Why a Flat Monthly Fee Beats Commission
Stop giving away a percentage of every order. At IndieMe, you pay a simple web service fee—and 0% commission on your sales.
The Commission Trap
Commission adds up fast—especially when you’re successful.
On commission-based marketplaces, every order takes a slice of your profit. The more you sell, the more you pay out in fees.
That means:
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Your best months become your most expensive months
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You can’t reliably budget your costs to do business
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Discounts and promos hit you twice—once on price, once on commission
At IndieMe, your success doesn’t trigger bigger bills. You simply pay your Sellers Account fee (monthly or yearly) and keep 100% of your order revenue.
Lauren HB Studio
When your sales go up, your costs shouldn’t skyrocket with them.
See the Difference on Just Two Orders
Two real-world orders. Two very different outcomes.
Scenario 1: A Solid Month of Wholesale Orders
Imagine a good, steady month in the studio:
- 10 wholesale orders
- Average order: $500
- Total monthly sales: $5,000
On a commission-based platform
$1,000 in fees
At 20% commission, that month would cost you $1,000 in fees—every single month you perform like this.
That’s $1,000 that doesn’t go toward materials, shows, help in the studio, or paying yourself.
On IndieMe
0% commission - one flat monthly fee $59 (save more with yearly
- You pay one flat web service fee for your Sellers Account - save more with our yearly plan
- 0% commission on orders—whether you receive 2 orders or 200
- Your $5,000 in orders stays $5,000 in revenue (minus your usual costs of doing business, not platform commissions)
Same work. Same buyers. Same orders.
The difference is whether you give away a cut of every sale—or keep it.
Scenario 2: One Big Holiday Order
Now picture this: your dream order from a favorite retailer:
- 1 large holiday order
- Order total: $2,500
On a commission-based platform
$500 in fees
At 20% commission, that single order would cost you $500 in fees
One order. Hundreds of dollars gone—because of where the order was placed.
On IndieMe
No commission - one flat monthly fee $59
- That same $2,500 order comes through your IndieMe storefront
- You pay no commission on the order itself
- Your only platform cost is the same flat fee you already know and can budget for
On commission platforms, your best orders cost you the most.
On IndieMe, your best orders simply grow your business.
Why a Flat Fee Works Better for Artists
Flat fee = clarity, control, and confidence.
With IndieMe’s flat web service fee and no commission:
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You can actually budget.
Your “rent” for your wholesale shop is predictable—no surprise percentages at the end of the month.
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Your order is your order.
We don’t touch your payment. You get paid directly by your buyer, and you choose how: card, PayPal, etc.
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Your buyer is your buyer.
You own the relationship and have direct access to buyer information, so you can follow up, launch new collections, and build repeat business.
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You run your studio, not someone else’s algorithm.
Because we don’t take commission, our goal is to support your long-term growth—not to maximize fees.
Kudrat
The Hidden Cost of Commission Models
Commission doesn’t just cost money. It costs control.
On many commission-based marketplaces, fees are only part of the story. Artists often face:
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Pressure to offer deeper discounts to stay visible
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Changing terms, policies, or commission rates
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Platforms that insert themselves between you and your buyer (emails, credits, promotions that benefit the platform more than you)
Over time, that can mean raising your wholesale prices to cover commission—making your line harder to sell and eroding trust with your buyers.
When your sales go up, your costs shouldn’t skyrocket with them.
IndieMe’s Model: Built for Handcrafted Businesses
Privately owned. Commission-free. Handcrafted-only.
IndieMe is privately owned and operated by a single owner, serving North American handcrafted artists and retailers for over 25 years. No venture capital. No outside board. No pressure to ramp up commissions.
Instead, we:
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Charge a flat web service fee for your Sellers Account
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Take no commission on your sales
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Invest in marketing and tools that help you and your buyers connect: Buyers’ Guide, Virtual Expo, niche marketplaces, and more
Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi
Montana Leather Designs
What This Means for You
What artists gain with a flat-fee, commission-free model
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Clear, predictable cost to do business
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Full control over your pricing, terms, and buyer relationships
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A juried, handcrafted-only environment where you’re not competing with mass-produced products
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A partner whose success isn’t tied to taking a cut of every order
Keep more of what you earn—and grow on your terms.
You’ve worked hard to build your wholesale line. Don’t let commission fees chip away at every order. Join a marketplace designed to protect your margins and support your growth.