Multi-Vendor Marketplace Development

Self-service seller registration with a guided onboarding flow that covers every step the seller needs to complete before their first listing goes live. Business and identity document upload within the seller portal -- company registration documents, director ID, and any sector-specific credentials the marketplace requires. Automated verification via an integrated KYC provider -- Stripe Identity, Onfido, or Jumio -- with a manual review queue for cases that require operator judgment. Payment account connection via Stripe Connect or an equivalent payout provider, with bank account verification before the first payout is processed. Seller profile and storefront setup including seller name, description, logo, and policies visible to buyers on seller pages. Onboarding status tracking shows the seller where they are in the process and what is outstanding, and the marketplace operator team sees a dashboard of pending, approved, and rejected applications with the documents attached.

Per-seller product listing with category-specific required attributes enforced at the time of listing -- a seller listing in the electronics category completes different fields than a seller listing in the fashion category, and the marketplace operator configures those requirements per category in the admin. Seller inventory management with stock level tracking at the seller's SKU level, updated when orders are placed and fulfilled. Product moderation queue for marketplace operator review before a new listing goes live, with approve, reject, and request-amendment actions and a message sent to the seller explaining any required changes. Bulk listing upload via CSV or API feed for sellers with large catalogues who cannot list manually at scale. Seller-facing product performance analytics showing views, conversion rate, and revenue per listing so sellers can identify which products to prioritise and which to review.

Commission rate configuration at the category level, product type level, seller tier level, and individual seller agreement level -- the most specific rule wins, allowing the marketplace to honour negotiated rates for anchor sellers while applying standard rates to the general seller base. Fee types include percentage of transaction value, fixed per-transaction amount, and subscription-based seller fees charged on a monthly billing cycle independent of transaction volume. Commission calculation on each order applies the correct rate at the time of transaction and stores the calculation detail so it can be audited at any point without recalculation. Commission reporting per seller and per category provides the reconciliation data the finance team needs to close the books each period without manual spreadsheet work.

Buyer payment captured at checkout via the marketplace's payment account -- the buyer pays the marketplace, not the individual seller, which is the correct model for a marketplace operating under its own terms of sale. Payment held in escrow pending the configured settlement trigger -- typically fulfilment confirmation or the expiry of the buyer dispute window. Automated split calculation applies the commission rate, deducts the platform fee, and calculates the net payout amount due to the seller for each settled order. Payout to seller bank account on the configured schedule -- daily, weekly, or monthly -- via Stripe, Adyen, or direct bank transfer, with hold periods for orders still within the dispute window. Payout reporting with transaction-level detail gives sellers a clear record of what each payout covers and gives the marketplace finance team a reconciliation trail without manual matching.

Buyer dispute initiation from the order detail page with structured reason selection and evidence upload -- photographs, screenshots, and any supporting documentation the buyer wants to attach. Seller response workflow gives the seller a configured window to respond with their own evidence and proposed resolution before the marketplace operator needs to intervene. Marketplace operator arbitration for disputes where buyer and seller do not reach agreement -- the operator reviews both sides of the evidence within the platform and records a decision with a rationale. Refund processing to the buyer triggers an automatic adjustment to the seller's pending payout, reducing the net amount due by the refunded value plus any applicable dispute fee. Returns logistics coordination for marketplaces that manage the return flow centrally rather than directing the buyer to arrange return with each seller individually.

Gross merchandise volume reported by seller, category, and period gives the operator a complete view of platform trading performance without combining spreadsheets from different reports. Commission and fee revenue by period is the marketplace's own P and L on the platform -- the revenue it has earned after paying out to sellers. Seller performance ranking by GMV, conversion rate, and dispute rate identifies which sellers are driving the marketplace and which are creating operational burden through high return or dispute rates. Top and bottom performing categories by volume and revenue support merchandising decisions -- which categories to promote, which to invest in seller recruitment for, and which are underperforming relative to catalogue depth. Buyer acquisition and repeat purchase rate show whether the marketplace is building a returning buyer base or dependent on continuous acquisition spend. Seller churn and activation rate track how many newly onboarded sellers become active within a defined window and how many lapse, giving the operator data to prioritise seller success interventions.