Why Having Your Own Online Store Matters as Marketplace Fees Surge

Why Having Your Own Online Store Matters as Marketplace Fees Surge

2025 has been a challenging year for business owners in Indonesia. According to recent reports, administrative fees on marketplaces like Shopee and Tokopedia have risen by 20-25%—with some platforms even adding a processing fee of Rp1,250 per order starting July 2025. For the 25 million MSMEs already integrated into Indonesia's e-commerce ecosystem, this increase immediately eats into already razor-thin profit margins.

Rising Admin Fees: Numbers That Cannot Be Ignored

Data released by Katadata indicates that service fees for Tokopedia, Shopee, and Lazada have increased by up to 6.5 percent for seller partners. Tokopedia itself began incrementally raising service fees starting October 1, 2025. This comes on top of dynamic commissions which now reach Rp650,000 per item—up from a previous maximum cap of Rp40,000.

The real-world impact:

• MSME profit margins are eroded by 5-15% per transaction
• Return costs are now fully charged to the seller
• Many businesses are forced to raise selling prices—despite weak purchasing power

MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman has spoken out, prohibiting marketplaces from raising service fees amid the difficult economic climate. The Ministry of Trade is also reviewing revisions to Trade Regulation 31/2023 to regulate e-commerce admin fees and maintain MSME competitiveness.

Why Your Own Online Store is a Strategic Solution

As marketplace costs balloon, having your own online store is no longer just an option—it is a strategic necessity. Here is why:

Full Control over Costs and Margins

With your own website store, you determine the cost structure. There are no commissions per transaction, no sudden spikes in additional service fees, and no mysterious processing deductions. Every rupiah from sales goes directly into your pocket—minus clear and predictable operational costs.

A survey by Winpay suggests that proprietary platforms offer greater freedom for branding and marketing products without being bound by marketplace operator policies.

Customer Data = Valuable Assets

On marketplaces, customer data belongs to the platform—not you. You cannot perform retargeting, build email lists, or deeply understand buyer behavior. With your own online store, every data point on visits, transactions, and customer preferences becomes an asset you can leverage for more measurable digital marketing.

Independence from Platform Policies

We have all witnessed how marketplace policies can change overnight: specific products get restricted, admin fees rise without notice, or algorithms are revitalized causing a bustling shop to suddenly go quiet. With your own online store, you are free from dependence on third-party policies you cannot control.

Flexibility in Innovation and Promotion

Marketplaces offer promotional tools—but with strict limitations and ever-rising ad costs. Your own online store grants the freedom to innovate: from flash sales with unique mechanisms and loyalty programs tailored to customer character, to integration with Payment Gateways and QRIS to boost conversion.

Reality: MSMEs Are Starting to Shift

The trend is visible on the ground. Many MSMEs are reducing reliance on Shopee, Tokopedia, and similar platforms, shifting to Instagram, TikTok, and their own websites. A Cube Asia report on the digital economy shows that social commerce is increasingly favored due to lower costs, high engagement, and strong communities.

INDEF researchers reveal that weak purchasing power combined with an oversupply of sellers has intensified competition on marketplaces. High admin fees exacerbate the condition—it is no coincidence that many sellers are "venting" on social media about margins being completely wiped out.

Practical Steps to Start Your Own Online Store

Having an online store does not have to be expensive or complicated. Here are practical steps to get started:

1. Choose the Right Platform

For MSMEs just starting, CMS platforms like WordPress with WooCommerce offer a balance of flexibility and ease of use. For businesses seeking higher scalability, migrating to the cloud with a custom e-commerce solution can be a long-term investment.

2. Integrate a Comprehensive Payment Gateway

Ensure your online store supports various payment methods: bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, and QRIS. The more payment options available, the higher the conversion. Good integration also facilitates the digital transformation of MSMEs from manual to automated systems.

3. Focus on User Experience

Clear product content, a simple checkout process, and intuitive navigation are keys to conversion. Investing in good UI/UX design can increase conversion rates by up to 40%—far more effective than merely patching up rising marketplace admin fees.

4. Build Organic and Sustainable Traffic

Utilize SEO, content marketing, and organic social media to attract traffic to your online store. Unlike marketplaces where you must continuously pay for visibility, organic traffic to your own website is a long-term asset that continues to grow.

The Future of Indonesian E-Commerce: A Hybrid Approach

Switching to your own online store does not mean abandoning marketplaces entirely. A wise hybrid strategy involves: use marketplaces for new customer acquisition and visibility, then direct them to your own online store for retention and repeat purchases with better margins.

2025-2026 is a crucial period for Indonesian MSMEs. Digitalization is no longer a choice—but rather how you digitalize your business with efficient costs and a sustainable structure. With 25 million MSMEs already going digital out of a total of 64.2 million national MSMEs, competition will only get tighter. Those who control their own distribution channels will have a clear competitive advantage.

Conclusion: Time to Take Control

The rise in marketplace admin fees is an alarm for all online business owners in Indonesia. The question is no longer whether you need your own online store—but when you will start it. Every day of waiting is profit margin continually eroded by platform costs you do not control.

At Colabs, we help businesses of all sizes build efficient, scalable, and profitable online stores. From payment gateway integration and conversion optimization to comprehensive digital strategies—our team is ready to support your digital journey. Consult your business needs with Colabs today.