How much money you need to launch on a marketplace
The starting budget for launching on a marketplace is made up of four parts: buying the goods, platform registration and commissions, logistics and shipping, and promotion. There is no single "entry price" - everything depends on the niche and the purchase price. A reasonable minimum start on one SKU is a batch of goods plus a reserve for promotion and returns.
In short: budget = goods + fees/commissions + logistics + promotion + reserve.
What the starting budget is made of
- Goods: the first batch should be a test batch in small volume; where to buy - suppliers in Russia and China.
- Platform: registration fee (WB) or free registration (Ozon) plus the sales commission.
- Logistics and storage: delivery to the warehouse, storage, handling, delivery to the buyer.
- Content: photos, infographics, video.
- Promotion: advertising and buyouts / behavioral signals at the start.
- Reserve: for returns, dips and restocking - how much to keep in circulation: working capital, and what a shortage of it leads to - cash gaps.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
"How much money do you need to start on Wildberries?" There is no single figure: it is calculated as the batch of goods + the registration fee + logistics + a budget for promotion and a reserve. It depends on the niche and the purchase price.
"Can you start with a minimal budget?" Yes, on one or two high-margin SKUs, but without a reserve for promotion and returns the card risks never taking off. Calculate unit economics before you buy.
"What takes the most money at the start?" Usually buying the batch of goods and the first round of promotion. Commissions and logistics are variable and depend on the category.
