You’ve read many stories of eBay sellers making huge profits selling items on eBay. Now, you want to dip your toes into the e-commerce business landscape.
So, you’ve decided to open an eBay store to make sales and earn extra income, and yet, you’ve got so many questions on how to get started and what it costs to start an eBay store.
Starting a business – ANY business – requires a lot of planning and preparation. One of the things you NEED to know is that eBay charges its users to sell through the platform.
Before worrying about fees, make sure your listings stand out. The free eBay Title Builder helps you craft keyword-rich titles that attract more buyers, giving your items a better chance of selling and covering those store costs.
If you want to understand how much you’ll actually pay in selling costs, try using an eBay fee calculator to estimate your total expenses.
Is it worth it?
How much is an eBay store?
You have come to the right place, as this guide will help you navigate the complex process of eBay store subscription. At the end of this article, you’ll learn about what fees eBay charges and other costs you must consider when building your eBay storefront.
Let’s begin!
Types of Fees eBay Charges
Nothing is ever free in this world nowadays. The same goes for an ecommerce business.
Despite that, setting up an online store is cheaper than starting a brick-and-mortar shop. Hence, it’s still a suitable option for aspiring entrepreneurs with limited capital.
And yet, you can leverage the popularity of eBay as an ecommerce platform to launch your business and reach millions of potential customers.
There are six different types of fees that you have to pay when you create your store on eBay.
Let’s get to know each of these eBay fees in more detail.
1. eBay Store Subscription
There are various levels of eBay store subscription that you can choose from if you want to upgrade from your free plan to a store subscription.
First off, that’s an amazing choice to take the next big step because you have the opportunity to scale your ecommerce business and build a store that would become a legitimate business.
To get your eBay business off the ground, you need to pay for the store subscription. The subscription fee is one of the costs of becoming an eBay seller.
The type of eBay store subscription you choose will determine the listing volume on your eBay store. For example, the higher the store level in your store subscription, the more listings you can add to your eBay store.
Even if you have to pay monthly for the store subscription, it does not impose limits on the number of products you can list under your seller account. Therefore, eBay sellers are willing to pay the store subscription fee in exchange for more listings.
You can check out our detailed guide on the eBay store levels so you can determine the right subscription level for your eBay business. Here is a general overview of the eBay store subscription fees:
- Starter Store – $4.95 a month (if you have an annual subscription), $7.95 per month for monthly renewal
- Basic Store – $24.95 a month (if you have an annual subscription), $27.95 per month for monthly renewal
- Premium Store – $59.95 a month (if you have an annual subscription), $74.95 per month for monthly renewal
- Anchor Store – $299.95 a month (if you have an annual subscription), $349.95 per month for monthly renewal
- Enterprise Store – $2,995 a month if you have an annual subscription
Obviously, the higher the store subscription fees, the more features and benefits you have access to. It’s important to choose the right store level according to your sales and goals for your eBay store. The goal is to minimize your expenses so that you can break even faster.
2. Insertion Fees
An insertion fee is the fee that you must pay eBay for being able to list the items you’re selling on the website. The cost of insertion fees vary depending on your store subscription and the type of listing (fixed price listings versus auction style listings).
The insertion fee is non-refundable. Therefore, you have to pay the fee regardless if you can sell the item listed or not.
If you don’t have a store subscription, you can open an eBay seller account and you have up to 50 free listings per month. You can use those free listings on your account for both fixed price listings and auction style listings.
After you’ve used up your available listings, you have to pay an insertion fee starting at 35 cents per listing.
If your listings are in multiple categories, you have to pay an insertion fee for each category it is listed in. For example, you can list a baseball bat in two categories: toys & hobbies and sporting goods. You will be charged two insertion fees for the respective categories.
You won’t be charged insertion fees if you did not meet the allotted 250 items per month. But if you buy a store subscription, you can get a higher listing volume to improve your chances of making more sales.
In addition, relisting your goods will charge you with an additional insertion fee.
Download this eBook now and learn how to sell on eBay like a pro.3. Final Value Fees
The final value fee is the amount that eBay will take from the sale of an item. It is the highest of the fees that eBay charges all business account holders. The final value fees will vary according the product category and the total sale amount.
The total sale amount will depend on the cost of the item, and additional costs such as processing, tax, and shipping costs.
The final value fees are percentage-based, which is why it is not easy to determine until the total sales amount is determined. You will also pay a fixed price of $0.30 per order.
Final value fees can be 30 to 50 cents, or about 15% of the item’s total value. You can learn more about final value fees from eBay.
4. Promoted Listing Fees
In addition to the free listings on your seller account, promoted or sponsored listings are another fee that you must consider in running your eBay store. When you pay for listings, it will help increase visibility for your listings and boost the potential to make sales.
However, promoted listings are different from insertion fees because you’re only charged the fee if you are able to make a sale from the promoted listings. The promoted listings are similar to final value fees since they are based on the item’s final sales price.
It can be anywhere from 1 to 20% of the final sale.
The ad rates for your sponsored listings can also vary based on current ad rates. It depends on the competition and how much similar listings are paying for ads.
It’s one of many optional listing upgrades that you must consider based on your sales goals and how fast you want to break even.
5. eBay Managed Payment Fees
Another fee that you must consider when setting up an eBay store. The eBay managed payment simplifies the process of managing your transactions in your eBay store, which is a service that comes with a fee.
The eBay managed payment system will charge 2.9% plus an additional fee of $0.30.
6. Shipping Fees
The cost of shipping is not automatically included when an item sells, so you have to calculate the shipping fee separately. The shipping costs vary depending on your preferred provider.
Most shipping companies provide their own shipping calculator, so make sure to check each of these providers so you know how much you’re paying for shipping.
Is an eBay Store Worth It? eBay Store Benefits
There are several fees that sellers must consider when setting up an eBay store. These costs can add up over time, so you have to think about them before opening an eBay store.
The best way to determine if an eBay store subscription is worth it is to calculate the fees. The fixed fees for running your eBay store include the final value fees, sales taxes, and shipping costs.
You can think about insertion fees if you plan on exceeding the allowed listing volume for your store subscription level.
Meanwhile, the optional listing upgrades and international costs are going to be a factor if you want to advertise your listings and ship internationally, respectively.
The free seller account on eBay limits you to 10 listings per month. If you don’t plan on listing more than 10 items, then you won’t have to worry about buying a store subscription, which is the case for casual or hobbyist sellers.
But if you want to add more listings, you should calculate the insertion fees for each added listings so that you can determine if buying a store subscription would make more sense.
Final Thoughts Before Opening an eBay Store
The costs of opening an eBay store are something sellers have to consider, depending on their sales goals and the reason for starting an eBay business. Understanding the fees enables you to set a timeline for when you can break even and other strategies you should employ to maximize your profit margin.
Analyzing the eBay store fees will help you determine if buying a store subscription is worth the investment. As a new seller, you can take advantage of the free monthly allotment on your eBay store.
However, you should consider the costs of opening an eBay business if you are looking to grow your eBay business.
Save on eBay Fees with Smarter Product Choices
eBay store fees add up fast. The best way to stay profitable? Sell what buyers already want. Use ZIK’s eBay Product Research Tool to uncover low-competition, high-demand products and set your listings up for success. Avoid slow sellers, reduce wasted listing fees, and improve your ROI with real-time marketplace insights.
Frequently Asked Questions on How Much is an eBay Store
Here are some frequently asked questions about the cost of an eBay store:
How much is an eBay shop?
An eBay Shop costs between $4.95 and $2,999.95 per month, depending on the subscription tier. Options include Starter, Basic, Premium, Anchor, and Enterprise. Prices are lower with annual plans. Each level offers different free listings, lower fees, and selling tools.
How much does it cost to get on eBay?
It’s free to join and create an account on eBay. Sellers can list up to 250 items monthly at no charge. After that, insertion fees apply, and eBay collects a final value fee of about 10–15% once an item sells.
Is it cheaper to sell on eBay or Etsy?
Etsy charges $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee, plus payment processing. eBay offers 250 free listings monthly but takes about 10–15% final value fees. For handmade or vintage, Etsy is often cheaper; for higher volumes, eBay can cost less.
Is eBay free to sell?
Yes, eBay lets you list up to 250 items per month for free. After that, insertion fees apply. However, once an item sells, eBay charges a final value fee of around 10–15% of the total sale, including shipping and taxes.
Is it profitable to sell on eBay?
Yes, selling on eBay can be profitable if you choose in-demand products, price competitively, and manage fees carefully. Many sellers earn a steady income from electronics, fashion, and collectibles. Success depends on research, optimized listings, customer service, and understanding eBay’s fee structure.
How do I start my own eBay shop?
To start an eBay shop, create a seller account, choose a store subscription level, and set up your storefront with a name, logo, and categories. List products with clear titles, photos, and pricing. Promote items, provide great service, and grow sales.
Does it cost money to run an eBay store?
Yes. Running an eBay store requires a monthly subscription fee, starting at $4.95 for Starter and going up to $2,999.95 for Enterprise. Costs vary by tier and plan. Additional selling fees, such as final value fees, still apply per transaction.