High inclusion of dietary fermented soybean meal (FSBM), as reported in previous studies on poultry production, is less applicable because of the increased cost. Therefore, we sought out a new cost-effective application strategy in which FSBM was incorporated into broiler diets at a low inclusion rate (1 to 3%) to replace a portion of other dietary high-protein feedstuff sources, including fish meal, corn gluten meal, and soybean meal. The ADG was not adversely affected by partial replacement of FSBM. However, birds fed the diets containing 3% FSBM had an improved FCR during the starter period (P < 0.05). Moreover, use of 2 and 3% FSBM resulted in a decreased feed cost per BW by 2.39 and 2.17% compared with the control diet. The relative organ weights, carcass characteristics, and serum parameters were not influenced by diets (P > 0.05). In conclusion, equal replacement of other high-protein feedstuff sources with 2 or 3% FSBM in broiler diets is a new and cost-effective application strategy, which spares the use of fish meal or corn gluten meal and soybean meal in the current study