How to pay consignors
Updated October 4, 2026
What a consignor is owed
A consignor's share comes from the price the customer actually paid for the item, not the price on the tag:
- After discounts. A dress listed at 60 that sold with 25% off sold for 45.
- Before tax. Sales tax or VAT belongs to neither of you.
- Without shipping, which covers your costs.
At a 40% share, the consignor of that dress is owed 18. Consignment Hub works this out for every order line as it happens, using the split you set for that consignor or item.
When to pay
Pay too early and a return leaves you out of pocket for an item that's back on your rail. So most shops hold each sale until their return window has passed, then pay on a fixed day: monthly, twice a month, or when the consignor asks.
In Consignment Hub the return window counts from when the order is fulfilled. Home shows who is ready to be paid, and each consignor's page shows what's ready, what's still in the return window and when it clears.
Refunds after you've paid
Sometimes an item comes back after its consignor has been paid for it. Don't ask for the money back; take it off their next payout.
If their next sales earn them 64 and a refunded item had earned them 12, you pay 52. Until then their balance shows as negative, so nothing is forgotten.
How to pay
- Cash, from the till.
- Check or bank transfer.
- Store credit, which some shops offer at a better rate than cash.
Whichever you use, record the method and date with the payout. Consignment Hub never moves money itself: you pay the consignor, then choose Record payout. A payout recorded by mistake can be voided, and its sales become payable again.
Statements and records
Give each consignor a statement with every payout, listing the items, what each sold for and their share. It answers most questions before they're asked. Consignment Hub emails one as a PDF, or you can download it.
Keep every payout on record. Tax rules for consignors differ from country to country, so ask your accountant what you need to report. A CSV export of your sales gives them everything in one file.
Questions
Are consignors paid on the full price or the sale price?
On the sale price: what the customer actually paid after discounts. Agree this in your terms, so a markdown or discount never surprises anyone.
Should I offer store credit instead of cash?
Many shops do, often at a better rate, because the credit comes back as sales. Record it as a store credit payout. Consignment Hub doesn't issue Shopify store credit itself.
Can consignors see what they're owed?
Yes. Each consignor's page shows money ready to be paid, money still in the return window, and every payout with its statement.