Protected payments for serious transactions

Hold funds safely until every deal is delivered.

Guardian Escrow helps people and businesses protect purchases, services, and goods with clear terms, regulated payment-partner handling, milestone approvals, and fair dispute support.

Start protected deal See the process

Buyer protection Seller assurance Milestone release

For buyers Pay after goods or services match the agreement. For sellers Start only after funds are confirmed and reserved.

Live escrow room Updated 2 minutes ago

Funds secured ZAR 18,450.00

Commercial kitchen equipment Buyer: Aster Foods · Seller: Prime Supply

Terms accepted

Payment deposited

Delivery inspection

Seller payout

Next action Buyer approves delivery before funds release

Inspection window 48 hours

Evidence files 6 uploaded

4-step transaction flow

24/7 case visibility

CPA aware transaction rules

KYC risk-based onboarding

How Guardian works

Every deal moves through a transparent escrow path.

Agree on terms

Buyer and seller define the item, service scope, amount, delivery window, and approval rules.

Deposit securely

The buyer funds the transaction through a controlled payment flow, and funds are confirmed before work begins.

Deliver and inspect

The seller delivers goods or services while both sides track milestones, documents, and messages.

Release or resolve

Funds are released after approval or handled under the agreed refund/dispute rules, without removing statutory consumer rights.

Built for purchases and services

Protection for one-off deals, recurring work, and business procurement.

Use Guardian when trust matters but the relationship is new, remote, high-value, or milestone-based.

01 Marketplace sales Vehicles, equipment, electronics, collectables, and private high-value goods.

02 Professional services Design, development, consulting, repairs, installations, and project retainers.

03 Business procurement Vendor deposits, inventory orders, custom manufacturing, and shipment-based releases.

Simple fee model

Know the cost before money moves.

Most common

Standard escrow

1.5%

For single purchases and service agreements with one final release.

Choose standard

Milestone escrow

2.0%

For projects that need staged approvals and partial seller payouts.

Set milestones

Business volume

Custom

For teams managing repeat vendors, higher limits, or operational workflows.

Talk to support

Designed around confidence

Both sides see the same rules, status, and evidence.

Guardian replaces uncertainty with a shared record: terms, payment status, delivery notes, inspection windows, and dispute documents stay attached to the transaction.

Verified account steps Support KYC, KYB, and suspicious-activity controls before higher-risk deals begin.

Documented milestones Keep approvals tied to the original agreement.

Neutral dispute review Organize evidence if buyer and seller disagree.

Clear payout controls Release funds only when transaction rules and applicable consumer rights are respected.

Law-aware by design

Aligned to South African escrow, consumer, payment, privacy, and AML obligations.

Guardian should operate with documented deal terms, customer-fund segregation, regulated payment partners, KYC/KYB checks, privacy controls, and a clear evidence trail for release, refund, or dispute decisions.

View applicable laws View compliance approach

Escrow in motion

A safer way to transact at a distance.

"Guardian made our first supplier order feel controlled from deposit to delivery."

Operations Lead, retail importer

"The buyer could see funds were protected, and we knew payment was ready before shipping."

Equipment reseller

"Milestones removed the awkward payment conversations from a custom service project."

Independent consultant

Common questions

Clear answers before you open a deal.

When does the seller get paid?

Funds are released after the buyer approves the delivery or the agreed inspection window is completed under the transaction terms.

What happens if there is a dispute?

Both parties can submit documents, messages, delivery proof, and inspection notes so the issue can be reviewed against the original agreement.

Does escrow remove consumer-law rights?

No. Escrow rules should support clear delivery, inspection, refund, and dispute processes, but should not remove rights that apply under South African consumer law.

Can services use milestones?

Yes. Projects can be split into milestones so funds are released in stages as specific deliverables are approved.

Start with clear terms

Protect your next purchase, service, or shipment.

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