Facebook Marketplace is a convenient platform for buying and selling goods locally. With over 1 billion monthly active users on Facebook, Marketplace provides a huge potential customer base for sellers. But can you offer services, in addition to physical goods, on Marketplace? Let’s take a look at what the platform rules and features allow.
Facebook Marketplace Rules on Services
Facebook Marketplace’s commerce policies prohibit using the platform to sell certain types of services. Specifically, Marketplace bans:
- Selling or offering services that facilitate dishonest behavior, like essay writing
- Offering escort or adult services
- Selling services related to cryptocurrency or crypto investments
- Offering medical or health services
- Selling services related to gambling, contests, raffles, or betting
So services in those prohibited categories cannot be offered on Marketplace. However, the policies do not explicitly ban services overall. Many service-based businesses operate successfully on the platform within the rules.
Selling Permitted Services on Marketplace
While Marketplace isn’t optimized for selling services, you can list certain service offerings if you follow the policies. Some types of services commonly sold on Marketplace include:
- Handyman services like painting, plumbing, or yard work
- Pet services such as dog walking, grooming, or training
- Beauty services like hair styling or makeup
- Childcare such as babysitting or tutoring
- Professional services like photography, design, or accounting
- Food services like meal prep, catering, or baking
- Automotive services including repairs, detailing, towing
- Movers and junk removal
- Lessons and tutoring in permitted subjects
The key is focusing on services that provide value locally and do not violate any Marketplace commerce rules. With a bit of creativity, many different skilled trades and talents can be monetized through service offerings on the platform.
How to List and Price Services on Marketplace
Listing a service on Marketplace takes some adaptation from the product listing format, but can be executed fairly intuitively.
Title
Choose a short, descriptive title summarizing the service you offer. For example: “Learn piano from an experienced teacher.”
Description
The description can provide more details on the specifics of the service, your qualifications and experience, what’s included, and payment expectations. Explain clearly what customers will receive so there’s no confusion.
Photos/Video
Displaying photos or videos helps showcase your skills. A guitar teacher may want to include a video clip of them playing. Photographers can display samples of their work. Or show your professional tools and workspace.
Price
Set a fixed price for your service based on the time, resources, and value offered. Hourly services are easy to price: quote an hourly rate. Packages are also popular, like a 4-week dog training package or 5 hours of consulting. Avoid open-ended pricing like “negotiable” or “make an offer” which can attract scammers.
Facebook does not process payments for services like it can for physical goods. So you’ll need to clarify payment methods and requirements upfront in your listing and agree on payment before the transaction.
Pros of Offering Services on Marketplace
Selling services through Facebook Marketplace provides some unique advantages:
- Huge potential audience: Over a billion monthly users is hard to ignore. Marketplace gives incredible exposure, especially for local services.
- Free to list: Facebook does not charge any fees or commissions to list or sell on Marketplace.
- Flexible format: Listings don’t have to follow a strict template, so services can be presented creatively.
- Familiar platform: Facebook users are already comfortable browsing and buying on Marketplace.
The massive reach of the Facebook user base allows even brand new service providers to tap into an engaged local market at no upfront cost.
Cons of Offering Services on Marketplace
Some drawbacks come with offering services on Facebook Marketplace as well:
- No integrated payment processing: All payments must be handled off platform between seller and buyer.
- Limited seller protection: Facebook provides less protection for sellers compared to dedicated freelance or services platforms.
- Cluttered platform: Buyers may overlook service listings among the many product listings.
- Difficult to showcase credentials: Unlike a professional profiles on LinkedIn or freelance sites, Marketplace has limited options for highlighting qualifications or reviews.
While Marketplace extends a service seller’s reach tremendously, it lacks some of the protections and credibility-building features that specialized services platforms offer.
Should You Sell Services on Facebook Marketplace?
Here are some things to consider when deciding if Marketplace is the right sales channel for your services:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Huge potential audience – Free to list – Flexible format – Familiar platform |
– No integrated payments – Limited seller protection – Cluttered platform – Hard to showcase credentials |
Weigh your options carefully based on the specific service you want to offer. Marketplace can be an amazing resource for sellers who approach it strategically and creatively. But it may not be ideal for all service businesses.
Best Candidates for Selling on Marketplace
Certain types of services tend to thrive better on Marketplace than others:
- Hands-on services like housecleaning, pet care, yard work, auto repair
- Lessons and tutoring
- Food services and local catering
- Simple one-off tasks like assembly, mounting, delivery
- Physical services requiring you to travel to the client, not virtual services
Services that are tangible, local, and don’t require complex credentials or licensure are best suited for Marketplace.
Poor Candidates for Selling on Marketplace
Other types of services face more challenges on the platform:
- Highly regulated services like legal advice, financial planning
- Online or virtual services without local presence
- Complex services requiring detailed proposals and contracts
- Businesses relying heavily on professional reputation and referrals
These types of services may be better suited for professional freelance platforms where seller profiles and qualifications can be presented and verified.
Tips for Successfully Selling Services on Marketplace
If you determine Marketplace is a good fit for selling your service, keep these tips in mind:
- Highlight what makes you the best at what you do in your description – expertise, passion, etc.
- Respond promptly and politely to buyer messages to build trust.
- Only accept payment from established Facebook profiles, beware scammers.
- Ask satisfied clients for reviews on your independent professional profiles.
- Renew your listing frequently so it appears at the top of search results.
- Follow up with buyers after completing a service to encourage repeat business.
Delivering exceptional service quality and value is crucial since Facebook itself provides limited seller protections. Your professionalism and reputation must instill buyer confidence.
Should You Use Another Platform Instead?
While Marketplace opens up a huge market, specialized platforms offer advantages that may work better for some service providers. Consider alternatives like:
- Fiverr – Gig marketplace popular for freelance tasks and simple services. Integrated payments and review system.
- Thumbtack – Lead generation service matches providers with nearby clients. Profiles highlight credentials.
- Care.com – Connects providers with clients for childcare, senior care, pet care, housekeeping and more. Background checked profiles.
- Handy – Home services platform for assembly, mounting, cleaning and handyman tasks. Pre-approved insured pros.
- LinkedIn – Professional network profiles showcase expertise. Integrates payment invoices.
Weigh the pros and cons of each platform against your business goals, service offerings, ideal audience and needs as a seller. The right fit depends on your specific situation.
Conclusion
Facebook Marketplace does not allow sellers to offer all types of services, but many permitted professional services can utilize Marketplace successfully with the right approach. Crafty and adaptable service providers can access Marketplace’s huge buyer base to expand their clientele at no cost. Yet the platform has limitations around seller protections and presentation options. Weigh Marketplace’s advantages against other service selling platforms to determine the best sales channel for your specific offerings.