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OpenTrain AI uses a milestone-based payment model. You fund work in stages, the trainer completes the work, you approve the milestone, and funds are released to the trainer’s Stripe account.

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Milestones

Milestones are discrete units of funded work tied to a contract.

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Creating a milestone

The first milestone is created automatically when you hire a candidate — the amount and description you enter during the hire flow become the initial milestone. For subsequent milestones, go to the Contract tab of the job details view and add a new milestone from there. Each milestone requires:
  • A description of the deliverable
  • An amount (in USD)
  • An optional due date

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Funding a milestone

When you create a milestone, you fund it immediately via Stripe. OpenTrain AI charges your payment method and holds the funds in escrow. The trainer sees the milestone as Active (Funded) and can begin work. Milestones in pending or funded status are shown in the contract view. Jobs with pending milestones cannot be archived until those milestones are resolved.

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Approving a milestone

Once the trainer marks a milestone as complete, you receive a notification to review and approve. After you approve:
  1. The funds are released from escrow to the trainer’s Stripe Connect account
  2. The milestone status updates to Approved
  3. A payout notification is sent to the trainer
Approve milestones only after you have verified the delivered work. Released funds cannot be reversed through the platform.

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Invoices

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Employer funding invoice

Every time you fund a milestone, OpenTrain AI generates an employer invoice. You can view or download this invoice from the Reports section of your dashboard. The invoice includes:
  • Project name and milestone description
  • Billing type and amount
  • Payment status and Stripe transaction reference

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Trainer payout invoice

When a milestone is approved and funds are released, the trainer receives a payout invoice. As an employer, you may need to reference this invoice when reconciling payments with clients.

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Stripe billing setup

OpenTrain AI processes all employer payments through Stripe. Before you can fund your first milestone, you need a valid payment method attached to your account.
1

Go to billing settings

Navigate to Employer Settings → Billing (or your agency plan settings if you are on an agency plan).
2

Add a payment method

Enter your card or bank details. OpenTrain AI uses Stripe for secure payment processing — your payment information is stored by Stripe, not by OpenTrain AI.
3

Subscribe to a plan (if required)

Agency and recruiting-configured accounts may require a subscription plan. Select the appropriate plan and confirm billing. Subscription billing is separate from individual milestone charges.

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Payment history

To view past payments, go to the Contract tab for any job. Each approved milestone shows the amount, date, and payout transaction reference. For a printable record, use the invoice links in the Reports section of your dashboard, or share the trainer’s payout invoice with your client.