What is bol.com commission and how does it work?
When you sell products through bol.com, you pay a commission on every sale. This commission is the fee that bol.com charges for using their platform, reach, and infrastructure. The commission system consists of two components: a fixed amount per sold item and a variable percentage that depends on the product category. Understanding how this commission structure works is essential for any seller who wants to operate profitably on bol.com.
Bol.com reaches over 13 million unique visitors every month and processes tens of millions of orders annually. The commission you pay as a seller is invested in platform development, marketing, customer service, and logistical innovations. In this comprehensive article, we'll explain exactly what commission bol.com charges, how to calculate it, and how to maximize your margin.
Fixed bol.com commission: what do you pay per item?
The fixed commission is a fixed amount you pay per sold item, regardless of the product category. Bol.com uses three rates based on the selling price:
| Selling Price | Fixed Commission (excl. VAT) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €10.00 | €0.20 | Reduced rate to keep the sale of cheap products attractive |
| €10.00 – €20.00 | €0.40 | Mid-range rate for products in the middle segment |
| Above €20.00 | €0.85 | Standard rate for most products |
| Computers, TVs, white goods, drones, large furniture (above €20) | €2.48 | Increased rate for high-end electronics and large items |
| Books, games, music, movies | +€1.00 media surcharge | Extra surcharge on top of the fixed commission |
The reduced rate for products under €20 is intentionally set by bol.com to make it attractive for sellers to offer cheaper items as well. Without this reduction, the fixed commission would take up too large a portion of the selling price, making it simply unprofitable to sell products in the lower segment.
Variable bol.com commission per product category
In addition to the fixed commission, you pay a variable percentage on the selling price including VAT. The standard percentage is 12.4% excluding VAT, but this varies per product category. Below, you'll find an overview of the main categories and their commission percentages:
| Product Category | Variable Commission | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Power tools | 4.1% | Very favorable |
| Computers & electronics | 5.0% | Favorable |
| Pet food | 6.0% | Favorable |
| TVs & audio | 7.5% | Average |
| Garden & DIY | 10.8% | Average |
| Standard (most categories) | 12.4% | Standard |
| Sports & fashion (above €50) | 13.0% | Above average |
| Camping gear | 10.8% | Average |
| Bedding | 14.1% | High |
| Beauty & care | 15.0% | High |
| Jewelry | 20.7% | Very high |
The difference between the lowest (4.1%) and highest (20.7%) variable bol.com commission is enormous. For a €50 product, you'd pay only €2.05 in variable commission in the power tools category, while you'd pay €10.35 in the jewelry category. This directly impacts your profit margin and should be a factor in your product choice.
Calculation examples: how to calculate the bol.com commission
To fully understand the total commission bol.com charges, we've worked out three concrete examples for different price segments. Note: VAT is always included in the selling price, but the commission is calculated excluding VAT.
Example 1: plush toy for €9.50
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Selling price incl. VAT | €9,50 |
| VAT (21%) | −€1,65 |
| Fixed commission (under €10) | −€0,20 |
| Variable commission (12,4%) | −€1,18 |
| Remaining amount after commission | €6,47 |
Example 2: kitchen appliance for €49.95
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Selling price incl. VAT | €49,95 |
| VAT (21%) | −€8,67 |
| Fixed commission (over €20) | −€0,85 |
| Variable commission (12,4%) | −€6,19 |
| Remaining amount after commission | €34,24 |
Example 3: piece of jewelry for €89.00
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Selling price incl. VAT | €89,00 |
| VAT (21%) | −€15,45 |
| Fixed commission (over €20) | −€0,85 |
| Variable commission (20,7%) | −€18,42 |
| Remaining amount after commission | €54,28 |
As you can see, the remaining amount varies greatly per category. For jewelry, over 39% of the selling price goes to VAT and commission, while for standard categories it's around 35%. Use a profit calculator to calculate exactly how much you'll keep per product.
Where does bol.com invest the commission in?
Bol.com communicates transparently about the use of commission income. As a seller, you contribute to investments that also indirectly benefit your sales:
- Reach and traffic: Bol.com invests in SEO, SEA, and content strategy to generate over 100 million page views per month. More visitors mean more potential customers for your products.
- Visibility and promotion: From TV campaigns to social media ads - bol.com structurally spends on brand awareness, which increases trust among consumers.
- Platform innovation: Continuous improvement of search algorithms, product pages, checkout processes, and the mobile app result in higher conversion rates.
- Logistic infrastructure: Fulfillment centers, same-day delivery, and LvB (Logistics via bol.com) are partially financed through commission income.
- Financial handling: Bol.com takes on the risk of non-paying customers and offers various payment options, simplifying the sales process.
- Customer service: Personal support for sellers and buyers, including dispute resolution for returns and complaints.
Lowering bol.com commission: 8 practical tips
Although you can't negotiate the commission percentages with bol.com, there are strategies to minimize the impact of commission on your margin:
1. Choose categories with low commission
Focus on product categories with lower commission percentages, such as power tools (4.1%), electronics (5%), or pet food (6%). Use the Product Tracker to find profitable products in these categories.
2. Check your product categorization
Make sure your products are in the right category. Incorrect categorization can lead to unnecessary high commission costs. Check this regularly via the Partner platform under the Assortment tab.
3. Increase your average order value
The fixed commission of €0.85 weighs less heavily on more expensive products. By focusing your assortment on the mid-range segment (€25-€75), you optimize the ratio between fixed and variable costs.
4. Bundle products smartly
By selling related products as a set, you only pay the fixed commission once instead of multiple times. A bundle of three €10 products as a set of €27 saves you two times the fixed commission.
5. Minimize returns
When a return is made, the commission is credited, but you still pay shipping and processing costs. Invest in clear product photos, accurate descriptions, and correct sizing to prevent returns.
6. Optimize your purchase price
Negotiate with suppliers for better purchase prices, order in larger volumes, and actively compare suppliers. Every euro you save on purchasing goes directly to your margin. Check out our guide on all costs of selling on bol.com for a complete overview.
7. Use LVB strategically
Logistics via bol.com (LVB) comes with extra costs, but can lead to lower total costs for certain categories due to economies of scale and better visibility in search results. Calculate per product whether LVB is more advantageous than your own shipping.
8. Continuously monitor your margins
Use a Sales Dashboard to track your profit margins per product in real-time. This way, you quickly notice if commission changes or price changes put pressure on your margin.
bol.com commission for returns and cancellations
A frequently asked question is whether you also pay commission when a customer returns a product. The good news: when a return is made, the full bol.com commission is credited as soon as the return shipment is processed. You therefore do not pay commission on returned products. Keep in mind that return shipping costs and any revaluation of the product are at your expense.
You also do not pay commission for cancellations before shipping. It is therefore important to set up your cancellation and return process well and process it quickly, so that credited commission is refunded in a timely manner.
bol.com commission versus other platforms
How does the bol.com commission compare to other sales platforms? A comparison helps determine your channel mix:
| Platform | Fixed costs | Variable commission | Other costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bol.com | €0.20–€2.48 per item | 4.1%–20.7% | No monthly subscription costs |
| Amazon.nl | €39/month (Professional) | 7%–15% | FBA costs for fulfillment |
| Own webshop (Shopify) | €36/month | 0% + 1.9% transaction | Marketing and acquisition costs borne by yourself |
The major advantage of bol.com is that no monthly subscription is required - you only pay commission on actual sales. This makes the platform particularly accessible to starters and sellers who want to limit risk. For sellers with high volumes, Amazon may be interesting due to the potentially lower commission in certain categories.
Frequently asked questions about bol.com commission
Can bol.com change the commission percentages mid-term?
Yes, bol.com periodically adjusts its commission rates. They communicate changes at least 30 days in advance via the Partner platform. It's wise to keep an eye on these notifications and adjust your pricing strategy accordingly. Follow the current rates via the Partner platform and use a dashboard to see the impact on your margins directly.
Do I pay commission on VAT?
The variable commission is calculated on the selling price excluding VAT. So, VAT is deducted from the selling price before the commission percentage is applied. This is an important detail that many beginning sellers overlook.
Is there a minimum sales amount below which no commission applies?
No, you pay commission to bol.com on every sale - regardless of the amount. However, bol.com uses reduced fixed commissions for products under €10 and €20 to keep the sale of cheaper items profitable.
How are commissions settled?
Bol.com settles commissions automatically when paying out. You receive a weekly payout of the sales amount minus the total commission. Via the Partner platform, you can view detailed commission overviews per product and category.
What if my product fits into multiple categories?
The commission percentage is determined by the category in which the product is classified on bol.com. If your product could fit into multiple categories, choose the most relevant category - and check which classification is most favorable in terms of commission, as long as this is content-wise correct.
Conclusion: don't let bol.com commission be an obstacle
The bol.com commission is a fixed part of the revenue model as a platform seller. By understanding the commission structure well, choosing your categories smartly, and continuously monitoring your costs, you can minimize the impact on your profit margin. Use tools like Boloo's Product Tracker for product research in favorable categories and the Sales Dashboard to monitor your margins in real-time. With the right strategy, the bol.com commission is not an obstacle but an investment in your growth as a seller.
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