Domain Broker Fees and Commissions: What You Will Actually Pay

How much does a domain broker charge?

Most domain brokers charge a commission on the final sale price, and published ranges run from about 10% to 30%. Some brokers also charge an upfront fee. The rate depends on the broker’s model, the value of the name, and how much work the sale takes.

Here are the main models in use:

NameExperts is a broker, so treat its ranges as one firm’s view, not a market survey. The marketplace figures below come straight from each platform.

Grit Brokerage does not publish its commission. We discuss our terms with each client, because they depend on the name and the work involved. This guide shows industry ranges so you can judge any offer, ours included.

Who pays the commission, the buyer or the seller?

The party who hires the broker pays. A seller’s broker is paid from the sale. A buyer’s broker is paid by the buyer. The agreement must say which, and when the money is due.

• Sell-side broker: represents the owner. The commission usually comes out of the sale proceeds.
• Buy-side broker: represents the buyer. The buyer pays the commission, often on top of the price the owner receives.
• Marketplace: the seller pays the platform’s commission. Buyers on some platforms pay nothing extra. Sedo, for example, states that domain purchases carry no fees or commissions.

If a deal has a broker on each side, each is paid by their own client.

Always get terms in writing before work starts. Check how the fee is calculated: on the price the buyer pays, or on what you receive after other costs. A gap there changes your net.

How do marketplace commissions compare?

Marketplaces typically take 10% to 30%, and the rate often depends on how the name is listed. These are the published figures as of October 14, 2026. Rates change, so check each platform’s current page before you list.

A few cautions:

• Marketplace rates are not broker rates. A marketplace lists the name and waits. A broker contacts buyers.
• A low headline rate can hide costs. Afternic notes that minimum earnings are required and payment fees apply to payouts.
• Rate tiers can be tied to settings you control, such as nameservers or a landing page. Read the conditions.

For a full comparison of the two routes, see marketplaces vs brokers.

Are there upfront fees or retainers?

Some services charge them and some do not. Commission-only brokers charge nothing until a sale. Others charge a small non-refundable fee, such as GoDaddy’s $99.99 per domain for buyers.

Questions to ask before you pay anything up front:

1. What exactly does the fee buy?
2. Is it refundable if the deal fails?
3. Is it credited against the commission if a sale closes?
4. What happens if the owner will not sell?
5. How much work will the broker do before a sale?

NameExperts says retainers above $1,000 for standard acquisitions “should raise questions.” We agree with the spirit. A fee should match real, stated work.

Be careful with anyone who asks for money to start a sale and gives little detail. Some sale scams charge fees for appraisals or “certificates.” Read our domain sale scams guide.

Who pays the escrow fee?

The buyer and seller agree who pays. Escrow.com lets the buyer, the seller, or the broker cover the fee. If the buyer pays, the fee is added to the price. If the seller or broker pays, it is taken from the proceeds or the commission.

Escrow.com’s standard fee schedule for transactions in USD:

Escrow.com also lists tiers up to and above $10 million, and a higher-priced Concierge service at double the standard rates. Other charges apply in some cases:

• Card or PayPal payments by the buyer: an added 3.05% processing fee, listed only for the tier up to $5,000.
• International wire from a buyer outside the US: an extra $25 for intermediary bank fees.
• Seller payout: $10 for a US wire, $20 for a wire outside the US, and no charge for US ACH.

These figures come from Escrow.com’s fee calculator page. Check it for your exact amount.

Grit uses third-party escrow on every deal. Read more in our domain escrow guide and the glossary entries on escrow and Concierge escrow.

What is an exclusivity period, and how long should it be?

An exclusivity period is a set time during which only one broker may represent your domain. It protects the broker from doing the work and then losing the sale to someone else. It is common, but it should be limited and clear.

We did not find an authoritative published standard for length. NameExperts’ fee guide does not mention it. So treat this as our guidance, not an industry fact:

• Ask for a fixed end date. Avoid open-ended or auto-renewing terms without a way out.
• Define the scope. Is it one name or a whole portfolio?
• Define carve-outs. Can you still deal with buyers you already know? List them by name.
• Define the tail. Many agreements pay the commission if a buyer the broker introduced closes after the term ends. Ask how long that tail lasts.
• Ask what the broker will do. Outreach, a listing, reporting. Put it in writing.

See exclusivity agreement for the definition. This is not legal advice. Talk to a lawyer about any contract you sign.

What is the total cost of a $50,000 sale?

On a $50,000 sale, the commission alone can run from $5,000 to $15,000 across the published rates above. Escrow.com’s standard fee at that price is $1,200. Your net depends heavily on the route.

The table below is simple arithmetic on the published rates. It is an illustration, not a quote. It assumes the seller pays the commission and the full escrow fee, and it ignores payout fees and taxes.

Note: marketplaces handle payment inside their own systems, and their payment terms differ. We did not find a published escrow charge for each one, so the table leaves it out for them. Add any payout or payment fees you find in their terms.

Afternic’s 5% Boost surcharge would add $2,500 to the Afternic rows if Boost is active.

For Grit, the commission on a sale is set in a conversation with a broker. We do not publish it, and we do not guess at it here.

Does a higher commission mean worse value?

Not by itself. A broker who finds an end user paying $50,000 for a name that would sell for $5,000 on a marketplace can leave you better off, even at a higher rate. Compare net proceeds and the odds of a sale, not just the percentage. A 10% fee on a sale that never happens pays you nothing.

How do I compare broker offers?

Compare the net you expect, the work promised, and the terms. Use this checklist:

1. Rate and base. Percent of what? Gross price or net?
2. Upfront fees. Amount, refundable or not, credited or not.
3. Escrow. Who pays, and which service.
4. Exclusivity. Length, scope, carve-outs, tail.
5. Work. What will the broker actually do? Outbound outreach, a listing, a newsletter, conference meetings.
6. Track record. Ask for recent, public sales. Check them.
7. Exit. How can you end the agreement?

Grit’s work is outbound sales: researchers identify likely buyers and brokers contact them. We also send a monthly newsletter and attend industry conferences. Grit has brokered domains since 2014. See about Grit and domains we have sold.

For pricing a name before you talk to anyone, read the domain valuation guide. For the full sale process, read how to sell a domain name.

What do buyers pay when they use a broker?

Buyers pay the broker only if they hire one. Many buyers deal with the seller’s broker and pay the asking price, plus escrow if they agree to cover it. A buy-side broker charges its own fee, as in GoDaddy’s $99.99 plus 20% service or Sedo’s $99 plus 20%.

A buy-side broker can protect your identity, so the seller does not raise the price when a big brand shows interest. Our guide to buying a taken domain explains the process, and negotiating a domain purchase covers price tactics. Grit offers a stealth acquisition service. Its terms are also discussed with a broker.

Next step

If you want to sell, tell us about your name and we will explain how we would work on it and on what terms. If you want to buy, tell us the name you want. Either way, you will see our terms before you commit.

Talk to a broker about selling or about buying. You can also read about selling domains with Grit.