Instant-quote platforms changed manufacturing procurement by collapsing the RFQ cycle from three weeks to three minutes. That part is genuinely valuable. What the single price on the screen does not tell you is how it splits between the workshop that makes your part and the platform that sold it to you.
The listed platforms do publish that split, just not on the quote. This piece shows where to find it, what it means, and seven diligence questions to ask before committing to any platform — including ours.
What the filings say
Two of the largest instant-quote marketplaces are listed companies, so their margins are public:
| Platform | Platform's share of buyer revenue | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Xometry (marketplace) | 34.7% gross margin, full year 2025 | Form 10-K for 2025 |
| Protolabs Network (formerly Hubs) | 31% non-GAAP gross margin, full year 2025 | Protolabs Q4 2025 earnings call, 6 February 2026 |
Gross margin is what is left of the buyer's payment after the platform pays the supplier, shipping and other direct costs. So on an average €1,000 Xometry marketplace order in 2025, about €347 stayed with Xometry and about €653 covered the supplier and fulfilment. That is where the 35% in the title comes from.
Anatomy of an instant quote
An instant-quote price is the sum of four layers:
- Workshop cost — material, machining time, finishing and setup.
- Workshop margin — the shop's own profit. Fair, and the reason it takes your job.
- Platform share — the gross margin above. It pays for engineering review, quality assurance, sales, support and the platform's profit.
- Shipping and surcharges — expedite fees, finishing, logistics.
None of this is improper. Platforms provide real value: vetted suppliers, DFM review, one invoice, dispute handling, predictable lead times. For a first order that service is worth paying for.
When the platform share is worth questioning
- You order the same part every month from the same platform — you pay the onboarding service on every reorder.
- Your company has in-house DFM — you pay for a review you do not need.
- You are a sourcing agent with your own workshop relationships — the platform's share stacks on top of yours.
- You spend €50k+ a year on one platform — you have leverage you are not using.
Seven questions to ask any platform (ours included)
1. "What percentage of my payment reaches the workshop?"
A platform with a stated fee answers in one sentence. A single-price platform answers with its gross margin, if it answers at all.
2. "Can I see the workshop's own price?"
If the answer is "that is proprietary supplier data", the difference between the two prices is the platform's business.
3. "Is the platform's share the same regardless of order value?"
If it varies by job, ask for the rule. If small jobs carry a higher share than large ones, negotiate a volume tier.
4. "What happens if I bring my own workshop?"
Some platforms charge a reduced rate when you onboard a supplier you already use. If they do not allow it, ask why.
5. "Where is my money while the order is in production?"
Ask whether the platform holds your payment until you approve the parts, and what happens to it in a quality dispute — including the timeline for resolving one.
6. "Can I see production progress without calling an account manager?"
Stage updates with photos tell you about a delay before the ship date does.
7. "How fast do you pay the workshop?"
Workshops with poor cash flow deliver late. A platform that pays suppliers 60+ days after delivery gets lower priority on the shop floor than one that pays in days.
How to read the answer to "what's your margin?"
| Framing | What it means |
|---|---|
| "Flat X% platform fee" | Exactly that — check it is on the invoice |
| "Tiered take rate" | Variable by order; ask for the table |
| "Value-based pricing" | Set per job, not disclosed |
| "Quote includes everything" | The platform's share is inside the price |
Our own position — because transparency cuts both ways
FabriMatch charges a 10% platform fee on top of the producer's quote, shown as its own line on the offer before you accept and again on the invoice. A €1,000 quote reaches the workshop in full; you pay €1,100. As a share of your total payment that is about 9.1%. Buyers with more than €250,000 of lifetime orders pay less, down to 7%.
We also hold your payment until you approve the inspection, and pay the producer by SEPA three days after release.
We keep less per order than the platforms above. The bet is that a visible fee and a named producer win more buyers, and that volume beats margin. Whether that bet works is a separate question — but you can ask us the same seven questions, and the answers fit on one page.
What to do next
- Read about EU cost-cutting levers that don't require moving to Asia
- Compare FabriMatch with Xometry and Protolabs, with sources
- Check our published rate cards against your current platform's instant quote
FabriMatch connects EU buyers with verified manufacturers in the EU and China. A 10% platform fee, shown as its own line on every offer. Payment held until you approve the parts.