Why Selling on Needplug Is Free: No Subscription, No Cut

"Free" is a word that makes many sellers nervous. You have probably seen platforms that are free to join, and then the charges start: a monthly plan, a cut of every sale, a fee to get paid, a fee to be seen.

On Needplug, selling is free. No subscription. No commission. You keep your full price. This post explains exactly what that means, what you get, and how Needplug keeps the lights on without charging you.

What "free" means on Needplug

When we say selling on Needplug is free, we mean:

• No subscription. There is no monthly or yearly plan to pay for.
• No commission. Needplug does not take a cut of your sales. You receive your full price for the order.
• No listing fees. Adding your products or services costs nothing.
• No fee to get paid. Listing, selling and getting paid cost you nothing.
• Free verification. Your NIN check and CAC business check are free.
• A free shop link, like yourname.needplug.shop.

If you sell a pair of shoes for ₦20,000, you receive ₦20,000.

What you get for free

Free does not mean basic. Every seller gets:

• A shop with up to 1,000 items for businesses, or Sell from home with up to 10 items for individuals
• Your own shop link to share on WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok
• Safe payments: buyers pay through Needplug, and the money is held until they receive their order and give you their order code
• Delivery settings you control: choose your states or all of Nigeria, set your own fee or free delivery, add rider details, or offer pickup
• Wholesale tools: wholesale prices, minimum orders and approved resellers
• Catalogue import from Excel or CSV
• Record a sale for your offline sales, so your stock stays correct
• Bookings for service providers
• Event ticketing with attendee lists and check-in
• Digital products like e-books and downloads
• Order chat with your buyers
• New-order alerts on your phone from the seller dashboard

So how does Needplug make money?

It is a fair question, and you deserve a straight answer. Needplug earns from two places:

1. A small buyer protection fee. Buyers pay this when they check out. It covers holding their money safely until they receive their order. Buyers see it clearly before they pay, along with the item price and any delivery fee. It does not come out of your price.
2. Optional featured products. One featured product is always free. If you want extra visibility for more products, you can choose to feature them for a fixed period, with the price shown before you pay. It is paid once from your dashboard and does not renew by itself. You never have to pay for this to sell.

That's it. Your earnings are not where Needplug makes its money.

Why this matters for small businesses

You can start without risk

Many small businesses can't afford to pay a platform before they've made their first sale. On Needplug, you can open your shop, list your items and start sharing your link without spending anything.

Your prices stay competitive

When a platform takes a commission, sellers often raise their prices to cover it. Buyers notice. With no commission, you can price your items the way you want.

Buyers trust you faster

New customers are often afraid to send money to someone they found online. On Needplug, buyers pay through the platform, and you are paid when they give you their order code. That protection makes it easier for a first-time buyer to say yes. Here is how buyer protection works.

You stay in control

You set your prices. You set your delivery areas and fees. You decide whether to offer pickup. You decide whether to sell wholesale. Needplug gives you the tools; you run your business.

Free for every kind of seller

Whatever you sell or do, the same rules apply:

• Fashion, shoes and accessories
• Food, snacks and drinks
• Phones, gadgets and electronics
• Hair, nails, beauty and spa services
• Cleaning, laundry and fumigation
• Photographers and other service providers
• Event organisers selling free or paid tickets
• Creators selling e-books and digital downloads
• Cars, property and livestock, with "arrange a viewing"
• Individuals selling from home

How to get paid

Here is how money moves on Needplug:

1. A buyer orders and pays through Needplug.
2. Needplug holds the money while the order is in progress.
3. You hand over the item, deliver it, or finish the job.
4. The buyer gives you their order code.
5. You enter the code, and your money goes to your bank.

No commission is taken along the way.

Common questions

Is there a catch?

No subscription, no commission, no listing fee. The only paid option for sellers is featuring extra products, and that is optional.

Do I have to be a registered business?

No. Individuals can sell from home with up to 10 items. If you have a CAC-registered business, you can verify it for free.

Who pays for delivery?

You set your delivery fee, or offer free delivery. Buyers see the fee before they pay. Needplug does not deliver; you or your rider do, or the buyer picks up.

Is there an app to download?

Not needed. Needplug works in any phone browser, and you can add it to your home screen.

Ready to start?

Open your shop at needplug.com/join. It takes a few minutes, and it's free. Our step-by-step guide shows you every screen.

Prefer help? Chat with us on WhatsApp at +234 702 529 5245 and we'll set up your shop for you, free.