How does escrow work?
Escrow is the payment system that protects both buyers and artisans on MadeMay.
What is escrow?
Escrow means a trusted third party (MadeMay, through Stripe) holds the funds until both parties fulfill their obligations. The buyer's money is secure. The artisan knows the funds exist. Neither party is at risk.
How it works step by step
- Buyer pays: When a project starts, the buyer pays the full listed price. These funds are held by Stripe on behalf of MadeMay.
- Milestones progress: As the artisan completes each milestone and the buyer approves it, the corresponding portion of funds is released to the artisan.
- Final delivery: When the buyer approves the final piece, the remaining funds are released. The project is complete.
What happens to the money during escrow?
The funds sit securely in Stripe. They are not in MadeMay's bank account and cannot be spent by anyone until a milestone is approved. This is the same type of escrow system used by major platforms for high-value transactions.
What if a project is cancelled?
If a project is cancelled before any milestones are approved, the full amount is refunded to the buyer. If some milestones were already approved and paid out, those funds stay with the artisan (the buyer already approved that work) and the remaining unreleased escrow is refunded.
What if there is a dispute?
If the buyer and artisan disagree, a dispute is opened. MadeMay's team reviews all evidence and decides how the remaining escrow should be handled: refund to buyer, release to artisan, or partial split.
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