Marketplace (multi-vendor)

A multi-vendor marketplace is a platform where many independent sellers list their products and buyers choose and order from different sellers in one place; you, as the platform owner, take a commission on sales. We launch it on a ready, proven platform (for example, CS-Cart Multi-Vendor and similar) — with vendor dashboards, moderation, a cart, payments and commission out of the box. Unlike a marketplace built from scratch (see the “Marketplace from scratch” service), where everything is written for you and costs more, a ready platform is cheaper and faster to start — if your model fits the standard logic. But if you need non-standard mechanics — multi-level commission, complex role schemes, a unique order path, integration with a rare system — it is more honest to go for custom development. And unlike a site aggregator (see the “Aggregator site” service), which collects offers and leads to other sites, here the deal happens inside the platform. Important to understand: the platform license itself is usually paid separately and often requires annual renewal — a recurring cost on top of the launch, and you depend on the platform vendor (its updates and limitations). The base price for our work starts from 250,000 ₽: platform setup, design for your brand and launch; custom work is estimated separately.

• A marketplace from scratch is long and expensive, but you need to test the idea and launch faster.
• You need vendor dashboards, moderation, commission and payouts — writing this from scratch is excessive, ready platforms already have it.
• Your own marketplace code will have to be maintained and updated by you — on a ready platform the vendor takes that on.
• It is unclear whether the model will take off — it is risky to invest in a full custom build without testing demand.

• Launch on a ready multi-vendor platform (CS-Cart Multi-Vendor or an analog for the task)
• Vendor dashboards: products, orders, statistics, withdrawals
• Storefront, catalog, search, cart and checkout
• Commission on sales, seller plans, settlements and payouts
• Moderation of products and sellers, ratings and reviews
• Connecting payments and delivery within the platform
• Design for your brand on the platform; responsive
• Personal data processing under the law; basic SEO setup

• You launch in weeks, not months — testing the model without a full custom build
• Vendor dashboards, commission and payouts work out of the box — you do not write them from scratch
• The vendor updates and maintains the platform — less of your own support development cost
• Once the model proves itself — you extend it with custom work or move to a custom build

• You leave a request and describe the model: who the sellers are, how the commission works, what is sold
• Together we run a short checklist (roles, commission scheme, needed integrations) and honestly recommend either a ready platform or custom; we pick the platform, design the storefront and roles
• We brand it, connect payments and delivery, test and launch

• How is this different from a marketplace from scratch and when do you really need custom?

  A marketplace from scratch (see the “Marketplace from scratch” service) is written entirely for you: any logic, but more expensive and slower. A ready platform is faster and cheaper if the model fits the standard. Custom is needed when you require non-standard mechanics: multi-level commission per seller, complex role schemes, a unique order path, integration with a rare CRM/accounting system. If there are many such requirements, it is more honest to go for a build from scratch, and we will say so directly.

• What other costs are there and is there platform dependency?

  Yes, this matters: the platform license itself is usually paid separately from our work and often renews annually — a recurring cost. Plus you depend on the vendor: its updates, policy and limitations, and moving the marketplace to another platform later can be labor-intensive. So we pick the platform for your model in advance and discuss these limitations, so there are no surprises.

• How much does it cost and what does the price depend on?

  The base price for our work starts from 250,000 ₽: platform setup, brand design and launch. The platform license is paid separately and periodically. Complex custom work, non-standard integrations and data migration are estimated separately. We name the exact price after you describe the model.