MARKETPLACES
Build a marketplace that earns revenue on every transaction
I build two-sided marketplaces where the money model comes first: commission, escrow, payouts and refunds are designed before features, so the platform earns on every transaction and your team can run it without a developer.
Overview
A marketplace is really three products: the buyer experience, the seller experience and the operations console that keeps both honest.
Trust decides whether the second transaction happens, so verification, reviews and dispute handling are core, not extras.
- Buyer, seller and admin experiences
- Stripe Connect or equivalent split payments
- Search, messaging and reviews
- Moderation and dispute tooling
- Service
- Two-sided marketplace platform development
- Typical timeline
- 12 weeks to 6 months
- Starting from
- $20,000
- Your partner
- Md Sabbir Ahmed
- Based in
- Austin, TX, United States
What is it?
I build two-sided marketplaces where the money model comes first: commission, escrow, payouts and refunds are designed before features, so the platform earns on every transaction and your team can run it without a developer.
Who is it for?
- Business owners and founders
- Consultants and coaches
- Law firms and professional service firms
- Agencies and studios
- Startups and SaaS founders
- Growing small and mid-sized businesses
Delivered remotely across United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the Gulf states and the wider MENA region.
When should you use it?
- You connect two sides, supply and demand, and want to earn on each transaction.
- Bookings, payouts and disputes are currently handled by hand.
- A community or directory you already own is ready to transact.
What results can you expect?
- Listings, matching, payments, payouts and reviews in one system.
- Revenue collected automatically on each transaction.
- Operational load that does not rise in step with volume.
What are the alternatives?
An honest comparison of the other routes, including the ones that do not involve me.
Marketplace SaaS platforms
Fast launch, limited control of fees, data and experience.
Directory plus manual payments
Fine for validation, impossible to scale.
Custom marketplace
Right once transaction volume justifies owning the rails.
What does implementation look like?
- STEP 1
Diagnose
A working session to find the real constraint, the cost of it, and the measure that will prove it moved.
- STEP 2
Scope
A written plan with fixed scope, quote and timeline before any build starts.
- STEP 3
Build
Two-week sprints with a live preview at the end of each, so direction can change before it gets expensive.
- STEP 4
Launch
Migration, training and documentation, then a monitored go-live.
- STEP 5
Improve
Measure against the agreed metric and iterate, or hand over fully. You own the code either way.
Business outcomes
Revenue by design
Commission, escrow, payouts and refunds modelled before a single feature is built.
Repeat transactions
Verification, reviews and dispute handling give both sides a reason to come back.
Buyers find what converts
Search and ranking tuned to your inventory instead of a generic template.
Lower running cost
Your team resolves issues in an operations console without paying for developer time.
Where this creates leverage
Service marketplaces
Booking, scheduling and payment for local or remote services.
Product marketplaces
Multi-vendor catalogues, shipping and returns.
Rental platforms
Availability calendars, deposits and damage claims.
B2B marketplaces
Quotes, contracts and invoicing between businesses.
Marketplaces that earn on every transaction FAQs
Can you build a two-sided marketplace?
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Yes, including buyer and seller experiences, admin tooling, split payments, messaging and reviews.
How are marketplace payments handled?
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Usually Stripe Connect for split payments, commissions and payouts, with escrow where the transaction needs it.
How long does marketplace development take?
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Twelve weeks to six months depending on how many transaction types the platform supports.
Can the marketplace be launched on mobile too?
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Yes. A shared API serves the web platform and cross-platform iOS and Android apps.
More questions are answered on the full FAQ page.