Only if the resulting net proceeds and retained options are better for your actual situation. A fee percentage is incomplete without its base, services, deductions and duration.
| Compare this | Request from every candidate | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Fee base | Gross invoiced, collected receipts or another defined amount | Fee due before buyer payment, with unclear bad-debt treatment |
| Origination | Named responsibilities and owner-sourced-deal exclusions | Same fee on deals the owner independently originated |
| Preparation | Separate priced work and acceptance tests | Open-ended readiness programme before demand is qualified |
| Deductions | Closed schedule, approval rules and examples | “Other expenses” without limits or supporting records |
| Termination tail | Named introduced opportunities and end date | Indefinite commission on future customers or uses |
| Minimum guarantee | Payment dates, conditions, recoupment and security | “Guaranteed revenue” dependent on undefined future events |
| Reporting | Sample usage-to-invoice-to-cash reconciliation | Dashboard metrics that cannot support contractual billing |
AWS publishes a 3% public-offer fee for Data Exchange. Datarade publishes both commission-only and subscription-plus-commission plans. These are observed product fees, not a ranking of effectiveness or a validated industry commission range. AWS Marketplace current listing-fee documentation Datarade provider application and plans
Illustrative comparison, not a market forecast: suppose a direct route collects $100,000, incurs $25,000 of owner preparation/selling cost and leaves $75,000. A managed route collecting $130,000 at an assumed 20% commission and $20,000 other cost leaves $84,000. At only $100,000 collected, that managed route leaves $60,000. The decision therefore depends on evidence of incremental receipts and reduced work, not the percentage alone.
Require suppliers to complete the same workbook. Keep hypothetical assumptions visibly separate from quoted fees and signed guarantees. Record cash timing and costs incurred if no deal closes.