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RodSmith

The custom fishing rod marketplace and knowledge platform. Buy handcrafted rods direct from independent builders — or learn the craft and sell what you make.

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© 2026 RodSmith. All rights reserved.

Founding Builder Program

Pay 0% platform fee through 2026. Then 3%, locked forever.

Sell where anglers actually come looking for a custom rod. RodSmith is a real marketplace — checkout, escrow, and order tracking — built for the way rod builders sell. We’re seeding a founding class of 15 builders, onboarded personally.

15 founding spots — applications open

Apply for a founding spot

What founding builders get

0% platform fee through 2026

Then a flat 3%, locked forever — grandfathered even if the platform fee later rises.

Founding Builder badge

A permanent, credited mark on your profile as one of the founding 15.

Homepage & discovery featuring

Priority placement across the marketplace and community while the cohort is small.

ICAST-week spotlight

We showcase your work during the industry’s biggest week.

Direct roadmap input

A direct line to shape what we build next.

See what you keep

Enter your own numbers. RodSmith charges 0% platform fee through 2026, then 3%.

RodSmith — 0% platform fee through 2026

$509

you keep per rod

RodSmith — 3% after 2026

$494

you keep per rod

Your current channel — 10%

$457

you keep per rod

+ Stripe payment processing (~2.9% + $0.30) applies on any platform, including RodSmith. It is never hidden. RodSmith charges 0% platform fee through 2026, then a flat 3%.

How founding works

Step 1

Apply

Tell us who you are and where you sell now. Takes a minute.

Step 2

We reach out personally

A real conversation — founder to builder — within a day or two.

Step 3

Your storefront goes live

We help you set up spec-sheet listings, checkout, and payouts.

Apply for a founding spot

15 founding spots — applications open. Tell us a little about your work — we reply personally.

Founding Builder — FAQ

What does “0% platform fee” actually mean?
RodSmith takes 0% of your sale price through the end of 2026, then a flat 3% locked in forever. Stripe’s payment processing (~2.9% + $0.30) still applies, as it does on any platform — we never hide that.
Where are the buyers?
We’re honest: RodSmith is early. What we offer today is a real marketplace — checkout, escrow, order tracking, and a spec-sheet catalog anglers can search — plus the fee savings and full ownership of your customer relationship. We build discovery with real SEO, not fabricated traffic numbers.
What’s the catch with the Founding 15?
None hidden. It’s a small, credited founding class. We cap it at 15 so we can onboard each builder personally and feature you while the cohort is small. A second class may open later.
Do I have to build on spec?
No. List finished rods for immediate sale, or publish spec sheets of past work and take commission inquiries — buyers describe their water, technique, and budget, and you build to order.