Compare marketplace fees
Cheapest per sale is not the same as most profitable. Use this table to see the gap, then open a calculator to add your own costs.
| Platform | Payout on $50 | Payout on $250 | Typical total take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | $44.80 | $225.80 | 10–12% typical total |
| eBay | $42.80 | $215.60 | 13–15% typical total |
| Amazon FBA | $38.20 | $208.20 | 30–50% of price |
| TikTok Shop | $45.70 | $229.70 | 6–10% before affiliates |
| Shopify | $47.86 | $242.06 | 2.9% + 30¢ + plan |
No cost of goods, ads or shipping. Amazon includes a $4.15 fulfillment fee; Shopify includes the Basic subscription spread over 100 monthly orders.
What a marketplace fee buys you
Buyers. On Etsy, eBay and Amazon you pay 10–15% for access to existing demand and trust. Your alternative is spending that money on ads instead, usually with worse conversion.
What a low fee costs you
Traffic. Shopify at ~3% looks unbeatable until you price the ads that replace marketplace discovery. Compare cost per acquisition, not commission.