PREMIUM SELLER PACKAGE
Growth Acceleration Tier — Built for Brands Ready to Win
This is the plan for brands that are done being invisible. Designed for ambitious sellers determined to expand reach, protect margins, dominate their category, and access the full power of AqNova’s global platform. The Premium tier is not just more features — it is a fundamentally different commercial position on the marketplace. You are not just listed. You are elevated.
| Billing Cycle | Standard Markets | African Markets | Savings |
|---|
| Monthly | $39.99 / mo | $26.99 / mo | — |
| Quarterly Prepaid | $113.99 ($38.00/mo) | $76.99 ($25.66/mo) | ~5% savings |
| Annual Prepaid | $399.00 ($33.25/mo) | $269.00 ($22.42/mo) | ~17% savings |
Commission: 7–9% per transaction (lower rate = higher margin retained on every sale)
At $5,000/month in sales, the commission saving alone (vs. Pay-As-You-Grow) covers a significant portion of the plan upgrade cost. At $10,000/month, Premium pays for itself entirely in margin retained.
Everything in Pay-As-You-Grow, Plus:
★ Search & Discovery Priority
Algorithmic weighting, category ranking, and enhanced discoverability across AqNova’s global marketplace. Your products appear higher in category searches, filtered results, and curated feeds. Visibility is not purchased here — it is earned and then amplified.
★ Curated Marketplace Eligibility
Access to featured collections, sustainability spotlights, seasonal campaigns, regional gift guides, and curated brand showcases. These placements drive high-intent consumer traffic directly to your storefront without a single dollar in ad spend.
★ Platform-Led Marketing Consideration
Eligible for inclusion in AqNova email campaigns to subscribers, social media highlights, founder spotlights, new launch announcements, and regional market launch features. AqNova’s marketing team works with Premium vendors — not just around them.
★ Enhanced Brand Authority Tools
A dedicated brand storytelling section on your storefront. A full sustainability narrative, cultural origin positioning, production process highlights, and certification showcase — everything a conscious consumer wants to know before they buy, presented as part of your verified identity on the platform.
★ Partnership & Expansion Access
Eligible for AqNova-facilitated partnerships including wellness bundles, corporate gifting programs, influencer collaborations, and cross-border brand campaigns. This is how brands break into new markets without building distribution from scratch.
★ Advanced Growth Analytics
Conversion tracking, product-level performance analysis, seasonal trend data, category benchmarking, and consumer behavior insights segmented by region. You will know exactly which products are performing, in which markets, at what conversion rate, and why.
★ Priority Seller Support
Expedited response times, early access to new platform features before general rollout, dedicated onboarding support for new market expansion, and access to AqNova’s fulfillment integration programs. When something needs attention, Premium vendors are first in line.
★ Founding Vendor Program: AqNova’s first 250 qualifying vendors receive three months of Premium subscription credit. This is not a discount coupon. It is an invitation to be part of building the marketplace at the moment it matters most — when founding presence compounds into brand authority that later vendors cannot replicate.
Full Feature Comparison
Every feature, side by side. This is what you get at each tier.
| Feature | Pay-As-You-Grow | Premium Seller |
|---|
| STOREFRONT & LISTINGS | STOREFRONT & LISTINGS | STOREFRONT & LISTINGS |
| Professional dedicated seller storefront | ✓ | ✓ |
| Global marketplace listing & inventory management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Order management dashboard | ✓ | ✓ |
| No listing fees — no separate transaction fees | ✓ | ✓ |
Enhanced brand storytelling & sustainability sections
Origin story, mission, production narrative | — | ✓ |
Cultural origin & ethical sourcing positioning
Visible on storefront and product pages | — | ✓ |
| Certification showcase — all verified badges prominently displayed | — | ✓ |
| DISCOVERY & VISIBILITY | DISCOVERY & VISIBILITY | DISCOVERY & VISIBILITY |
| Organic search inclusion & sustainability category placement | ✓ | ✓ |
Search & Discovery Priority — algorithmic weighting
Prioritized in category ranking and search results | — | ✓ |
Curated Marketplace Eligibility
Featured collections, sustainability spotlights, seasonal campaigns, gift guides | — | ✓ |
Category Spotlight Placement
Eligible for homepage and section features | — | ✓ |
| MARKETING & BRAND GROWTH | MARKETING & BRAND GROWTH | MARKETING & BRAND GROWTH |
| Standard platform exposure | ✓ | ✓ |
Platform-led marketing consideration
Email campaigns, social highlights, founder spotlights, launch announcements | — | ✓ |
Partnership & expansion access
Wellness bundles, corporate gifting, influencer collaborations, cross-border campaigns | — | ✓ |
New market launch support
Regional campaign inclusion on AqNova expansion announcements | — | ✓ |
| ANALYTICS & INTELLIGENCE | ANALYTICS & INTELLIGENCE | ANALYTICS & INTELLIGENCE |
| Foundational analytics dashboard | ✓ | ✓ |
Advanced growth analytics
Conversion tracking, product performance, seasonal trends, category benchmarking | — | ✓ |
| Competitive category benchmarking | — | ✓ |
| Consumer behavior insights by region | — | ✓ |
| SUPPORT & OPERATIONS | SUPPORT & OPERATIONS | SUPPORT & OPERATIONS |
| Standard seller support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Priority seller support — expedited response | — | ✓ |
| Early access to new platform features | — | ✓ |
| Fulfillment integration program access | — | ✓ |
| Secure payment processing integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| COMMISSION & PRICING | COMMISSION & PRICING | COMMISSION & PRICING |
| Commission rate: 10–15% per sale | ✓ | — |
Commission rate: 7–9% per transaction
Lower rate = higher margin retained per sale | — | ✓ |
| African market regional pricing available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quarterly & annual prepaid savings (up to 17%) | ✓ | ✓ |
Why Premium Is the Right Decision for Growing Brands
The decision to upgrade from Pay-As-You-Grow to Premium is not a question of budget. It is a question of ambition. Here is the honest case for why the most serious vendors on AqNova choose Premium.
- The Commission Saving Funds the Upgrade
The difference between 10–15% commission and 7–9% commission is not small at scale. On $5,000/month in sales, the commission saving at Premium rate is $150–$400/month — enough to more than offset the plan cost. Premium is not an expense. For any vendor generating meaningful volume, it is a margin optimization.
- Visibility Cannot Be Bought — But It Can Be Earned
On AqNova, you cannot pay to rank. But Premium vendors earn algorithmic priority through the platform’s search and discovery weighting. This is structural advantage — not advertising. It compounds over time as your performance data builds authority in your category.
- Curated Placements Are Not Available at Entry Level
Featured collections, seasonal campaigns, sustainability spotlights, and gift guides drive some of the highest-conversion traffic on AqNova. These placements are exclusively available to Premium vendors. If you want to be in front of a conscious consumer who has already decided to buy — not one who is still browsing — Premium is where that audience is directed.
- Your Brand Gets to Tell Its Story
The enhanced storytelling tools in Premium are not cosmetic. Conscious consumers make purchasing decisions based on origin, production process, certification depth, and brand values. Premium gives you the infrastructure to present all of that as part of your verified storefront identity. Pay-As-You-Grow gets you listed. Premium gets you known.
- Platform Marketing Works For You, Not Just Around You
AqNova actively promotes its vendor ecosystem to its subscriber base, on social platforms, and in regional launch campaigns. Premium vendors are eligible for inclusion in those promotions. That is AqNova’s audience being directed toward your products — with no ad spend from you.
Why Vendors Move From Amazon, Etsy & Shopify to AqNova
If you are currently selling on another platform, this section is written for you. Here is a direct, factual comparison of what each platform actually costs you — not just in subscription fees, but in margin, visibility, brand protection, and commercial environment.
| AqNova | Amazon / Marketplace | Etsy / Shopify |
|---|
| Monthly subscription cost | $19.99 – $39.99 /mo | ~$29 – $79 /mo | $0 list fee but 5–15% total fees |
| Sustainability verification | ✓ Mandatory — verified | ✗ None | ✗ Self-reported only |
| Certified badge tied to public registry | ✓ Yes — public registry | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Ad spend required for visibility | ✗ None — standards-based | ✓ Required to rank | ✓ Pay-to-rank |
| Listing fees per product | None | $0.20 per listing | Tiered — varies |
| Greenwashing enforcement | ✓ Published public log | ✗ None | ✗ None |
| Dedicated ethical consumer audience | ✓ Verified conscious buyers | ✗ General market only | ✗ General market only |
| African market regional pricing | ✓ From $9.99/mo | ✗ Not available | ✗ Not available |
| Brand storytelling infrastructure | ✓ Built-in (Premium) | △ Limited | ✗ Product listing only |
| Vendor rights & dignity framework | ✓ Formal policy | ✗ Platform discretion | ✗ Platform discretion |
| Commission | 7–15% (tier-dependent) | 0% (but 5–6.5% payment) | 8–15% referral + fees |
The Real Cost of Staying Where You Are
Amazon’s fee structure includes referral fees (8–15%), FBA fulfillment fees, storage fees, and effectively mandatory advertising spend just to maintain visibility. The average Amazon seller spends $0.22 of every dollar on advertising alone. Your product competes with 350+ million listings, including private-label copies of your own product.
Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee per product (renewed every 4 months), a 6.5% transaction fee, a 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee, and additional Offsite Ads fees of up to 15% on sales from external traffic. For a sustainable brand with a considered product story, the platform architecture actively works against differentiation.
Shopify gives you a store. It does not give you an audience. Every customer you acquire on Shopify has to be bought through paid ads, SEO, or social media — your customer acquisition cost is entirely your own overhead. The monthly platform fee is the smallest part of the actual cost.
AqNova’s total cost of selling is transparent and bounded: a subscription plus a commission rate. No listing fees. No ad spend required. No algorithm that forces you to outbid competitors for visibility. And an audience that is already there — verified conscious consumers who came to the platform specifically because they trust its verification.
Estimated Monthly Cost Comparison by Seller Volume
What your platform fees look like at different revenue levels:
| Vendor Profile | Amazon Est. Fees | Etsy/Shopify Est. Fees | AqNova Est. Cost |
|---|
| Solo Artisan $1,000/mo sales | $150 – $180 | $120 – $150 | $100 – $150 |
| Growing Brand $5,000/mo sales | $750 – $950 | $600 – $750 | $390 – $490 |
| Established Brand $15,000/mo sales | $2,200+ | $1,800+ | $1,090 – $1,390 |
| Note: Estimates include subscription, commission, and typical transaction fees. Amazon figures include referral fees + FBA where applicable. Etsy includes listing, transaction, and payment processing fees. AqNova figures based on standard commission tiers. | Note: Estimates include subscription, commission, and typical transaction fees. Amazon figures include referral fees + FBA where applicable. Etsy includes listing, transaction, and payment processing fees. AqNova figures based on standard commission tiers. | Note: Estimates include subscription, commission, and typical transaction fees. Amazon figures include referral fees + FBA where applicable. Etsy includes listing, transaction, and payment processing fees. AqNova figures based on standard commission tiers. | Note: Estimates include subscription, commission, and typical transaction fees. Amazon figures include referral fees + FBA where applicable. Etsy includes listing, transaction, and payment processing fees. AqNova figures based on standard commission tiers. |
The African Market Rate: Why It Exists and Why It Matters
AqNova’s dedicated African market pricing is not a promotional discount. It is a structural design decision rooted in AqNova’s founding mission: making sustainable commerce accessible everywhere, including in markets where USD-denominated subscription pricing would otherwise create barriers to participation.
— Designed to accelerate adoption Lowering the barrier for African vendors to access AqNova’s global consumer base at the earliest stage of the platform’s growth, building a vendor ecosystem that reflects the full geography of sustainable production.
— Structured for SME liquidity realities Acknowledging the structural differences in currency strength, access to capital, and operating cash flows for small and medium producers across African markets without reducing the quality of service or verification standards they receive.
— Strategically aligned with AfCFTA Supporting African vendors in accessing intra-African and international trade pathways consistent with the African Continental Free Trade Area framework and the expansion of African-produced goods in global markets.
— Operationally equivalent African market pricing does not alter commission structure, verification requirements, platform features, or performance standards. Vendors on the African rate access the same global marketplace, the same certification registry, and the same consumer audience as vendors at standard rates.
— Eligibility requirements Vendors must demonstrate legal business registration and primary operations within an African country. Documentation verification applies. AqNova reserves the right to verify eligibility and adjust pricing upon confirmation of primary operating jurisdiction.
This rate reflects a belief: that the artisan in Accra, the organic farmer in the Rift Valley, the cooperative in Lagos, and the sustainable apparel brand in Cape Town deserve the same global reach as any brand in Los Angeles or Berlin — and the pricing should reflect that.
Global Vendor Subscription Compliance
AqNova’s subscription and billing practices are governed by applicable consumer protection, subscription commerce, and e-commerce regulations across all operating jurisdictions. The following outlines the primary compliance obligations governing vendor subscription agreements by region.
United States
— Subscription Commerce FTC Negative Option Rule (16 CFR Part 425) — requiring clear disclosure of subscription terms, cancellation rights, and recurring charge authorization before billing. All AqNova subscription agreements comply with FTC guidelines on recurring charges and cancellation.
— Consumer Protection FTC Act Section 5 (unfair or deceptive acts); applicable state subscription consumer protection laws including California AB 2021 (automatic renewal law), New York GBL §527, and equivalent state-level statutes.
— Data Privacy CCPA/CPRA — vendor billing and account data is processed in compliance with California consumer privacy law. Vendor data is not sold to third parties.
— Payments PCI DSS-compliant payment processing; applicable state money transmission licensing; FinCEN AML compliance for payment processing partners.
Canada
— Subscription Commerce Applicable provincial consumer protection laws governing automatic renewal and subscription contracts, including Ontario Consumer Protection Act, Quebec Consumer Protection Act, and CASL for subscription-related communications.
— Data Privacy PIPEDA and applicable provincial privacy legislation; vendor account and billing data governed by Canadian data protection standards.
— Tax GST/HST applicable on AqNova subscription fees for Canadian vendors; provincial sales tax compliance where applicable.
European Union & United Kingdom
— Consumer & Subscription Rights EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU — right of withdrawal, pre-contractual information requirements, and distance contract obligations apply to vendor subscription agreements with EU-based vendors.
— Data Privacy GDPR (EU) and UK GDPR — vendor account and billing data processed under GDPR-compliant data processing agreements. Lawful basis for processing: performance of contract (Article 6(1)(b)).
— VAT EU VAT OSS — applicable VAT on B2B subscription services supplied to EU vendors, consistent with EU digital services VAT rules. UK VAT rules apply to UK-based vendors.
— Payment Services PSD2 Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements for EU/UK payment processing; applicable national payment services regulations.
Africa
— Consumer Protection Applicable national consumer protection legislation in each operating jurisdiction, including Nigeria FCCPA, South Africa CPA, Kenya Consumer Protection Act, and equivalent statutes governing subscription service contracts.
— Payments Applicable central bank payment regulations in each jurisdiction: CBN (Nigeria), SARB (South Africa), CBK (Kenya), Bank of Ghana, and equivalents. AqNova uses locally compliant payment infrastructure in African markets.
— Currency & FX Vendor subscription billing in USD with applicable local currency conversion. Exchange rate transparency provided in all billing communications. Applicable CBN and SARB forex regulations complied with.
Middle East
— Saudi Arabia ZATCA VAT compliance on subscription services (15% VAT); SAMA payment regulations; PDPL data privacy compliance for vendor account data; applicable Consumer Protection Law requirements.
— UAE UAE VAT (5%) applicable on subscription services; CBUAE payment regulations; UAE Personal Data Protection Law compliance for vendor data processing.
— Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain & Jordan Applicable national VAT and consumption tax frameworks; applicable central bank payment regulations; national consumer protection laws governing subscription service contracts in each jurisdiction.
South & Southeast Asia
— India GST compliance on subscription services (18% GST on software/SaaS services); RBI payment regulations; DPDPA vendor data privacy compliance; Consumer Protection Act 2019 requirements.
— Singapore GST (9%) on applicable subscription services; MAS payment regulations; PDPA data privacy compliance.
— Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines & Vietnam Applicable national GST/VAT on digital subscription services; applicable central bank payment regulations; national data privacy compliance requirements in each jurisdiction.
Latin America
— Brazil LGPD compliance for vendor data processing; BACEN payment regulations; applicable ICMS and PIS/COFINS on subscription services; PROCON consumer protection requirements for subscription contracts.
— Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile & Argentina Applicable national consumer protection laws governing subscription contracts; national VAT/IVA compliance on digital services; applicable central bank payment regulations in each jurisdiction.
Australia & Asia-Pacific
— Australia Australian Consumer Law (ACL) — unfair contract term provisions apply to vendor subscription agreements; mandatory disclosure of subscription terms and cancellation rights; AUSTRAC AML/CTF compliance for payment processing; GST (10%) on applicable subscription services.
— New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act — applicable to subscription service terms; RBNZ payment regulations; AML/CFT Act compliance.
This compliance overview does not constitute legal advice. Vendors are responsible for ensuring their own compliance with applicable laws in their operating jurisdictions. AqNova’s compliance infrastructure supports, but does not substitute for, vendor-level compliance obligations.
Start Your Application
Ready to list your verified sustainable products on a global marketplace that was built for exactly what you make? The application process begins with a vendor inquiry. Our team responds to every qualified application.
Vendor Applications: vendors@aqnova.co
Two plans. One standard.
One marketplace where your work is finally recognized for what it is.
Whether you start with Pay-As-You-Grow or come in at Premium, you are entering a marketplace that was built to serve your product with the same seriousness with which you built it. No ads to buy. No greenwashing competitors to fight off. No audience to convince from scratch.
Just a verified listing. A global audience. And a platform that finally makes your standards your advantage.
AqNova · Operated by Arivon Holding Corporation · Huntington Park, Southern California · vendors@aqnova.co
