No-commission gig platforms explained

How they work, what the catch is, and whether they actually make sense for providers

If you’re a gig provider in Australia, you’ve probably heard claims like “no commission” before — and instantly felt sceptical, especially if you’re already tired of percentage cuts from every job.

That reaction is understandable.

Most gig platforms take a percentage of every job, so when providers hear that commission can be avoided entirely, the first question is usually:

“What’s the catch?”

This article looks at whether no-commission gig work is actually possible in Australia, how these models work, and what service providers should realistically expect.

Why commission became the default model

Commission-based pricing didn’t appear by accident.

Early gig platforms needed a way to:

• Monetise quickly
• Scale revenue with job volume
• Avoid charging providers upfront

Taking a percentage of each job was simple.

If a provider earned more, the platform earned more too.

On paper, it looked aligned.

Where commission starts to hurt providers

The problem usually shows up over time.

A commission of 15–25% might not feel painful on a single job, but across weeks and months it adds up quickly.

For example:

• 4 jobs per week at $120 each
• 20% commission

That’s:

• $96 per week in fees
• nearly $5,000 per year

And that’s before factoring in:

• Bidding lower to win jobs
• unpaid quoting time
• paid boosts or visibility tools

Over time, many providers don’t just notice the fees — they become fed up with seeing a percentage taken from every completed job.

So… is “no commission” actually real?

Yes — but it doesn’t mean free.

No-commission platforms simply charge in a different way.

Instead of taking a cut from every job, they usually rely on one (or a mix) of the following:

• Fixed platform fees paid by customers
• Flat access or activity passes for providers
• Predictable subscription-style costs

The key difference is this:

Your platform cost is not linked to the value of the job you complete.

Whether you charge $80 or $300, the fee structure stays the same.

Why some providers prefer no-commission models

For many service providers, especially sole traders, the benefits are practical:

• You keep 100% of your service price
• Pricing becomes simpler and clearer
• Margins are predictable
• There’s less pressure to underquote

Over time, this allows providers to focus more on:

• Service quality
• Repeat customers
• Sustainable pricing

No-commission models tend to suit providers who think long-term rather than chasing volume at any cost.

Are there trade-offs?

Yes — and it’s important to be honest.

No-commission platforms:

• Are usually not “free”
• May not suit providers doing very occasional work
• Rely on transparency rather than incentives

For someone completing one job every few months, a commission model may feel easier.
For someone completing one job every few months, a commission model may feel easier.

Where GigMate fits

GigMate uses a no-commission structure designed around provider sustainability.

That means:

• Providers set their own prices
• Keep 100% of their service earnings
• Platform costs are fixed and transparent, not percentage-based

The aim isn’t to promise “free work”, but to remove the situation where fees quietly increase as providers work harder.

Final takeaway

No-commission gig work isn’t a myth.

It’s simply a different way of structuring marketplaces.

For providers who value:

• Predictable costs
• Fair pricing
• and keeping what they earn

it’s worth understanding how these models work — and deciding which structure actually supports the way you want to run your business.

👉 Want to keep 100% of what you earn?

Explore provider-first platforms like GigMate, built for service providers who want fairer access to local jobs — without commission eating into every job.