A final value fee is the commission a marketplace such as eBay takes when an item sells, calculated as a percentage of the full amount the buyer pays — item, shipping, and often sales tax included — usually plus a small per-order charge. Because it is figured on the gross, the fee bites a little harder than the headline percentage suggests. Rates vary by category and change over time, so check the platform's current fee schedule before modeling your pricing.
Final value fees are the single most overlooked cost in marketplace selling. A seller who prices against comps but forgets the cut can watch a healthy-looking sale net far less than expected once the platform takes its share — which is why the fee belongs in the price calculation, not as an after-the-fact surprise.
Recording the marketplace's fee as part of each sale — the way Ardent Seller captures transaction-method and channel fees — is what keeps net profit honest rather than flattering.
Related terms
Transaction Method
The payment method used for a transaction, such as cash, credit card, PayPal, or Venmo. Can include fixed or percentage-based fees for accurate cost tracking.
Net Profit
What remains after all costs — direct costs of goods sold plus overhead, fees, and taxes — are subtracted from revenue. The true bottom line.
Buyer's Premium
A percentage fee an auction house adds on top of the winning bid (the hammer price) that the buyer must pay, raising the real cost of every lot won.
Comps (Comparables)
Recent sale prices of comparable items, used to estimate what a one-of-a-kind or vintage piece is worth before buying or listing it.