How much does it cost to build a marketplace MVP?
The honest version: what a first version needs, platform versus custom, the fees that keep coming, and why the expensive part is usually getting users, not code.
Three ways to launch
| Approach | Upfront | Ongoing | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace platform (Sharetribe and similar) | Low, from setup and design | Monthly platform fee | Standard service or rental marketplace, testing an idea fast |
| Shopify with a multi vendor app | Low to moderate | Shopify plan plus app fees | Product marketplace where you control the catalogue |
| Custom build | Highest of the three | Hosting and maintenance | Your matching or pricing logic is the product, or platform fees hurt margins |
We do not publish price lists. Every project gets a fixed quote based on a written scope, so the useful question is what makes your project bigger or smaller.
What a real MVP needs
- Sign up for both sides
- Listings or profiles
- Search and filters
- Checkout with commission
- Payouts to sellers or providers
- Messages
- Basic admin and moderation
Reviews, subscriptions, referrals, advanced search and native mobile apps can wait. Every feature you add before launch delays learning whether people want it.
Payment fees are part of the cost
Payment processors charge per transaction, and split payment products like Stripe Connect have their own fees on top. Model these on your expected average order before choosing a commission rate. A 10% commission can shrink quickly after processing and payout fees.
The cold start problem costs more than code
An empty marketplace does not attract anyone. Budget time and money for bringing in the first sellers by hand, often one by one, in one city or one niche. Many successful marketplaces started by doing the matching manually behind a simple website.
A practical path
- Validate with a simple site and manual matching
- Launch on a platform or a lean custom MVP once demand is proven
- Move to custom, or extend it, when the platform blocks growth or fees outweigh build costs
See marketplace development for what we build, and the KLM Studio portal for a two sided platform we run.
Questions, answered
Can I migrate from Sharetribe to custom later?
Yes. Your users and listings data can be exported and moved. Planning for it early makes the move easier.
How long does a custom MVP take?
Usually a few months for a lean first version, depending on scope.
Should I build a mobile app first?
Rarely. A mobile friendly web app reaches everyone and is faster and cheaper to change.
Keep reading
Have a project like this in mind?
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- 50% to start, 50% at launch
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