Platform Fees
Artbase has a transparent fee structure so you always know what you'll pay. This guide explains all fees and how to minimize them.
Fee Structure Overview
When you make a sale, there are two types of fees:
- Artbase Commission - Our platform fee
- Payment Processing - Stripe's fee
$100 Sale Breakdown (Starter Plan):
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Sale Amount: $100.00
Artbase Commission: -$2.00 (2%)
Stripe Processing: -$3.20 (~2.9% + $0.30)
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Net Revenue: $94.80
Artbase Commission
Rates by Plan
| Plan | Commission Rate |
|---|---|
| Starter | 2.0% |
| Growth | 1.5% |
| Pro | 0.5% |
| Founding Artist | 0% for 2 years |
How Commission Works
Commission is calculated on the product subtotal (before tax and shipping):
Order:
Product: $80.00
Shipping: $8.50
Tax: $6.80
Total: $95.30
Commission calculated on: $80.00
Starter commission (2%): $1.60
When Commission Applies
Commission is charged on:
- Direct storefront sales
- Manual orders with payment
Commission is NOT charged on:
- Synced Etsy orders (Etsy already charged fees)
- Synced Gumroad orders (Gumroad already charged fees)
- Free products
- Refunded orders (commission refunded)
Payment Processing Fees
Stripe Fees
All payments processed through Stripe:
| Region | Rate |
|---|---|
| US | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| International | 3.4% + $0.30 |
| Currency conversion | +1% |
Fee Examples
| Sale Amount | Stripe Fee (US) |
|---|---|
| $25 | $1.03 |
| $50 | $1.75 |
| $100 | $3.20 |
| $250 | $7.55 |
| $500 | $14.80 |
International Sales
Additional considerations:
- Currency conversion fee (+1%)
- International card surcharge possible
- Wire transfer fees (rare)
Total Fee Examples
Starter Plan ($12/mo, 2% commission)
| Sale | Artbase | Stripe | Total Fees | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $0.50 | $1.03 | $1.53 | $23.47 |
| $50 | $1.00 | $1.75 | $2.75 | $47.25 |
| $100 | $2.00 | $3.20 | $5.20 | $94.80 |
| $250 | $5.00 | $7.55 | $12.55 | $237.45 |
| $500 | $10.00 | $14.80 | $24.80 | $475.20 |
Growth Plan ($29/mo, 1.5% commission)
| Sale | Artbase | Stripe | Total Fees | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $0.38 | $1.03 | $1.41 | $23.59 |
| $50 | $0.75 | $1.75 | $2.50 | $47.50 |
| $100 | $1.50 | $3.20 | $4.70 | $95.30 |
| $250 | $3.75 | $7.55 | $11.30 | $238.70 |
| $500 | $7.50 | $14.80 | $22.30 | $477.70 |
Pro Plan ($79/mo, 0.5% commission)
| Sale | Artbase | Stripe | Total Fees | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $0.13 | $1.03 | $1.16 | $23.84 |
| $50 | $0.25 | $1.75 | $2.00 | $48.00 |
| $100 | $0.50 | $3.20 | $3.70 | $96.30 |
| $250 | $1.25 | $7.55 | $8.80 | $241.20 |
| $500 | $2.50 | $14.80 | $17.30 | $482.70 |
Comparing to Alternatives
Etsy
| Fee Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Listing fee | $0.20 per listing |
| Transaction fee | 6.5% |
| Payment processing | 3% + $0.25 |
| Offsite ads | 12-15% (if applicable) |
Typical total: 10-15% per sale
Shopify
| Plan | Monthly | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/mo | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Shopify | $105/mo | 2.6% + $0.30 |
| Advanced | $399/mo | 2.4% + $0.30 |
Plus app fees, themes, etc.
Artbase Advantage
At $5,000/month sales:
| Platform | Fees |
|---|---|
| Etsy | ~$500-750/mo |
| Shopify Basic + Fees | ~$189/mo |
| Artbase Growth | ~$104/mo |
| Artbase Pro | ~$104/mo |
Channel Fees
Synced Orders
For orders from connected channels:
| Channel | Their Fees | Artbase Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Etsy | ~10-15% | 0% |
| Gumroad | ~10% | 0% |
Why no Artbase fee on channel orders?
- You already paid the channel's fees
- Artbase provides unified management
- Your channel fees support those platforms
Direct vs Channel
| Approach | Total Fees |
|---|---|
| Artbase Direct (Pro) | ~3.4% |
| Etsy | ~10-15% |
| Gumroad | ~10% |
Direct sales = More profit
Minimizing Fees
Choose the Right Plan
Calculate your break-even:
- Growth saves vs Starter at ~$3,400/mo sales
- Pro saves vs Growth at ~$5,000/mo sales
Maximize Direct Sales
- Lower fees than any marketplace
- Build your brand
- Own customer relationships
- Email marketing drives direct sales
Higher Price Points
Fixed portion of Stripe fee ($0.30) impacts small orders more:
- $10 sale: 6.2% total Stripe fee
- $100 sale: 3.2% total Stripe fee
Consider minimum order values or bundling.
Annual Subscription
Save 2 months by paying annually:
- Starter: Save $24/year
- Growth: Save $58/year
- Pro: Save $158/year
Fee Dashboard
Viewing Your Fees
- Go to Analytics → Fees
- See breakdown by type
- Filter by date range
- Export for accounting
Fee Reports
Monthly fee summary shows:
- Total Artbase commission
- Total Stripe fees
- Net revenue after fees
- Comparison to previous period
Refunds and Fees
When You Refund
| Fee Type | Refunded? |
|---|---|
| Artbase commission | Yes, fully |
| Stripe fee | $0.30 kept by Stripe |
Refund Example
Original $100 sale:
- Artbase: $2.00 (refunded)
- Stripe: $3.20 ($0.30 kept)
Net cost of refund: $0.30
FAQ
Why charge commission AND subscription?
Subscription covers infrastructure. Commission aligns our success with yours—we earn more when you sell more.
Do fees apply to shipping charges?
No. Commission is on product subtotal only.
What about tax collected?
No fees on tax. Tax passes through to you for remittance.
Can I pass fees to customers?
You can price accordingly. Some add a small checkout fee (check local laws).
How often are fees charged?
- Subscription: Monthly or annually
- Commission: Deducted from each payout
- Stripe: Deducted from each transaction