Questions newcomers ask before they sign up.
Stead is built on transparency, so we've answered the five questions workers and businesses ask most. Every answer is grounded in how the product actually works today.
When a shift ends, the business pays the worker amount plus a 10% platform fee through Stripe. Once the shift's end time and a short grace period pass, Stead automatically fires a Stripe Connect transfer to the worker's linked account — workers don't send invoices or chase payments, the money just shows up.
A no-show is detected automatically 15 minutes after the shift start. The shift re-opens on the marketplace, the worker is flagged in our system so future businesses see the record, the business gets a notification, and replacement workers can pick up the open shift before you're stuck short-staffed.
Every confirmed worker has a public profile at /w/<handle> showing a composite score, no-show rate, completed-shift count, and reviews from real businesses — built from completed shifts, not self-claims. You can check anyone's track record before you accept them or accept the work.
Post a shift in minutes: describe the role, set the time and pay, and publish. Workers who match your time, pay, and intent express interest, and you see their verified profile (rating, no-show record, work history) before you choose. Both sides pick — no forced placements, no algorithmic lottery.
Workers sign up free and are never charged. Businesses pay a 10% platform fee on the worker amount when a shift is completed, processed through Stripe. A separate $300 hire fee applies only if you want to take a worker off the marketplace permanently. No subscriptions, no hidden markups.
Still have questions? The fastest way to get a feel for Stead is to browse open shifts or post one of your own.