Why Marketplace Commissions Eat Your Margins
Growing Fees
At €100,000 annual revenue, 12% commission already costs €12,000 per year – and increases with every additional euro of revenue. With your own shop, costs remain constant at approx. €3,000–6,000/year.
No Customer Data
Marketplaces don't give you email addresses or contact details of your customers. Direct marketing, repeat purchases, and customer retention are difficult. Your own shop gives you full control.
Dependency
Marketplace rules can change at any time, accounts can be suspended, and algorithms determine your visibility. Your own shop gives you independence and control over your business strategy.
Typical Break-Even Timeframes
- €100,000+ annual revenue
- High marketplace commission (12–15%)
- Standard shop sufficient
- €50,000–100,000 annual revenue
- Custom features desired
- Long-term brand building
- Under €50,000 annual revenue
- Focus on brand building
- Long-term investment
Finance Your Investment: Leasing & Subsidies
The investment in your own online shop typically ranges from €15,000–80,000. With software leasing, you pay €250–1,300 monthly. Especially attractive: if your marketplace commissions are at 15% and you generate €30,000/month in revenue, you save €4,500 monthly – the leasing rate practically pays for itself.
E-commerce projects are supported through digitalization programs, especially when they enable entry into online retail or digitally extend existing brick-and-mortar businesses. Funding rates of 30–50% are realistic for SMEs.
