Goldco Review 2026: Fees, Minimum, Buyback and Complaints
Our Goldco review in one line: Goldco is a legitimate, long-running gold IRA dealer with a $25,000 minimum, about $225 to $275 a year in published account fees and frequent bonus silver offers. The trade-offs are an unpublished markup on the metal and a recent settlement over marketing texts. Below are the facts, sourced, and who Goldco suits best.
Goldco facts at a glance
| What matters | Goldco |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Calabasas, California |
| Founder / CEO | Trevor Gerszt |
| In business since | Goldco says 2006; BBB lists the current business as started October 2011 |
| BBB | A+, accredited since December 9, 2011 |
| Gold IRA minimum | Generally $25,000 |
| Metals | Mainly gold and silver, for IRAs and direct purchase |
| Promotions | Up to 10% bonus silver on qualified accounts (Goldco) |
| Buyback | Advertises a “highest buyback guarantee” with no fees to sell back |
Sources: BBB profile: Goldco; Goldco, Gold IRA FAQs; Goldco, About. Checked October 2026.
Goldco fees and minimum investment
Goldco is one of the few gold IRA companies that publishes its account fees. These are flat fees, so they cost less as a share of a larger account.
| Fee | Goldco (published) | When |
|---|---|---|
| Account setup | $50 | Once |
| Annual administration | $125 (one Goldco page quotes about $80) | Yearly |
| Storage, non-segregated | $100 | Yearly |
| Storage, segregated | $150 | Yearly |
| Dealer markup on metal | Not published | Every purchase |
Goldco itself says that at its $25,000 minimum the yearly fees work out to about 0.90% of the account, falling to about 0.23% at $100,000. The biggest cost is usually the markup over the spot price, so ask for the price of each coin or bar, and the spot price at that moment, in writing. Our gold IRA fees guide compares this across companies.
Source: Goldco, How much does a gold IRA cost? (updated February 2025).
Who Goldco is best for, and who should look elsewhere
Goldco fits if you
- Are moving $25,000 to $50,000, below Augusta’s minimum
- Want published account fees you can budget for
- Value a bonus silver promotion and will check its terms
- Want a company with a long BBB track record
Look elsewhere if you
- Have less than $25,000 (Birch Gold starts around $5,000)
- Want the metal markup quoted publicly before you call
- Dislike promotional sales offers and follow-up marketing
- Have $50,000 or more and want an education-first process
How opening a Goldco gold IRA works
- Open the self-directed IRAGoldco works with an IRA custodian to open the account. Ask which custodian and get its fee schedule.
- Fund it with a rollover or transferUse a direct rollover or custodian-to-custodian transfer so nothing is withheld for taxes. See our gold IRA rollover guide.
- Choose your metalsPick IRS-approved gold or silver. Get the per-item price, the spot price and any promotion terms in writing.
- Pick storageNon-segregated ($100 a year) or segregated ($150 a year) storage at an approved depository. Ask which depository, by name.
Goldco’s buyback promise and bonus silver: what to ask
Goldco advertises a “highest buyback guarantee” with no fees when you sell metals back to it, plus up to 10% bonus silver on qualified accounts. Both can be useful, but neither tells you the price you pay today.
- How is the buyback price set, and is the guarantee written into my paperwork?
- What is the markup on each product I am buying, compared with spot?
- Is the bonus silver paid for by a higher price on the main purchase?
- What is the minimum purchase to qualify for the promotion?
Source: Goldco, About. Our gold IRA red flags guide explains why bonus offers deserve a closer look across the industry.
Goldco complaints and lawsuit history
BBB: Goldco holds an A+ rating and has been BBB accredited since December 9, 2011. Check the live profile for current complaint counts and how they were answered.
Text message class action: In Summerton v. Goldco Direct LLC (U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, case 23-cv-238), Goldco was accused of sending marketing texts to people who had asked to stop receiving them, in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. A $2 million settlement was reached, with a final approval hearing set for March 26, 2026. Goldco denied the allegations and any wrongdoing. The case was about marketing texts, not about how customers’ metals or accounts were handled.
Sources: BBB profile: Goldco; Official settlement website.
Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals
| What matters | Goldco | Augusta |
|---|---|---|
| IRA minimum | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Management fee on the IRA | $80 to $125 a year | None of its own |
| Sales approach | Promotions such as bonus silver | Free education web conference before you buy |
| BBB | A+, accredited since 2011 | A+, accredited since 2015 |
| Metals | Mainly gold and silver | Gold and silver only |
For the full side-by-side, read Augusta vs Goldco. Other options: Augusta vs Birch Gold, Augusta vs American Hartford Gold, or all four in Best Gold IRA Companies of 2026.
Goldco review: frequently asked questions
Is Goldco legit?
Yes. Goldco is an established precious metals dealer based in Calabasas, California. It has held an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and BBB accreditation since December 2011. Like any dealer, it earns money on the price of the metals it sells, so compare total cost before you buy.
What is Goldco's minimum investment?
Goldco says it generally requires at least $25,000 to open a gold IRA, so that the yearly fees are not too large a share of the account.
How much are Goldco's fees?
Goldco publishes a $50 setup fee, an annual administration fee of $125 (one of its pages quotes about $80), and storage of $100 a year for non-segregated or $150 for segregated storage. That is about $225 to $275 a year after the first year. The dealer markup on the metal is separate and not published.
Does Goldco buy back gold?
Goldco advertises a highest buyback guarantee with no fees when you sell back to it. Ask for the buyback terms in writing, including how the price is set, before you buy.
Has Goldco been sued?
Yes. In a class action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin (Summerton v. Goldco Direct LLC), Goldco was accused of sending marketing text messages to people who had asked to stop receiving them. A $2 million settlement was reached. Goldco denied the allegations and any wrongdoing.
Is Goldco or Augusta better?
It depends on your balance and priorities. Goldco's $25,000 minimum is lower than Augusta's $50,000, and Goldco runs bonus silver promotions. Augusta charges no management fee on the IRA itself and is built around a free education session before you buy. See our full Augusta vs Goldco comparison.
Compare before you call anyone
If you are moving $50,000 or more, Augusta’s free Gold & Silver IRA Info Kit explains fees, storage and the rollover process before any sales call. Under $50,000? Our comparison shows which companies fit.
Get the Free Gold IRA Info KitFor balances of $50,000 or more.
Or read Best Gold IRA Companies of 2026