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For marketplaces.

GMV, take rate, and two-sided growth.

Plan buyer and seller growth together, with GMV, take rate and commissions, and the match rate that shows whether the two sides are in balance.

Model
GMV & take-rate
Scenario
take rate rises, supply churns
Output
three-scenario comparison
Trust
every number links to an assumption
Scenario Workbench, illustrative interface

Startup Suite is an AI planning workspace that helps marketplace founders model GMV, take rate, liquidity, and two-sided growth from one model.

This page is for marketplace and platform founders modelling GMV, take rate, and liquidity.

Revenue drivers
  • GMV (both sides)
  • Take rate & commissions
  • Repeat transaction rate
Cost drivers
  • Buyer & seller acquisition
  • Supply subsidies & incentives
  • Trust, safety & ops
Key outputs
  • GMV & take-rate model
  • Liquidity & contribution model
  • Three-scenario comparison (base, higher take rate, slower demand growth)
Relevant features
  • Scenario Workbench
  • Forecast Engine
  • AI mentors

Why two-sided growth is hard to plan

Demand and supply grow at different speeds

Grow demand too fast and supply can't keep up, or the reverse, and liquidity stalls.

Liquidity is fragile

Most plans don't track how many listings or requests end in a transaction, so a falling match rate shows up late.

Take-rate trade-offs are murky

Raise the take rate and you risk supply; lower it and you starve revenue.

A founder working through gmv, take rate, and two-sided growth.

Explore your marketplace model

Edit take rate and supply subsidy and watch GMV, net revenue, and liquidity move, then see what happens when demand growth slows.

Marketplace planning workspaceExample view, sample data
Scenario
GMV
$1.2M
Both sides
Take rate
12%
To net
Net revenue
$144k
Modelled
Fill rate
78%
Liquidity
Repeat rate
41%
Buyers

Build GMV from both sides, apply take rate to get net revenue, and track the share of listings that end in a transaction.

  • Assumptions
  • Model
  • Scenarios
  • Mentor Review
  • Outputs

AI mentorBalanced growth on both sides: liquidity holds and net revenue compounds with GMV.

One model, connected from the first input to the final output

Change take rate or supply subsidy and GMV, net revenue and fill rate rerun. A higher take rate sits next to base, and the mentor flags when liquidity stalls.

Input

Edit take rate and supply subsidy

Model

GMV, net revenue, and liquidity recompute

Scenario

Compare base, take-up, and demand-slows

Mentor

Flags when liquidity stalls

Output

Base, higher take rate and slower demand compared

Illustrative example.

Marketplace planning workspace showing supply, demand, GMV, take rate, liquidity, and scenario modelling.

Two sides, one set of numbers

Buyers and sellers in one model, with the match rate between them.

GMV only grows when buyers and sellers grow together. This model tracks both sides and the share of listings that turn into a transaction.

  • GMV & take rate
  • Two-sided growth
  • Liquidity & match rate

Network calls you can model first

Subsidy, pricing and launch-market calls, each tested on both sides of the market at once.

Which side to subsidise
Compare subsidising buyers or sellers, and see each subsidy's cost against the GMV it adds.
Where to set the take rate
See how each take-rate step changes net revenue and seller numbers.
Where to seed supply
Start supply in the one city or category where buyer demand is densest.

What the marketplace model covers

GMV & take rate

Build gross merchandise value and net revenue from take rate and commissions.

Two-sided growth

Model buyers and sellers together, and what happens when one side lags.

Liquidity & match rate

Track the share of listings or requests that end in a transaction, on each side.

Contribution per side

See the cost to acquire and serve each side, and the net contribution.

From both sides of the market to net revenue

  1. Step 1

    Set both sides

    Buyer and seller acquisition, retention, and activity.

  2. Step 2

    Model GMV

    Transactions and basket size roll into GMV.

  3. Step 3

    Apply take rate

    Commissions and fees turn GMV into net revenue.

  4. Step 4

    Balance the network

    Test subsidies and incentives on liquidity and contribution.

More than a spreadsheet, more than a consultant

Spreadsheetthe old way
GMV built from both sides of the network
Manual
Take rate → net revenue with commissions
Hard
Liquidity and match-rate modelled
AI mentor explains the liquidity risk
Scenario comparison (base, take rate, demand)
Consultantquoted per project
GMV built from both sides of the network
Take rate → net revenue with commissions
Liquidity and match-rate modelled
On request
AI mentor explains the liquidity risk
Hourly
Scenario comparison (base, take rate, demand)
Startup Suiteconnected workspace
GMV built from both sides of the network
Take rate → net revenue with commissions
Liquidity and match-rate modelled
AI mentor explains the liquidity risk
Scenario comparison (base, take rate, demand)

Pick the version closest to your business

Product marketplaces

Physical goods between buyers and sellers: model GMV, take rate and fulfilment.

Sample output: GMV & take-rate model

Service marketplaces

Booking and labour platforms: model supply liquidity and repeat usage.

Sample output: Liquidity model

Rental & sharing

Asset-sharing platforms: model utilisation, deposits and incentives on both sides.

Sample output: Utilisation & GMV model

B2B platforms

Wholesale and procurement networks: model larger baskets and longer cycles.

Sample output: B2B GMV model

See the B2B platforms model

Marketplace modelling questions

Do you model GMV and take rate?

It's designed to. GMV comes from both sides of the network, and take rate plus commissions turn it into net revenue.

Can it handle two-sided growth and liquidity?

It's built to. Buyer and seller growth, match rate and contribution per side are modelled together.

What is a marketplace financial model?

It builds GMV from both sides of the network, applies take rate and commissions to get net revenue, and models liquidity and contribution for buyers and sellers separately.

Is this just a spreadsheet template?

No. A template usually grows GMV as one line. Here buyers and sellers are separate inputs, so raising the take rate shows its effect on seller numbers and fill rate as well as revenue.

What outputs does it produce?

It's built to produce a GMV and take-rate model, a liquidity and contribution model, and a three-scenario comparison (base, higher take rate, slower demand growth). Each figure traces to an assumption.

Model both sides of your marketplace in one place

Enter buyer and seller growth and your take rate, and see GMV, net revenue and match rate on your own numbers.