+ days away there are 72 hours to reply and 72 hours to pay, with shorter windows for closer dates.
Get help when it matters: Either side can press Get help on a paid booking. The payment stays held while LetterBid support reviews the case, then releases, refunds or splits it.
Receipts in one place: Every payment has a receipt in Billing & invoices, ready for your finance team or accountant without asking the newsletter for an invoice.
From booking to payout
1. Booking accepted: A brand books a pack or sends an offer. Nothing is charged until the newsletter accepts.
2. Brand pays, LetterBid holds: The brand pays the exact price shown before the payment deadline. LetterBid holds the payment while the placement is prepared and published.
3. Delivery and review: The newsletter publishes and sends a delivery report within 5 days. The brand has 3 days to approve or report a problem; after that it is approved automatically.
4. Newsletter gets paid: The newsletter's 75% is added to their balance and paid out by Stripe on the next 15th. Money earned from the 16th onward goes out the following month.
Why brands and newsletters book through LetterBid
Direct deals work until one goes wrong. A held payment, fixed deadlines and a support team that can release, refund or split the money turn a handshake into a booking both sides can rely on.
Brands never pay before a newsletter has agreed to the booking
The price shown is the price paid, with no fees added at checkout
Brands can cancel with a full refund up to 72 hours before (24 hours for short-notice bookings)
Recurring sponsorships charge the saved card about 7 days before each month
Newsletters never send an invoice or chase a late payment
Off-platform payments aren't allowed, so every deal stays protected
Frequently asked questions
When does a brand pay for a newsletter sponsorship?
Only after the newsletter accepts. Sending an offer or choosing a pack costs nothing, and nothing is charged in advance. Once accepted, the brand pays before the payment deadline shown on the booking.
Who holds the money until the ad runs?
LetterBid holds the payment securely until the work is approved. It is released to the newsletter after the brand approves the delivery report, or when the 3-day review window ends without a problem report.
What fees does LetterBid charge?
LetterBid keeps 25% of each booking and the newsletter receives 75%. The brand pays exactly the price shown. Joining is free for both brands and newsletters.
When do newsletters get paid?
Payouts go out automatically through Stripe on the 15th of every month. Money earned up to and including the 15th is in that month's payout. Your balance needs to be at least $100 and your Stripe account fully connected; otherwise it rolls over to the next payout date.
Can a brand cancel a paid booking?
Yes, with a full refund up to 72 hours before publication, or 24 hours for short-notice bookings. After that, use Get help on the booking and LetterBid support will step in.
What if the newsletter doesn't deliver?
The brand gets a full refund. That covers a newsletter cancelling after payment, not sending the delivery report within 5 days, or not answering a problem report within 72 hours.
How are recurring sponsorships charged?
The brand's saved card is charged for each month of the contract about 7 days before that month's placement, at the agreed monthly price. Cancelling a recurring contract stops future months, while months already paid continue as agreed.
Where can I find receipts for my bookings?
Every payment has a receipt in Billing & invoices in your account, so you can download it whenever your finance team needs it.