What does a commercial estate agent cost?

When selling commercial real estate, a commercial property agent typically charges 1% to 2% commission on the purchase price, often with a minimum fee of several thousand euros. In practice, start-up costs, marketing costs, and sometimes withdrawal fees are added to this. Rates in the Netherlands are free: there is no legally fixed estate agent rate, so everything is negotiable and should be recorded in writing in advance.

Commission: the main component of the bill

Commission is a percentage of the final purchase price and only becomes payable upon a successful transaction. For commercial property, this percentage usually ranges between 1% and 2%, decreasing as the purchase price increases.

The higher the purchase price, the lower the percentage usually is. After all, an estate agent does not put five times less work into a property of €300,000 than into one of €1,500,000. For smaller properties, a minimum commission is therefore often agreed upon so that the fee covers the work.

Purchase price	Usual commission	Indication amount (excl. VAT)
€ 250.000	1,75 – 2%	€ 4.400 – € 5.000
€ 500.000	1,5 – 1,75%	€ 7.500 – € 8.750
€ 1.000.000	1 – 1,5%	€ 10.000 – € 15.000
€ 2.500.000	0,75 – 1%	€ 18.750 – € 25.000

Note: 21% VAT is added to the commission. With a commission of €10,000, you therefore pay €12,100. If you let the property taxed, you can usually reclaim that VAT; if you sell as a private individual or exempt entrepreneur, the VAT is a real cost item.

Costs in addition to the commission

In addition to commission, many offices charge start-up costs, marketing costs and withdrawal costs. It is precisely these items that make the difference between quotes that seem equal at first glance.

Post	What it is	Order of magnitude
Start-up/file costs	One-off fee upon signing the instruction	€ 350 – € 1.500
Marketing and photography	Professional photos, floor plans, drone, advertisements	€ 250 – € 2.000
Measurement report (NEN 2580)	Official surface measurement, often required for letting/sale	€ 400 – € 900
Valuation report	Validated valuation, separate from the estate agent instruction	€ 800 – € 2.500
Withdrawal costs	Costs if you terminate the assignment prematurely	€ 500 – € 2.500

No cure no pay, fixed price or hourly rate

Most commercial estate agents work on a no cure no pay basis: no transaction, no commission. In addition, fixed-price agreements and hourly rates exist, especially for advisory or purchase assignments.

No cure no pay: you only pay upon sale, but start-up and marketing costs often still remain due.
Fixed price: an agreed amount regardless of the purchase price – favourable for more expensive properties, unfavourable if the property remains for sale for a long time.
Hourly rate: €125 – €250 per hour, common for advice, rent review and acquisition support.
Tiered or bonus: a lower base percentage plus an extra fee above an agreed sales price.

A tiered commission agreement is often the fairest when selling: the agent then shares in the result above your lower limit and therefore has an interest in truly negotiating through rather than closing quickly.

How you negotiate the rate

Agency rates are free and therefore negotiable. Those who compare two to three quotes often pay half a percentage point less in practice.

Request at least three quotes from agencies that are demonstrably active in your segment and region.
Ask for recent, comparable transactions: property type, location, lead time and achieved price.
Record the term of the assignment (three months with extension works better than twelve months fixed).
Have withdrawal costs cancelled or capped.
Agree on who bears the marketing costs if the property does not sell.
Set a tiered scale on the final euros: a higher percentage above your bottom line.

Calculation example: commission versus a direct offer

Saving on commission is only a profit if the proceeds do not end up lower. Therefore, always calculate net, including ongoing costs during the sales period.

	Via commercial estate agent	Directly to a regular buyer
Sale price (example)	€ 600.000	€ 570.000
Commission 1.5% incl. VAT	– € 10.890	€ 0
Start-up and marketing	– € 1.200	€ 0
Ongoing costs during the sales period	– €9,000 (9 months)	– €1,500 (6 weeks)
Net approximate	€ 578.910	€ 568.500

The amounts are a calculation example, not a promise. For a marketable property in a good market, the estate agent route often wins on price; for a less marketable property, vacancy, a sustainability requirement or time pressure, the picture quickly flips the other way.

Frequently asked questions

What does a commercial estate agent cost on average?

When selling commercial real estate, count on 1% to 2% commission on the purchase price, plus 21% VAT. For a property of €500,000, this amounts to approximately €6,000 to €12,000 including VAT, excluding start-up and marketing costs.

Do I pay a commission if my property is not sold?

With no cure no pay, you pay no commission if no transaction is concluded. Start-up costs, marketing costs and any withdrawal fees may, however, still be due. Have this explicitly included in the instruction.

Is a commercial estate agent's commission negotiable?

Yes. Estate agent fees are free in the Netherlands; there is no statutory rate. Requesting multiple quotes and agreeing on a graduated scale yields the most in practice.

Who pays the estate agent upon sale, the buyer or the seller?

The party that gives the assignment pays. If you sell with a selling agent, you pay the commission. If the buyer has their own buying agent, the buyer pays those costs themselves.

Can I sell my commercial property without estate agent fees?

Yes. You are allowed to sell your commercial property directly; only the deed of delivery at the civil-law notary is mandatory. We purchase directly ourselves and do not charge a commission. Always have the purchase agreement reviewed by your own civil-law notary or real estate lawyer.

Compiled by the Pandverkoop.nl editorial team. Pandverkoop.nl may be the buyer; our offer is not an independent valuation. Our approach and sources policy. Last updated: 2026-09-20.