Free to list. Pay 50% of first month's rent when you get a tenant.
No contracts. No hidden costs. Still a fraction of what a broker charges — and our rate drops the longer your tenant stays.
Diversify your risk
Don't get stuck when your only tenant leaves. Small units spread income across many businesses.
Never 100% exposed
One vacancy across 50 units is a 2% hit — not a crisis. Bet on a portfolio, not one anchor tenant.
Higher $/sqft
Small spaces command premium rates — more revenue from the same footprint.
For Landlords
+ 50% of first month's rent per confirmed lease
+ 2% of monthly rent (ongoing)
Minimum placement fee $99 · 25% of one month's rent on renewals
Small units = diversified risk. One vacancy is a fraction of your portfolio, not all of it.
- Unlimited listings
- Photos, amenities, map pin
- Direct tenant messages
- Lease management
- Lease document generation
- Diversified vacancy risk across units
- Listing analytics (coming soon)
- Monthly subscription fees
- Listing fees
- Hidden costs
For Tenants
Always. No fees. Ever.
- Browse all listings
- Filter by type, price, size, location
- Message landlords directly
- Lease document & consultation
- Submit leasing requests instantly
- Map view with verified locations
- Small business resources
- Community
- Broker fees
- Application fees
- Hidden costs
Compare the cost
See how RentSmall stacks up against traditional options for a $1,500/mo space.
| Platform | Listing Cost | Transaction Fee | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Broker | Free | 1 month rent + 4-6% | $2,400-$3,600 Based on $1,500/mo, 12-month lease |
| LoopNet | $89-$320/mo | None | $1,068-$3,840/yr No guaranteed tenant |
| RentSmall | Free | 50% of 1st month + 2%/mo | $1,110* Based on $1,500/mo, 12-month lease |
How the booking fee works
You only pay when your space gets a confirmed tenant. Here's the flow:
List your space for free
Add photos, set your price, and describe your space. Takes under 5 minutes. No credit card needed.
Get messages from tenants
Interested tenants will message you directly. Chat, schedule tours, negotiate terms — all free.
Receive a leasing request
When a tenant is ready, they submit a leasing request with their business info and desired move-in date.
Pay 50% of first month's rent to confirm
Approve the lease and pay the placement fee via Stripe (50% of first month's rent, minimum $99, no cap). A small 2% monthly platform fee applies for the lease duration. Still a fraction of what a broker charges.
See how much you save
Drag the slider to see your costs at any rent level.
RentSmall (12 mo)
$740
6.2% effective rate
Broker (12 mo)
$1,600
13.3% effective rate
You Save (12 mo)
$860
54% less
Effective Rate Over Time
Total Cost by Term Length
RentSmall = 50% of 1st month (min $99) + 2% of monthly rent × lease term. Broker = 100% of 1st month + 5% of total lease value.
Broker effective rate formula: (1/months + 0.05) × 100. Actual broker fees vary.
Aligned incentives — we succeed when you do
Our 2% monthly platform fee means we're invested in your tenant's success. We earn more when tenants stay longer, so we're motivated to place quality tenants who will thrive.
Your effective rate drops the longer your tenant stays: ~6.2% for a 12-month lease, ~4.1% for 24 months, ~3.4% for 36 months.
Still a fraction of what a traditional broker charges at every lease length.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the placement fee?
The placement fee is 50% of the first month's rent, with a minimum of $99 and no cap. For example, a $1,000/month space costs $500. A $2,000/month space costs $1,000. You only pay when you confirm a lease — never before. There's also a small ongoing platform fee of 2% of monthly rent for the duration of the lease.
Why 50% of first month's rent?
A traditional broker charges 100% of first month's rent plus 4-6% of the total lease value. We charge half of one month upfront — dramatically less — plus a small 2% ongoing fee that aligns our incentives with your tenant's success.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. Listing on RentSmall is completely free, forever. The fees are: (1) a one-time placement fee of 50% of first month's rent when you confirm a lease, (2) a 2% monthly platform fee for the lease term, and (3) a 25% of one month's rent renewal commission if the tenant renews. That's it — no surprises.
Do tenants pay any fees?
No. RentSmall is 100% free for tenants. No application fees, no broker fees, no hidden costs.
What if the tenant cancels?
If a lease is cancelled before the tenant moves in, we'll work with you on a case-by-case basis. Our goal is to be fair.
Can I list multiple spaces?
Yes! List as many spaces as you want, all for free. You only pay fees per space that gets leased.
How does payment work?
We use Stripe for secure payment processing. The one-time placement fee (50% of first month's rent, min $99) is collected via Stripe Checkout when you confirm a lease. The 2% monthly platform fee is billed automatically via Stripe for the duration of the lease.