Understanding Fees
A clear explanation of all fees associated with investing
When you invest through Play Money, there are a few fees to be aware of. Here is what each one means and how it affects your investment.
Fee Types
Platform Fee — 10%
A one-time 10% fee on your investment amount, covering SPV setup, payments, and legal docs.
Carry — 20%
The fund manager's 20% share of any profits. No profits means no carry.
Platform Fee
The platform fee is a one-time 10% fee on your investment amount, charged by Play Money for facilitating the investment. It covers the costs of setting up and administering the SPV, processing payments, and handling legal documentation.
Carry (Carried Interest)
Carry (carried interest) is the fund manager's 20% share of any profits from the investment. It only applies if the investment makes money. For example, if the SPV earns a profit when the company is acquired or goes public, 20% of that profit goes to the fund manager and the remaining 80% is distributed to investors.
If the investment does not generate a profit, no carry is charged. Carry only applies to gains, not to your original investment amount.
How Fees and Carry Affect Your Investment
| When charged | How it works | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee (10%) | At time of investment | 10% of your investment amount, charged when you confirm |
| Carry share (20%) | At exit only | The fund manager's 20% share of profits (acquisition, IPO, etc.). No profits means no carry |
Carry Credits
Carry credits reduce or eliminate the carry share on your investments. With a carry credit, you keep a larger share of any future profits.
There are several ways to earn carry credits:
Refer a friend
When someone you refer joins and invests, you both earn a carry credit.
Get referred
If you joined through a referral link, you automatically receive a carry credit.
Admin-granted
The platform team may grant carry credits for special promotions or events.
A carry credit of 0% carry means you pay zero carry on that investment — you keep 100% of your share of the profits.
For full details, see Earning Carry Credits.
Where to See Your Fees
Fees are displayed in several places:
- Deal page — The investment terms section shows the fee structure for each deal
- Review screen — Before you confirm your investment, the review screen shows a complete breakdown of all applicable fees
- Investment detail — After investing, your investment detail page in your portfolio includes the fee information
Common Questions
Are fees the same for every deal? On most deals the fees are 10% platform fee and 20% carry. On rare occasions, deal terms may differ — the exact fees for each deal are always shown on the deal page.
What if the investment loses money? If the investment does not generate a profit, no carry is charged. The platform fee applies regardless of the investment outcome, as it covers the costs of setting up and administering the SPV.
How do carry credits work exactly? Each carry credit applies to one investment. When you invest and have a carry credit available, it is applied to reduce your carry percentage on that deal. A 0% carry credit means no carry is charged on that investment. Credits are applied at the time of investment.
Can I negotiate fees? Fees are set for each deal and apply equally to all investors. They are not individually negotiable. However, carry credits allow you to effectively reduce your fees through referrals and platform promotions.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
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