Calculate your potential marketplace profits
Building a marketplace can be incredibly profitable, but understanding the true earning potential requires a deep dive into revenue streams and operational costs. Use our interactive calculator to discover how much you could earn with your marketplace.
| Orders | Total Sales | Commission | Platform | Payment | Retael | Ad Spend | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | €3,000.00 | €600.00 | €89.00 | €99.00 | €149.00 | €300.00 | -€37.00 |
| 120 | €6,000.00 | €1,200.00 | €119.00 | €177.00 | €149.00 | €600.00 | €155.00 |
| 180 | €9,000.00 | €1,800.00 | €149.00 | €255.00 | €149.00 | €900.00 | €347.00 |
| 240 | €12,000.00 | €2,400.00 | €179.00 | €333.00 | €149.00 | €1,200.00 | €539.00 |
| 300 | €15,000.00 | €3,000.00 | €209.00 | €411.00 | €149.00 | €1,500.00 | €731.00 |
| 360 | €18,000.00 | €3,600.00 | €239.00 | €489.00 | €149.00 | €1,800.00 | €923.00 |
| 420 | €21,000.00 | €4,200.00 | €269.00 | €567.00 | €149.00 | €2,100.00 | €1,115.00 |
| 480 | €24,000.00 | €4,800.00 | €299.00 | €645.00 | €149.00 | €2,400.00 | €1,307.00 |
| 540 | €27,000.00 | €5,400.00 | €329.00 | €723.00 | €229.00 | €2,700.00 | €1,419.00 |
| 600 | €30,000.00 | €6,000.00 | €359.00 | €801.00 | €349.00 | €3,000.00 | €1,491.00 |
💡 How to use the calculator
Adjust the sliders to match your marketplace scenario and see real-time profit calculations:
The calculator shows your commission-based revenue, total operational costs, and final profit margins.
The marketplace business model has proven to be one of the most scalable and profitable e-commerce strategies. Companies like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy have built billion-dollar businesses by connecting buyers and sellers, taking a percentage of each transaction while providing the platform and infrastructure.
But what does this mean for your business? How much can you realistically expect to earn, and what are the associated costs? Let's break down the mathematics of marketplace profitability.
While marketplaces can be highly profitable, they also come with significant operational costs that must be carefully managed. Understanding these costs is crucial for accurate profit projections.
Platform Costs
Operational costs
Complete cost breakdown example
Let's examine the total monthly costs for a medium-sized marketplace with 25 vendors processing €135,000 in sales:
Key insight: While Shopify has higher transaction fees, WooCommerce requires more technical investment. The choice depends on your technical expertise and transaction volume.
At Retael, we believe in transparent, performance-based pricing that grows with your success. Our tiered commission structure ensures you only pay more when you're earning more.
Retael pricing structure
Includes platform access, basic support, and core marketplace features.
Let's look at some realistic scenarios to understand the earning potential at different scales.
Small marketplace
Medium marketplace
Large marketplace
"We started with 8 vendors and now have over 50. Our marketplace processes €425,000 in monthly sales, and with our 18% commission rate, we earn €76,500 monthly. After platform, payment processing, and Retael fees totaling about €18,000, we keep €58,500 as profit. The key was starting small and reinvesting in growth."— Founder, Nordic Design Collective
The beauty of the marketplace model is that you can start small and scale gradually. Many successful marketplaces began with just a handful of vendors and grew organically by focusing on quality and customer satisfaction.
Choose a specific market segment where you can provide unique value and establish a strong competitive position.
Start with 5-10 carefully selected vendors who align with your brand values and quality standards.
Begin selling, gather customer and vendor feedback, then iterate on your platform and processes for optimal performance.
Reinvest profits into marketing, vendor acquisition, and platform improvements to drive sustainable growth.
Remember, the calculator above provides estimates based on typical scenarios. Your actual results will depend on your specific market, vendor quality, marketing effectiveness, and operational efficiency. The key is to start with realistic expectations and focus on building a sustainable, growing business.
Get started with our platform and build the marketplace of your dreams.
