Marketplaces bring visitors from day one, but they charge fees and the customer belongs to the platform. Your own online store is yours, with no fee per sale. Many businesses use both.
Quick comparison
| Marketplace | Own online store | |
|---|---|---|
| Visitors at the start | Many, from the platform | The ones you attract |
| Fee per sale | Yes, depending on the platform | No (only the gateway fee, if you accept cards) |
| Your brand | Competes next to other sellers | Only your products |
| Customer data | Belongs to the platform | Belongs to you |
| Rules and prices | Set by the platform | Set by you |
When a marketplace makes sense
- You are starting out and need sales fast.
- Your products are often searched by name or model.
- You want to test which products sell before investing more.
When your own store makes sense
- You want to build your brand and repeat customers.
- You already have social media followers and want to bring them to your website.
- Fees are eating your profit.
- You need to connect your sales to your inventory or system.
The best option for many: both
Use the marketplace to get discovered and your own store so customers buy again without fees. With an inventory system, stock stays organized in one place.
