What is a Commission Fee and Why Does It Matter?
A commission (transaction fee) usually refers to a percentage taken from each order, for example:
- 1% – 3% per transaction
- Additional fees on top of payment gateway charges
If your monthly revenue is $100,000:
- 2% commission = $2,000
- $24,000 per year
👉 For growing businesses, this becomes a recurring and increasing cost
Common E-commerce Pricing Models in Hong Kong
Below are the typical pricing structures used by most platforms:
1. Subscription + Commission
- Monthly subscription fee
- Commission charged per order
👉 Suitable for: early-stage businesses with low order volume
👉 Downside: costs increase as your sales grow
2. Subscription Only (0% Commission)
- Fixed monthly fee
- No commission charged on orders
👉 Suitable for: merchants with stable order volume
👉 Advantage: predictable cost and clearer margins
Do 0% Commission Platforms Exist?
The answer is: Yes, but they are relatively limited
Some platforms operate on a pure subscription model and do not take a percentage from your orders.
Merchants only need to pay:
- Platform subscription fee
- Payment gateway fees (e.g., PayMe, Stripe)
👉 In other words, there is no additional layer of commission
💡 Additional Note
Some platforms (such as EasyCart) follow a subscription-only model,
meaning they do not charge commission on your orders.
👉 Merchants only pay a fixed monthly fee (around HKD $488)
👉 Costs do not increase as your revenue grows
Why More Merchants Are Paying Attention to 0% Commission
1. Costs Scale with Revenue
As your business grows:
- Commission becomes a growing cost
- Profit margins get squeezed
2. Limited Pricing Flexibility
When commission is involved:
- Harder to run promotions
- Less room for pricing strategies
3. Less Predictable Cash Flow
Since fees are tied to orders:
- Actual revenue becomes harder to estimate
When Should You Consider a 0% Commission Platform?
This model is especially suitable if you:
✔ Have consistent order volume
✔ Sell low-margin products (e.g., food, wholesale)
✔ Plan to grow your brand long-term
👉 The key is not just “saving cost.”
👉 But ensuring every order is fully yours
What Else Should You Consider?
Commission is important, but not the only factor.
You should also evaluate:
- Order processing automation
- Payment integration (PayMe / FPS / Stripe)
- Customer communication and notifications
- Ease of backend operation
👉 Operational efficiency also affects your overall cost
Conclusion
0% commission platforms do exist, and for merchants with stable order volume, they provide better cost control and clearer margins.
👉 Compared to paying thousands in commission every month,
👉 A fixed subscription model is often easier to manage and plan for
Next Step
If you are starting to experience:
Increasing commission costs
Growing order volume with manual processes
The need to systemise IG / WhatsApp orders
It may be worth considering a 0% commission platform.
Using EasyCart as an example, it follows a subscription-only model, where merchants pay a fixed monthly fee (around HKD $488) without additional commission on orders.
👉 For growing businesses,
👉 This often provides better cost control and operational efficiency
You can try it for a period of time and decide if it fits your business needs.
