Verification fees: paying for the inspection, not the badge
Verifying a business takes human costs: document checks, site visits, test orders. Here's how we structure that fee without selling the outcome.
The verification fee covers the cost of the process: checking identity, verifying legality, visiting or viewing the production site, and testing the product. The fee never buys the outcome. If the evidence fails, the badge is not issued. The outcome is decided by the evidence, not by the payment.
It sounds paradoxical: a platform that prizes honesty charges a fee. But look at where the cost comes from. Verifying one supplier means someone reviews documents, makes phone calls, perhaps visits the site, and sometimes orders a product to test it. That's real time and travel — human cost, not server cost.
Why the cost isn't absorbed for free
The early stage is free, because the goal is gathering supply and learning the real cost per verification. But a model that claims to verify at no cost at all will find only two exits, both bad: stop verifying seriously, or replace the cost with other revenue that compromises honesty. An honest fee is better than verification that looks free but is shallow.
What you pay for and what isn't for sale
| Component | Covered by the fee? |
|---|---|
| Reviewing identity and legality documents | Yes |
| A site visit or production site video | Yes |
| A test order to confirm the product matches claims | Yes |
| Passing or failing the inspection | No — evidence decides |
| Reputation repair or extra badges | No — not for sale |
What if verification fails
The profile still appears with an honest status: the business exists, but the evidence for a particular role is incomplete or failed. Suppliers can add evidence and request a re-check. What doesn't happen: a badge issued because the payment came in.
An honest order of monetization
- Profiles and basic tools are free, to gather supply and validate value.
- A verification fee, covering the real cost of checking.
- A tools subscription for growing suppliers: reseller CRM, catalog, price rules, analytics.
- A transaction fee only if payments are protected through a licensed partner — not before.
Frequently asked questions
What is the verification fee amount?
Not yet set. The amount will be announced once the real cost per inspection is measured from the first inspections — not guessed in advance.
Is the fee refunded if I fail?
The fee covers the inspection already performed, so it is not refunded. However, suppliers can still add evidence and request a re-check without a new process fee.