The total cost for a job booked through Road Ninja has two parts: the driver's pay and the Road Ninja booking fee. This article explains how each is calculated, how automatic discounts can lower your booking fee, and how payments are processed.
The Driver’s pay
The driver's pay is the full hourly rate the driver earns for their work. The rate shown on a driver's profile is the exact amount they receive. Road Ninja doesn't add a margin or take a cut from the driver's side.
Your company pays this amount directly to the driver via our payment partner, Stripe, once the job is complete.
The Road Ninja booking fee
The booking fee is a one-time service charge per job assignment, paid to Road Ninja for using the platform. You only pay this fee when you confirm a booking. There's no cost to post jobs or review driver applications.
This fee covers driver access, platform use, and payment handling.
Booking fee structure
Component | Rate / detail |
Base booking fee | 38% (starting rate applied before discounts) |
Minimum booking fee | 12% (lowest possible fee after discounts) |
Your final booking fee may be reduced by an automatic discount system that rewards longer, repeat, or high-volume bookings.
Available discounts
All discounts apply automatically when a booking meets the criteria. Discounts can combine to reduce your final fee, but the fee will never drop below 12%.
Density discount (longer workdays):
The booking fee decreases by 1.5% for each hour beyond 6 hours in a single day.
Applies up to 12 hours per day (maximum 9% reduction).
Example: A 10-hour day earns a 6% Density Discount.
Length discount (multiple days):
The fee decreases by 1.5% for every 6 full days within one continuous booking.
Example: An 18-day job earns a 4.5% Length Discount.
Loyalty discount (repeat drivers):
The fee decreases by 1.5% for every 6 paid days that a specific driver has worked for your company through Road Ninja.
This grows over time up to a maximum of 18% once a driver completes 72 paid days with you.
How discounts combine
Density, length, and loyalty discounts can all apply at once. Your total combined discount is subtracted from the 38% base fee, with the 12% minimum fee acting as the floor.
Discount type | Calculation |
Density | 1.5% off per hour beyond 6 hours per day |
Length | 1.5% off per 6 continuous booking days |
Loyalty | 1.5% off per 6 paid days with same driver |
Payment methods and processing fees
Road Ninja partners with Stripe to process payments. Financial data is encrypted and managed by Stripe rather than stored directly by Road Ninja. You can pay using a credit card or by connecting a direct debit bank account.
Credit card payments
The processing fee for credit card payments is 3.5%, calculated on the amount paid to the driver. It's added automatically to the total when you select credit card as your payment method.
Direct debit payments
Direct debit lets you connect a New Zealand bank account to pay booking fees and driver payments directly, using the Stripe BECS (Bulk Electronic Clearing System) network. The processing fee is 1%, calculated on the total amount paid to the driver.
Once authorised, payments process automatically without needing to re-enter details for each transaction. You'll receive an email confirmation within 5 business days of setting up your authority.
Note: processing fees charged by Stripe only apply to the driver's payment portion. Road Ninja covers the processing costs for its own booking fee, so you won't be charged extra credit card or direct debit fees on that portion.
Setting up a direct debit authority
Entering your bank details sets up a direct debit authority, which is permission for Road Ninja to withdraw funds from your account for its services.
Although the system uses a direct debit mechanism, it is not a scheduled or recurring payment. You must manually approve and authorise each payment individually. Road Ninja will not take money from your account without you explicitly confirming a payment for a specific amount.
By confirming your payment details, you agree that:
You authorise Road Ninja Limited to debit your account for amounts due in accordance with its terms.
You certify that you are either the sole account holder or an authorised signatory for the bank account provided.
You acknowledge that this authority is subject to your bank's terms and conditions.
💡 See our step-by-step guide for setting up your direct debit.
Payment processing times
Credit card transactions are instant. Bank transfers travel through the BECS network and can take up to 3 business days to clear.
When you pay by bank account, your dashboard will show the payment status as "Processing" while it's with your bank. This is normal. The status updates to "Succeeded" once the funds have cleared.
Direct debit availability for bookings starting soon
Note: because bank transfers can take up to 3 business days to clear, the direct debit option is automatically disabled for last-minute bookings. If a booking is starting soon, you'll need to use a credit card to ensure the driver is paid on time.
Failed payments
If a direct debit payment fails, for example due to insufficient funds or a closed account, you'll be notified by email.
To protect drivers, a failed bank payment may result in the temporary suspension of your ability to make new bookings. You may need to add a valid credit card to your account to resolve the outstanding balance before you can make further bookings.
Setting up your bank account for payments
Go to your company profile
Select payment methods
Click "Add" in the bank accounts section
Enter the name of the bank account holder, the bank account number, and an email address for confirmations and invoices.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I have both a Credit Card and a Bank Account saved?
A: Yes. You can store both methods securely and choose which one to use at checkout, provided the booking isn't starting too soon (see the direct debit availability section above).
Q: Is my data safe?
A: Your bank account details are saved and encrypted with Stripe. Road Ninja does not see or store your raw banking numbers.
Q: Can I pay for multiple jobs at once?
A: Yes. If a single driver has completed multiple jobs for your company, their payments are grouped together so you can pay the total in one transaction.
Q: What happens if a payment fails?
A: A failed payment moves from "in transit" back to your payments due list. You'll be notified and can retry the bank payment or use a credit card instead.
Q: Why can't I just do a manual bank transfer?
A: Road Ninja uses an automated system to manage payments across drivers and companies, allowing 24/7 payment management without manual reconciliation by staff.