How long does it take to get paid in search arbitrage?
Usually one to two months after the click. Earnings are finalised after the end of each month and then paid on the provider's terms, commonly Net 30, sometimes faster or slower depending on the contract. Meanwhile traffic sources charge your card within days. That mismatch is the main cash strain in the business.
Net payment terms describe the wait: Net 30 means payment 30 days after the period closes. A click on 1 March under monthly Net 30 terms may be paid around the end of April, close to 60 days later, while a click on 31 March waits about 30. Some providers offer weekly or bi-weekly payment to trusted partners, sometimes for a fee.
New accounts often face the longest terms and the tightest caps, because the provider itself carries the risk of a later clawback. Read the contract for hold-back clauses, which let the provider retain part of a payment against future deductions.