_Open Shelf · Free cheat sheet · read it before you sign_ # Consignment split cheat sheet *What 50/50 and 60/40 really mean, who pays for what, and the red flags.* On consignment you lend a shop your stock and get paid only when it sells, minus the shop’s cut. Of the 142 shops in Open Shelf that publish a split, **the most common is 60% to the maker (52 shops), then 50/50 (37 shops)**. The split is only half the deal. Fees and fine print can matter more. ## What you take home on a $40 item | Deal | You get | Shop keeps | When you’re paid | |---|---|---|---| | 50/50 consignment | $20 | $20 | After it sells | | 60/40 (60 to you) | $24 | $16 | After it sells | | 70/30 (70 to you) | $28 | $12 | After it sells | | Wholesale (keystone) | $20 | $20 markup | Up front, on your invoice | “60/40” doesn’t say whose 60 it is. Ask: “Is that 60 to me or 60 to you?” Get the answer in writing. ## Who pays for what (ask about every row) | Cost | Usually | Ask | |---|---|---| | Getting stock to the shop | You | Drop-off or ship? Any delivery window? | | Setting the retail price | You, agreed together | Can they mark down or discount without asking? | | Card processing fees | Varies | Taken off the top, before the split? | | Monthly or up-front fees | Some shops | How much, and is it on top of the split? | | Payout fees | Some shops | One shop deducts $2.50 per ACH payout. | | Theft or damage in the store | Often unclear | Who covers it? Very few shops in our list say. | | Unsold stock | You pick it up | How long is the term? What happens after? | ## Red flags - ⚑ No written agreement, or one that doesn’t name the split. - ⚑ No inventory list signed when you drop off stock. - ⚑ No monthly sales report, or payouts later than about 30 days after month end. - ⚑ Monthly fees bigger than what you’re likely to sell. Do the math: a $35/month fee at 50% needs $70 in sales before you earn a cent. - ⚑ “Abandoned stock” or expiry clauses. One agreement in our list treats goods unchecked for 6+ months as abandoned; another won’t pay out sales older than a year. - ⚑ Discounts or markdowns taken from your share without your OK. - ⚑ No way to get your stock back before the term ends. > Consignment can be a good first step into a shop. I’d rather try a new maker on consignment than say no. > > Compare real shop terms side by side in the [consignment list](https://joinopenshelf.com/consignment-shops-for-makers/), and read [consignment vs. wholesale](https://joinopenshelf.com/blog/consignment-vs-wholesale-for-new-brands/). --- **From Open Shelf — independent US shops that accept new brands** [joinopenshelf.com](https://joinopenshelf.com) · Consignment shops for makers, with each shop’s published split: [joinopenshelf.com/consignment-shops-for-makers/](https://joinopenshelf.com/consignment-shops-for-makers/) Want shops to find you? [Founding Featured spots, $39 or $79](https://joinopenshelf.com/brands/featured/). Pitching New York? [The NYC Pitch Pack](https://joinopenshelf.com/pitch-packs/nyc/). _Splits and fees are from shops’ own published terms in the Open Shelf directory (625 shops, checked Oct 2026). Not legal advice; read the agreement._