Amazon vs GOAT — which takes less?
| Amazon | GOAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers | 9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out |
| $100 → fees | $15.00 | $14.50 |
| $100 → net | $85.00 | $85.50 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | Amazon fees | Amazon net | GOAT fees | GOAT net | Difference | Amazon charge→net | GOAT charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $1.50 | $8.50 | $5.95 | $4.05 | amazon +$4.45 | $11.77 | $16.58 |
| $25.00 | $3.75 | $21.25 | $7.38 | $17.62 | amazon +$3.63 | $29.42 | $33.15 |
| $50.00 | $7.50 | $42.50 | $9.75 | $40.25 | amazon +$2.25 | $58.83 | $60.78 |
| $100.00 | $15.00 | $85.00 | $14.50 | $85.50 | goat +$0.50 | $117.65 | $116.03 |
| $250.00 | $37.50 | $212.50 | $28.75 | $221.25 | goat +$8.75 | $294.12 | $281.77 |
| $500.00 | $75.00 | $425.00 | $52.50 | $447.50 | goat +$22.50 | $588.24 | $558.02 |
| $1,000.00 | $150.00 | $850.00 | $100.00 | $900.00 | goat +$50.00 | $1,176.48 | $1,110.50 |
Amazon formula
8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers
8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers — verified 2026-11-10
GOAT formula
9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out
9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out — verified 2026-11-10
Amazon fee formula & hidden costs
8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $15.00 fees → $85.00 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $117.65.
Hidden fees to watch
- The $0.30 minimum referral fee makes sub-$2 items effectively fee-locked.
- FBA adds fulfillment, monthly storage, aged-inventory and removal fees beyond referral.
- Media categories add a $1.80 closing fee per item.
- Refunds trigger a refund administration fee (~20% of the referral, capped).
- Low-price jewelry and beauty fee breaks flip at $250 and $10 thresholds.
GOAT fee formula & hidden costs
9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $14.50 fees → $85.50 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $116.03.
Hidden fees to watch
- The $5-$15 seller location fee is charged per order on top of commission.
- Cashing out costs 2.9% of your earnings.
- Ratings below 90 raise commission to 15-25% — one bad shipment is expensive.
- GOAT holds funds until authentication passes; rejected items cost return shipping.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes less on a $100 sale: Amazon or GOAT?
Amazon takes $15.00 (net $85.00); GOAT takes $14.50 (net $85.50). GOAT wins by $0.50 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, Amazon or GOAT?
Amazon: 8-17% referral fee by category ($0.30 min) + FBA fulfillment tiers. GOAT: 9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out. Check the regional variants above — rates change materially by country.
What is the effective take rate difference between Amazon and GOAT?
At $100, Amazon takes 15.0% vs GOAT at 14.5% — a 0.5 point gap before modifiers.