How milestone-protected payments protect B2B orders
Milestone-protected payments split each order into staged releases tied to delivery milestones. A stage releases to the supplier once the buyer confirms receipt or 7 days pass after delivery. The fee is a flat 1.5% of order value, paid by the buyer at checkout. AdeptLink coordinates the release triggers and does not hold your funds. In 2025, milestone-protected orders totalled $487M across 31,200 orders with a 0.4% dispute rate — 84% lower than unprotected orders.
Key facts
- $487M in milestone-protected orders in 2025 across 31,200 orders.
- Dispute rate on milestone-protected orders: 0.4% — 84% lower than unprotected orders.
- Payments run through your own provider; AdeptLink only coordinates milestone release triggers.
When are funds released to the supplier?
Funds are released on the earliest of three events: (1) buyer clicks Confirm Receipt, (2) 7 calendar days pass after the shipment is marked DELIVERED, or (3) a dispute is resolved in the supplier's favor. Funds are wire-transferred within 1 business day of release.
What happens if I open a dispute?
Opening a dispute holds the affected payment milestone until resolution. Both parties upload evidence (photos, packing list, inspection report). AdeptLink Trust Services reviews within 5 business days and issues a binding decision: full release, partial release, or full refund. Decision-quality rate audited by Deloitte in 2025: 94% of decisions stand on first review.
Frequently asked questions
- Who pays the milestone protection fee?
- The buyer pays the 1.5% milestone protection fee at checkout. It is not deducted from the supplier payout. Suppliers can opt to absorb the fee for their buyers via /supplier/settings/payments.
- Is AdeptLink a payment provider or money transmitter?
- No. AdeptLink is not a bank or money transmitter and does not hold your funds. Payments are made through your own regulated payment provider; AdeptLink coordinates the milestone schedule and the release triggers so each stage is released only after its delivery milestone is verified.
- Can I get a refund on a milestone-protected order?
- Yes. If the supplier fails to ship or the goods do not match the order, open a dispute within 30 days of expected delivery. If the AdeptLink Trust team rules in your favor, the unreleased milestone is cancelled and any charged amount is returned to your original payment method within 1-3 business days.
Related guides in Payments & Milestones
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