How indie makers in China actually get paid by overseas customers (with the real fee math)
If you build from China and sell to overseas customers, the product is the easy part. The hard part is the money plumbing: which channel actually lands money in a Chinese bank account, and how much of each sale survives the trip. I spent weeks verifying the official fee pages and running the numbers. Here is the short version. Route 1: PayPal direct, then wire to a Chinese bank Best for direct…
If you're building products in China for customers overseas, the biggest hurdle is managing the money flow. After thoroughly examining official fee structures and crunching the numbers, I found three main routes to pay overseas clients.
For direct client work, PayPal is the way to go. But be prepared for a $35 withdrawal fee, which kicks in at a minimum $150 withdrawal. The fee eats deeper into smaller amounts: $23.3% for $350, 10% for $700, and drops to 5% once you hit $1,000. To minimize the hit, aim to accumulate at least $700 before requesting a wire transfer. Anything less, and the fee cuts deeper than the sale itself.
If you're selling digital products like templates, ebooks or toolkits, platforms like Gumroad or Payhip can simplify the process. They handle card payments, taxes and payouts, saving you from dealing with foreign exchange headaches. A $10 sale comes out to $7.91 on Gumroad, $7.00 on Gumroad Discover, and $8.91 on Payhip. That 30% marketplace fee on Gumroad Discover can add up quickly. But Payhip s 5% fee and free plan often prove more cost-effective for smaller price points.
Lastly, marketplaces like Etsy, app stores and freelancing platforms handle all payouts for you. They remove the headache of collection, but you sacrifice a bit of control and margin for it. Sites like Etsy and app stores pay out once a month, while freelancing sites like Freelancer take a 10% commission or $5 minimum. While this route saves you the upfront logistics, it's best used for validation, not as a long-term solution.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
