A rolling reserve is a portion of eligible payments held for a defined period under a provider's risk terms. It affects available cash and is different from an ordinary processing fee.
How it moves over time New transactions add reserved amounts while earlier amounts may become eligible for release. Growth can increase the total balance held even after releases begin. Other restrictions can affect the final availability.
An illustrative example If a hypothetical agreement retained 5 percent of €20,000 of relevant sales, €1,000 would be set aside initially. This is only an example, not a quoted or typical provider rate.
What to check Read the percentage, holding period, covered transactions, any minimum or cap and the release conditions. Confirm how refunds, disputes and account termination affect the reserve.
Forecast supplier payments and delivery costs using available funds rather than gross revenue. Reconcile reserved balances separately from fees, and ask the provider for a calculation when the dashboard and expected releases do not agree.
Sources and scope
General information, not advice for your individual legal or tax position. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or provider.