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Refundable deposit · You decide · Stripe-powered

Your time has a price.
Your inbox should know it.

GatePost adds a refundable deposit to inbound requests. Worth your time? Accept and get paid. Wasn't? Refund in one click.

Start charging for inbox accessSee how it works
Card details handled by Stripe • No subscription • You stay in control
Who it's for

Built for people whose inbox is a job

Consultants, coaches, fractional operators, and independent experts spend hours every week triaging “quick questions,” cold outreach, and free-consulting requests. GatePost makes inbound self-select: serious people pay a refundable deposit; time-wasters move on.

Independent consultants
Pain: Your inbox is full of “pick your brain” asks that turn into 45-minute calls.
Win: A refundable deposit filters tire-kickers. Serious leads still get through.
Typical minimum deposit: $75–$300
Coaches & experts
Pain: Free advice requests crowd out paying clients.
Win: Charge a small refundable deposit for inbound questions. Accept the real ones.
Typical minimum deposit: $50–$200
Fractional operators
Pain: Recruiter spam and off-fit intros eat your week.
Win: Open a paid lane for serious intros. Refund the noise in one click.
Typical minimum deposit: $100–$500
How it works

A refundable deposit for inbox access

You set a minimum deposit. Senders authorize a hold on their card — not an immediate charge. You review on your schedule, and decide.

1
Create your GatePost link
Pick a slug, connect Stripe for payouts, and set your minimum deposit.
2
Sender authorizes a deposit
They write a message and place a refundable hold. Card is authorized, not charged.
3
You review on your terms
You get a private review link. Read it when you want — not when they demand.
4
Accept, release, or let it expire
Accept = bond is captured and paid out. Release / ignore / expire = sender is refunded.
Why senders pay

A refundable deposit is a credibility signal

Serious senders don't mind a refundable hold — it's exactly how they prove they're not wasting your time. They get attention they wouldn't get otherwise, and the deposit comes back unless you accept the message.

It's refundable
A deposit, not a charge. Released if you don't accept — or if you don't respond at all.
It buys priority, not a guaranteed reply
You retain full discretion. Acceptance is yours alone — never automatic.
It filters the noise both ways
The people willing to back their request with a refundable hold are the people you actually want to hear from.
Worked example

What a $100 deposit actually looks like

Sender authorizes: $100.99 hold on their card ($100 refundable deposit + $0.99 non-refundable delivery fee).
If you accept: Bond is captured. You receive $80 (80% of bond) to your connected Stripe account. GatePost keeps $20 (20% platform share) plus the $0.99 delivery fee.
If you release, ignore, or the timeout expires: The $100 deposit is released back to the sender on the standard card/bank timeline. Only the $0.99 delivery fee is captured.
See Pricing for the $25, $100, and $500 examples.
Payments & trust

Stripe handles the money

GatePost never sees or stores card details. Stripe authorizes the hold, holds the funds, and pays your share to your connected Stripe account when you accept.

Authorization, not a charge
Stripe places a hold on the sender's card. No money moves until you accept the message.
Payouts via Stripe Connect
Connect a Stripe account during onboarding. Accepted-bond payouts arrive on Stripe's standard schedule.
Card details never touch us
Stripe is PCI-DSS Level 1. GatePost only stores message and payment metadata.
Keep your normal inbox

GatePost is a priority lane, not a replacement

Keep your regular contact form, email, and DMs. Add GatePost as the “serious only” channel for inbound that needs to skip the queue.

In your email signature
“Need a faster reply? Use my priority link (refundable deposit).”
On your bio / website
“For consulting requests, use my GatePost link — refundable unless I accept.”
For partnerships and intros
“Partnership pitches reviewed via my deposit-backed inbox for priority review.”
FAQ

Quick answers

Is this a paywall?
No. It's a refundable deposit for priority review. Most users keep a normal contact channel and add GatePost as their serious-only lane.
Is the deposit really refundable?
Yes. If you release the message, ignore it, or the timeout expires, the deposit is released back on Stripe's standard timeline. Only the $0.99 delivery fee is non-refundable once delivered.
Do I have to respond?
No. Acceptance is fully your call. Doing nothing simply releases the deposit when the timeout expires.
Read full FAQStart charging for inbox accessPricing