Business broker fees in the US: what selling costs
Most US business brokers are paid mainly on success: a percentage of the final sale price, charged only if your business sells. Marketplaces for online businesses publish fixed fee schedules instead. This page lays out both, with sources, so you can sanity-check any quote you receive. Figures below are what the named sources publish, checked on 6 November 2026; always confirm current terms with the provider before signing.
The three kinds of broker fee
Nav's guide for small-business owners describes three common fee types: upfront fees (often covering a valuation opinion and marketing materials), success fees (a percentage of the sale price, or a flat minimum for small businesses), and sometimes monthly retainers for ongoing work on complex sales. Source: Nav: Business Broker Fees guide
Typical success-fee range
Nav reports that business brokers typically charge a success fee of 5% to 12% of the final sale price, with smaller businesses often paying the higher percentages because the work involved does not shrink with the deal size. Source: Nav: Business Broker Fees guide
Many brokers use tiered percentages (a higher rate on the first slice of the price, lower rates above) or a minimum fee. The engagement agreement is where the real number lives: ask for it in writing before you sign.
Published fee schedules from providers we list
Two online-business marketplaces in our US directory publish their selling fees openly:
Empire Flippers (curated marketplace)
Empire Flippers publishes a blended commission structure on its sell page:
- Sale price up to $66,666.66: commission is $10,000.
- Between $66,666.66 and $700,000: flat 15% of the sale price.
- Portion of the value between $700,000 and $5,000,000: 8%.
- Portion above $5,000,000: 2.5%.
Worked example from that published structure: a $500,000 sale sits in the 15% band, so the commission would be $75,000. (Our arithmetic from their published bands, not their quote.) Source: Empire Flippers sell page
Flippa (self-serve and broker-assisted marketplace)
Flippa's pricing page shows self-serve listing packages at flat fees from $29 to $699 depending on exposure and duration, and "Brokered by Flippa" packages (a dedicated broker runs the sale) at $499 to $1,499 upfront. On success fees, its FAQ states: "The Entry Level Package starts at $29 and success fees start from 5%"; broker-led success fees shown on the page run from 10% down to 5% depending on the tier. Source: Flippa pricing page
Questions to ask before signing an engagement
- What is the success fee percentage, and does it tier down as the price rises?
- Is there a minimum fee, and when does it apply?
- Are there upfront fees, retainers, or marketing charges, and are they credited against the success fee?
- How long is the exclusivity period, and is there a "tail" period where you still owe the fee if a buyer they introduced completes after the agreement ends?
- Exactly what is included: valuation, marketing materials, buyer outreach, negotiation, diligence management?
Compare providers
Our US directory lists brokers and marketplaces with the type of firm, sectors and deal sizes they work with, based on what each provider publishes on its own site. If you are selling an online business specifically, see our comparison: Sell an online business: brokers and marketplaces compared.