Founding builder program

Pay 0% platform fee on your first 5 orders. Then 3%.

Sell where anglers actually come looking for a custom rod. RodSmith is a real marketplace — secure checkout 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 on your first 5 orders

Then a flat 3% of the rod price.

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 on your first 5 orders, then 3%.

Your typical rod priceYour current channel fee: 10%Enter what you pay today — we don't assume any platform's rate.

RodSmith — 0% on your first 5 orders

$509

you keep per rod

RodSmith — 3% after that

$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 on your first 5 orders, 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 on your first 5 orders, then a flat 3%. 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 — secure checkout, 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 founding class. We cap it at 15 so we can onboard each builder personally. 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.

Pay 0% platform fee on your first 5 orders. Then 3%.

15 founding spots — applications open

See what you keep

Enter your own numbers. RodSmith charges 0% platform fee on your first 5 orders, then 3%.

Your typical rod priceYour current channel fee: 10%Enter what you pay today — we don't assume any platform's rate.

RodSmith — 0% on your first 5 orders

$509

you keep per rod

RodSmith — 3% after that

$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 on your first 5 orders, then a flat 3%.

Founding Builder — FAQ

What does “0% platform fee” actually mean?

RodSmith takes 0% of your sale price on your first 5 orders, then a flat 3%. 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 — secure checkout, 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 founding class. We cap it at 15 so we can onboard each builder personally. 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.