Selling online: every fee, before you start
A platform takes its cut on every sale, and that is before your product, shipping and ads. Here is what each one really charges.
Selling online pays a margin, not a wage. What you keep is the price, less the product, shipping, platform fees, payment fees and ads. Fees look small one at a time, so add them up before you pick a platform.
Ways to earn here
VOLTIX referral program
Share your link and keep 60% of every full-price plan your people buy, every time they renew.
Etsy
Three main fees, and an Offsite Ads charge many sellers miss.
Amazon FBA
Plan, referral fee and FBA fees, plus the stock you buy first.
eBay
250 free listings, then a fee on the total sale.
TikTok Shop
One platform fee, no listing cost, and the extras that come on top.
Shopify
The monthly plan, the card fees, and what is not in the price.
Dropshipping
The average margin, the real costs, and your duties as the seller.
Print on demand
No stock to buy, so your margin is whatever the gap leaves.
Reselling
The fee decides your margin, and apps differ a lot.
Stock photography
From $0.10 a download, and rates cut at Alamy in 2026.
Domain flipping
A marketplace takes 15% to 25%, and trademarks can cost you the name.
Facebook Marketplace
No fee on local pickup. Guides disagree on shipping.
Compare the real numbers
| Way to earn | You need | You keep | Paid out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOLTIX referral program | A free account | 60% of the full price, on every renewal (30% with a discount code) | From $20 |
| Etsy | $0.20 to list an item | All but 6.5% + 3% + $0.25 (US) | Varies by location |
| Amazon FBA | A selling plan and stock bought up front | After referral fee, often 15%, and FBA fees | About every 14 days |
| eBay | Things to sell | All but 13.6% in most categories, plus a per-order fee | On demand or on a schedule |
| TikTok Shop | A product and a seller account | 94% before your own costs, in most US categories (our sum) | $1 or $2: sources differ |
| Shopify | A product and a way to reach customers | Your sales less plan and card fees | Via your provider |
| Dropshipping | A store, a supplier and ad money | 15% to 25% net margin on average | Direct from customers |
| Print on demand | A design and a place to sell | Your price less the base price and fees | Direct from customers |
| Reselling | Stock, time and an eye for prices | Fees from 0% to 20%, by app | Set by each app |
| Stock photography | A portfolio of photos | 15% to 40% at Shutterstock | Over $75 at Alamy, your own minimum at Shutterstock |
| Domain flipping | Money to buy names, and patience | What is left after 15% to 25% | Set by the marketplace |
| Facebook Marketplace | Things to sell nearby | All of it on local pickup | Paid by the buyer when you meet |
The catch
- Check whether a payment fee comes on top of the platform fee.
- In the US, if you state no delivery time you must have a reasonable basis to ship within 30 days.
- US imports valued under $800 are no longer exempt from extra duties and taxes.
- Fees are set by each company and they change, so check them on the day you start.
Truth checks
Sources
- Etsy Help: fee basics, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Etsy Help: payment processing fees, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Amazon: what it costs to sell, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Marginory: TikTok Shop seller fees 2026, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Shopify pricing, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Shopify: what is dropshipping, checked 5 Nov 2026
Show the other 8 sources, each with the day we read it
- Printful pricing, checked 5 Nov 2026
- FTC: Mail, Internet or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Shutterstock: how much contributors are paid, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Alamy: record of contributor contract changes, checked 5 Nov 2026
- TheDomains: domain sales commission rates (Jan 2023), checked 5 Nov 2026
- Understanding domain aftermarket fees, checked 5 Nov 2026
- Nifty: Facebook Marketplace fees 2026, checked 5 Nov 2026
- SellerApp: Amazon seller payment schedule 2026, checked 5 Nov 2026