How Lumo's 90% Payout and Wallet Work: A Worker's Guide
If you're working through an app, the split matters—a lot. Most gig platforms take 15-30% of your earnings, but understanding exactly what lands in your pocket and when you can access it makes all the difference when you're deciding which jobs to accept and how many hours to work.
Lumo workers keep 90% of the price the customer pays for the job itself. Your earnings land in an in-app wallet after each completed job, and you control when to cash out. This guide walks through exactly how the payout works, what the 10% covers, how tips are handled, and when your money becomes available.
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Step 1: Understanding the 90/10 split on job prices
Calculator displaying percentage calculations next to cash and coins on a desk When a customer books a cleaning for $80, you earn $72 (90% of $80). When someone pays $40 for yard work, you get $36. The 10% that Lumo keeps covers payment processing, insurance, customer support, app maintenance, and the technology that sends you job alerts and lets customers find you.
Important: the 90% applies to the job price only. Tips are separate—you keep 100% of any tip a customer adds. Delivery fees (if you're doing delivery jobs) are also separate and calculated based on distance, order size, and a base fee; most of that goes to you as part of your job payment, with the same 90/10 split applied.
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Step 2: How earnings land in your wallet after each job
Close-up of a smartphone displaying a digital wallet balance on screen As soon as you mark a job complete (after the customer confirms or the standard window passes), your 90% share moves into your in-app wallet. You'll see the amount added in real time—no waiting until Friday or the end of the month.
The wallet is visible in the app's earnings or account section. It shows your current available balance, pending amounts (jobs completed but still in a short hold period, typically 24 hours for fraud protection), and a running total of what you've earned this week, this month, and all time. Every transaction is itemized so you can see exactly which job paid what.
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Step 3: When you can cash out and how payouts work
Person holding smartphone completing a bank transfer on a mobile app You decide when to move money from your wallet to your bank account. Most workers cash out weekly or after hitting a certain balance; some prefer daily, others wait until month-end. Lumo doesn't force a payout schedule.
To cash out, go to your wallet, tap 'Pay Out' or 'Transfer', enter the amount, and confirm your linked bank account or debit card. Standard bank transfers typically arrive in 1-3 business days at no extra fee. Instant payout options (if available in your market) can land money in minutes but may carry a small fee, usually around 1-2% or a flat $0.50-$1.50.
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Step 4: How tips work and why they matter
Customer handing cash tip to service worker after job completion Customers can add a tip—10%, 15%, 20%, or a custom amount—during or after the job. Tips are especially common for delivery, moving, and cleaning jobs. You keep 100% of every tip; Lumo takes nothing.
Tips land in your wallet just like job earnings. If a customer tips you $10 on a $50 cleaning job, your wallet gets $45 (90% of $50) plus $10, for a total of $55. Tips often make up 15-30% of total daily earnings for workers who do delivery or hands-on home services, so providing great service—being on time, communicating clearly, leaving the job site tidy—directly boosts your take-home.
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Step 5: What the 10% fee covers (and what it doesn't)
Hand writing expense notes on receipt next to calculator and coffee - Payment processing (credit card fees are 2-3% alone)
- Liability insurance that covers you during jobs
- Customer support and dispute resolution
- Technology: job alerts, GPS tracking, in-app messaging, the driver busy map
- Background checks and trust & safety systems
What it doesn't cover: your fuel, vehicle wear, supplies (cleaning products, tools), or your time driving to jobs. Those are your business expenses, so track them for tax purposes. The IRS lets you deduct mileage (67 cents per mile in 2024) and supplies, which can save you hundreds at tax time.
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Step 6: Tracking your earnings and planning your income
Worker reviewing detailed earnings report on laptop with coffee cup nearby Your wallet and earnings dashboard show every job, tip, payout, and running total. Export weekly or monthly summaries (usually available as CSV or PDF) to track income trends, compare busy versus slow weeks, and prepare for taxes.
Because you keep 90%, you can calculate take-home on the fly: a $60 handyman job means $54 for you; a $100 moving job means $90. Add typical tips (say 15% on average) and you can estimate daily earnings pretty accurately. If you complete five $50 jobs in a day and average a $7 tip per job, that's $225 in job pay (90% of $250) plus $35 in tips, or $260 total—before expenses.
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Step 7: Taxes, 1099s, and keeping records
IRS 1099 tax form on desk with pen and calculator You're an independent contractor, not an employee, so Lumo doesn't withhold taxes. Set aside 25-30% of your earnings for federal and state income tax and self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare). Open a separate savings account and move money there after every payout.
Lumo will send you a 1099-NEC form by January 31 if you earned $600 or more in the calendar year. Keep your own records too: a simple spreadsheet with date, job type, gross pay, your 90%, tips, mileage, and expenses. Come tax time, you'll deduct business expenses from your gross income, lowering what you owe. A tax pro or software like TurboTax Self-Employed can walk you through it.
Pro tips
- Cash out at least weekly so you don't lose access if your phone breaks or your account has an issue.
- Track every mile you drive for jobs—it's the biggest tax deduction you have and can save you thousands.
- Turn on low-balance alerts in your wallet so you know when you've hit your cash-out target.
- Compare your take-home across different job types; some pay better per hour once you factor in drive time and tips.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Lumo take a cut of my tips?
- No. You keep 100% of every tip a customer adds, whether it's 10%, 20%, or a custom amount. Tips land in your wallet separately from the job payment and are yours entirely.
- Is there a minimum amount I have to earn before I can cash out?
- Lumo typically sets a small minimum (often $1 or $5) to keep transaction costs reasonable, but there's no weekly or monthly threshold. You can cash out as soon as you have enough in your wallet to meet the minimum.
- What happens if a customer disputes a job or asks for a refund?
- If a dispute arises, Lumo's support team reviews the job details, messages, and any photos you took. If the customer gets a refund, the corresponding amount (including your 90% share) is deducted from your wallet or future earnings. Honest mistakes happen; clear communication and photos at drop-off protect you.
Keeping 90% of every job, plus 100% of tips, gives you real control over your earnings and the flexibility to cash out on your schedule. Track your income and expenses, set aside money for taxes, and you'll turn gig work into reliable income. Ready to start? Download Lumo, set your job radius and types, and start earning today.
Photos are illustrative. Service prices are typical ranges and vary by city. How we write our guides.
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