What Are Typical Website Broker Fees?

Commission is the main fee

Website and online-business brokers are paid primarily through a success commission — a percentage of the sale price, taken only when the deal closes. Rates commonly land in the range of about 10–15% for typical online-business sales, though they vary by broker, deal size, and services included. Because it's success-based, you generally pay nothing substantial unless and until the broker actually sells your site.

Commission usually scales down with size

Many brokers use tiered rates that decrease as the deal gets larger — a higher percentage on smaller sales and a lower percentage on the portion above certain thresholds. This reflects that a $500,000 sale doesn't take ten times the work of a $50,000 one. On larger deals the effective rate can be meaningfully lower than the headline number, which is worth clarifying when you compare brokers.

What the fee buys

The commission pays for real work: valuing and packaging your site, marketing it to a qualified buyer pool, vetting and negotiating with buyers, and managing due diligence and transfer. A good broker's expertise can raise your sale price and reduce the risk of a botched deal — which is how the fee can more than pay for itself, especially on larger or more complex sales where negotiation and buyer quality matter most.

Judging whether it's worth it

To decide, weigh the commission against what a broker realistically adds versus selling yourself. On a small, straightforward site you can list on a marketplace, the fee may not be justified. On a higher-value or complex site, a broker who secures a better price and a cleaner close can net you more even after their cut. Know your site's value first, then judge whether the broker's fee buys enough extra price and peace of mind to be worth it.