One of the most common frustrations buyers have when evaluating domain brokers is the complete lack of published pricing. Most services either list no fees at all, or bury a vague percentage somewhere in fine print. This opacity exists because many brokers charge differently depending on who's asking — which means the buyer never knows if they're getting a fair deal.
QuietClose publishes its fees openly. This page explains exactly what you'll pay, when, and why — along with a comparison of how our model stacks up against the industry.
QuietClose Fee Structure — Complete Breakdown
| Fee Component | Amount | When Payable | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engagement fee | $250 USD | Upfront on signing | Domain ownership research, contact pathway identification, outreach strategy, first approach to seller |
| Success fee | 12.5% of purchase price | On close only | Full negotiation service, all outreach contacts, escrow coordination, transfer management |
| Minimum success fee | $1,000 USD | Only if deal closes | Applies only when the acquisition price is below $8,000. Reflects minimum viable deal economics. |
| Maximum success fee | $25,000 USD | Only if deal closes | Hard cap regardless of purchase price. Protects clients on large transactions significantly. |
| No-close outcome | $0 additional | N/A | If we exhaust our outreach sequence and cannot close, the success fee is $0. You only pay the $250 engagement. |
What Does the Total Cost Look Like?
Here's what QuietClose costs at different acquisition price points:
| Domain Purchase Price | Engagement Fee | Success Fee (12.5%) | Total All-In Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 USD | $250 | $1,000 (minimum applies) | $1,250 USD |
| $10,000 USD | $250 | $1,250 | $1,500 USD |
| $25,000 USD | $250 | $3,125 | $3,375 USD |
| $50,000 USD | $250 | $6,250 | $6,500 USD |
| $100,000 USD | $250 | $12,500 | $12,750 USD |
| $200,000 USD | $250 | $25,000 (cap applies) | $25,250 USD |
| $500,000 USD | $250 | $25,000 (cap applies) | $25,250 USD |
The fee cap becomes increasingly valuable at higher price points. On a $200,000 acquisition, the uncapped 12.5% would be $25,000 — but because we cap there, you save nothing extra at this level. On a $500,000 acquisition, you save $37,500 compared to an uncapped 12.5% model.
How QuietClose Compares to Other Domain Brokers
| Broker | Engagement Fee | Success Fee | Fee Cap | Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuietClose | $250 USD | 12.5% | $25,000 USD ✓ | Fully published ✓ |
| GoDaddy Broker | Not published | ~20% or flat | None | Minimal |
| Sedo Brokerage | Not published | 15% (min $69) | None | Partial |
| DomainAgents | $69.99 flat | + % commission | None | Partial |
| VPN.com | Not published | Not published | Unknown | None |
| Secret Brokerage | Included | 5% + 15% of savings | None | Partial |
The critical difference is not just the percentage — it's the cap. Without a fee cap, a broker on a $300,000 acquisition earns $45,000 from a single deal. QuietClose earns $25,000. We're incentivised to close efficiently, not to inflate deal values.
Why We Charge an Engagement Fee
The $250 USD engagement fee exists for a specific reason: it funds the real work that happens before a seller is ever contacted. Ownership research, contact pathway identification, comparable sales analysis, and outreach strategy all require hours of work. That work has value regardless of outcome.
It also means we only take on deals we believe are viable. If we run a free feasibility read on your domain and conclude your budget isn't workable, we tell you before you pay anything. The $250 only changes hands when we both believe there's a genuine path to a close.
"The $250 engagement fee saved me from a broker who would have taken my money and disappeared. QuietClose told me upfront whether my budget was realistic — that alone was worth more than $250."
— Founder enquiry, AU-based AI startup
What Does the Success Fee Include?
The 12.5% success fee covers the full acquisition service from approach to transfer:
- All outreach contacts with the domain owner (up to 5 in the sequence)
- Full negotiation — every counter-offer, every position, every decision point
- Escrow coordination and setup
- Transfer management — DNS verification, auth code handling, registrar liaison
- Post-transfer confirmation and documentation
There are no additional fees for escrow coordination, transfer complexity, or number of contacts required. The 12.5% is the complete service fee.
Know your exact cost before you commit.
Free feasibility read — we tell you ownership, value range, and total estimated cost. No obligation.