the broker taxcomparison calculator
simulate real exit fees across nine major software marketplaces. see the exact dollar cut taken from your hard work, when fees must be paid, and how much you keep with zero commission.
slide or type your target exit valuation
platform fee leaderboard
all nine platforms dynamically ranked based on fees and founder net proceeds
AppsOnBid
founder's choiceThe Catch: You keep your code safe and your exit money.
ExitBid
The Catch: Five day auction model can lead to lower final valuations if buyers are offline.
IndieMaker
The Catch: Very small buyer pool compared to the giants.
TrustMRR
The Catch: Mandatory Stripe integration strictly excludes custom billing, plus adds separate Escrow.com fees.
Microns
The Catch: High fee just for a simple email newsletter match.
Acquire
The Catch: Frequently rejects smaller indie apps and side projects.
Flippa
The Catch: Public exposure invites copycats to clone your app over the weekend.
FE International
The Catch: Only accepts established businesses, rejects most side projects.
Empire Flippers
The Catch: The 10000 dollar minimum fee heavily punishes small exits.
market fee schedule comparison
transparent review of commission models, payment timing, and estimated founder take home on a $50,000 exit
| Platform | Upfront Cost to List | When Fee is Paid | Success Commission | Fee on $50,000 | Net Take Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppsOnBid | $0 (Free) | Pay $39 only when unlocking bidders | 0% | $39 | $49,961 (99.9%) |
| ExitBid | $199 upfront | Paid before 5-day auction begins | 0% | $199 | $49,801 |
| TrustMRR | $29 upfront | $29 upfront, 3% closing + Escrow.com | 3% | $1,529 | $48,471 |
| IndieMaker | $99 upfront | $99 upfront, 2% deducted at closing | 2% | $1,099 | $48,901 |
| Microns | $0 (Free) | 8% deducted at closing from payout | 8% ($10k to $100k) | $4,000 | $46,000 |
| Acquire | $50 upfront | $50 upfront, 8% deducted at closing | 8% (under $250k) | $4,050 | $45,950 |
| Flippa | $149 upfront | $149 upfront, 10% deducted at closing | 10% (under $500k) | $5,149 | $44,851 |
| FE International | $0 (Free) | 15% deducted at closing from wire | 15% flat | $7,500 | $42,500 |
| Empire Flippers | $0 (Free) | $10,000 minimum deducted at closing | 15% (min $10,000) | $10,000 | $40,000 |
understanding the true cost of selling software
an objective analysis of m&a broker commission structures, upfront listing fees, and code safety risks
1. Upfront Listing Charges vs Closing Deductions
When evaluating software marketplaces, founders must distinguish between upfront listing friction and closing success cuts. Platforms like Flippa charge $149 upfront and Acquire charges $50 upfront, requiring non-refundable payment before you receive a single offer. TrustMRR charges $29 upfront plus a 3% closing commission and Escrow.com fees.
In contrast, AppsOnBid charges $0 upfront to create your listing. You only pay a single flat fee of $39 when you choose to unlock the direct contact details of interested bidders and buyers. If you never choose to unlock bidder details, you pay nothing.
2. How Traditional Broker Commissions Eat Founder Equity
Traditional mergers and acquisitions brokers historically structured their compensation around the Double Lehman formula or a flat 10% to 15% success fee. While full service representation made sense for multi-million dollar corporations with physical plants, inventory, and hundreds of employees, applying this same percentage cut to digital software products creates an unnecessary financial drain on independent creators.
On a software exit of $50,000, surrendering 10% to 15% plus listing and escrow fees means handing over $5,149 to $10,000 of hard earned profit. That represents months of sweat equity and infrastructure investment surrendered to an intermediary for simply hosting a database listing.
3. The Hidden Trap of Fixed Minimum Fees
The most dangerous fee mechanism for indie hackers is the minimum broker fee. Brokerages like Empire Flippers institute a strict $10,000 minimum threshold for transactions. When an application sells for $40,000, the broker receives 25% of the gross sale. When an app sells for $20,000, the broker consumes 50% of the entire exit.
Before listing with any legacy platform, founders must calculate whether their expected multiple triggers the minimum threshold. If the deal size is under $66,667, percentage based marketing materials are misleading because the fixed minimum fee overrides the nominal 15% quote.
4. Public Exposure and Codebase Theft Vulnerabilities
Listing fees are not the only cost founders bear. Marketplace exposure carries immense competitive risk. Platforms that showcase public listings allow anyone with a web browser to inspect your traffic sources, marketing funnels, technology stack, and pricing tiers.
Unscrupulous competitors and clone factories monitor public listings continuously. If your application demonstrates strong product market fit with clean architecture, opportunistic developers can recreate your features before your deal closes. True founder protection requires verified buyer identities, strict non-disclosure agreements, and private code verification where repositories remain locked in escrow until funds clear.
5. Global Cross Border Transactions and Escrow Mechanics
Software acquisitions frequently cross international borders. An indie developer based in the United Kingdom or Germany may sell to an operator in the United States or Singapore. In addition to broker commissions, cross border transactions trigger international wire fees, foreign exchange spreads, and third party escrow fees.
Traditional escrow providers charge between 0.8% and 3.2% for software asset custody. On AppsOnBid, the $0 upfront listing and flat $39 bidder unlock fee ensures you keep the entirety of your agreed valuation, leaving ample margin to absorb standard banking and escrow fees without eroding your principal proceeds.
frequently asked questions
clear answers regarding broker percentages, listing costs, and valuation math
list your micro-saas on appsonbid today
keep 100% of your acquisition proceeds. 100% free to list with $0 upfront, verified software buyers, escrow safety, and pay only $39 to unlock interested bidders when offers arrive.
