Comparison
Commission-Only vs Listing-Fee SaaS Marketplaces
Marketplaces fund themselves differently, and the model you pick changes your risk. Some charge to list or require a subscription; a commission-only model charges nothing until you close. For a founder selling a SaaS, that difference is real money and real alignment.
| Dimension | Listing-fee / subscription | StackTrade |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Listing fee or recurring subscription before any sale. | None — listing is free. |
| When you pay | Whether or not your SaaS ever sells. | Only when a sale actually closes. |
| Incentive alignment | Platform earns from listings, not necessarily from your sale. | Platform earns only if you sell, so its incentive matches yours. |
| Risk if it doesn't sell | You're out the fees regardless. | You've spent nothing. |
| Who holds the money | Varies; some platforms custody funds. | Buyers pay through Stripe; the platform never custodies your funds. |
| Trust & verification | Varies by platform. | Seller trust scores and Stripe identity verification built in. |
The verdict
Listing fees make sense for the platform, not the seller. A commission-only model puts the risk on the marketplace to actually help you sell — which is where it belongs.
Frequently asked
- Is commission-only always cheaper than a listing fee?
- If your SaaS sells, the total can be similar; the difference is risk. With commission-only you pay nothing unless you close, so you're never out of pocket for a listing that doesn't sell.
- Does StackTrade hold my money during a sale?
- No. Payments settle through Stripe directly to your connected account, minus the platform commission. StackTrade never custodies funds.