> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.onconsul.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Adding Stablecoin Payouts to a Marketplace

> Add Consul as a payout method to pay sellers in your marketplace

This guide walks through adding Consul as a payout method to an existing marketplace. Your platform manages a single
Consul treasury, pre-funds it, and pays sellers by email when transactions complete. Here, your backend is the only party
interacting with the Consul API.

## Prerequisites

| What                  | Why                                         | Where to get it                             |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Consul API key        | Authenticate API requests from your backend | [Dashboard](https://dashboard.onconsul.com) |
| Funded Consul balance | Payouts draw from your balance              | [Pre-Funding Flows](/guides/funding-flows)  |
| Webhook endpoint      | Receive real-time payout status updates     | [Events and Webhooks](/guides/webhooks)     |

## How It Works

When a sale completes on your platform, your backend calls the [Create a Payout](/api-reference/payouts/create-a-payout)
endpoint with the seller's email and amount. Consul handles the rest:

* If the seller already has a Consul account, USDC lands in their wallet in seconds.
* If they're new, Consul sends an email invite. A wallet is created behind the scenes and funds are held securely
  until the seller claims their account.

You can batch multiple sellers into a single payout request. See the [Payouts](/guides/payouts) guide for details
on batching, idempotency, and the payout lifecycle.

## Tracking Payouts

Register a [webhook endpoint](/guides/webhooks) and subscribe to `payout.updated` events. This tells you when each
payout item settles or fails. You can also poll [GET /payouts/{id}](/api-reference/payouts/get-a-payout) if you prefer.

<Info>
  A payout status of `pending_claim` means the seller hasn't created their Consul account yet. Funds are held
  securely. The seller can claim the funds before the payout expires or is cancelled.

  If cancelled via [Cancel a Payout](/api-reference/payouts/cancel-a-payout), funds are refunded to your Consul balance.
</Info>

## Keeping Your Balance Funded

Your Consul balance needs to cover every payout you issue. The [Pre-Funding Flows](/guides/funding-flows) guide
covers several strategies depending on your needs, from simple end-of-day batching to pre-funded balances that
support instant payouts. Domestic wires are also available for same-day top-ups.