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Seller fees explained, one by one

Marketplaces charge in different ways and under different names. This guide lists the kinds of charges so that none is missing from your sum.

Fee names vary by marketplace and change. This page names kinds of fee in general terms and gives no rates. Look up the numbers on the official seller pages of your platform.

  1. Commission or referral fee. A percentage of the price, often different for each product category. Check whether it is charged on the price with or without GST.
  2. Fixed or closing fee. A small amount per order that does not depend on the price. It matters most for cheap products.
  3. Shipping or weight fee. Charged by weight, size and distance, sometimes in bands. A few grams more can raise the fee.
  4. Payment or collection fee. Taken for handling the customer payment, especially cash on delivery or cards.
  5. Storage and fulfilment fees. If the platform keeps and ships your stock, there are charges per unit stored and per order packed.
  6. Return handling. Shipping back, sometimes a fee that is not refunded, and the value of damaged goods.
  7. Advertising. Optional but common. It is charged by click or by sale. See ad spend.
  8. GST on fees. Platform fees usually carry tax. If you can claim credit it is not a cost; if you cannot, it is.
  9. Tax collected at source. In some countries, the platform must hold back a share of your sales for the tax authority and deposit it for you. It is not a cost, but it delays your cash and must be claimed in your tax return. The rate is set by law and changes, so find it on the tax authority site and on your settlement report.

Where to find the real numbers

Open your seller account and look for a rate card or fee schedule for your category, the shipping charges, and a settlement or payment report. A settlement report of a few real orders is the best test: compare the amount you received with what the calculator predicts for the same order.

Common questions

Which fee surprises new sellers most?

Shipping and returns. Many new sellers count only the commission. The profit calculator has a box for every fee type so that none is missed.

Do fees include GST?

In many tax systems, the platform adds GST to its fees. Whether you can claim it back depends on your registration. The calculator asks for both.

Keep going

Fee percentages, GST rates and other figures in the examples on this site are made up to show the working. They are not the fees or rates of any marketplace or country: type the numbers from your own seller account and from the tax authority. Checked 14 November 2026.