Transaction fees are the most expensive line item most studio owners do not think about. Here is why zero markup should be your top criteria when choosing software.
The hidden cost
A 2.5% transaction markup on $20,000/month in revenue costs $6,000/year. That is more than most studios spend on marketing. And it scales — as your revenue grows, the fee grows with it.
The comparison
| Revenue | 2.5% markup (annual) | 0% markup (KOLLABO OS) |
|---|---|---|
| $10k/mo | $3,000 | $0 |
| $20k/mo | $6,000 | $0 |
| $50k/mo | $15,000 | $0 |
What you could do with that money
- $6,000 = 3 months of part-time front desk staff
- $6,000 = new equipment for a studio refresh
- $6,000 = 6 months of marketing budget
- $6,000 = pure profit improvement
Stripe still charges
To be clear: Stripe's standard processing fee still applies (2.9% + 30¢ in US, 1.75% + 30¢ in AU). The difference is whether your software provider adds another 2–3% on top. KOLLABO OS does not.