Picture by Writer | CanvaWhen you’ve spent months (or years!) constructing an app, extension, script or SaaS, and also you’re able to money out as an alternative of operating an organization, excellent news: There at the moment are dozens of marketplaces the place you may listing a accomplished venture and discover a purchaser. These vary from full startup acquisition websites to community-driven classifieds and even newsletters. Many platforms focus on “micro” acquisitions (offers within the $10K–$100K vary) and cater to solo devs or small groups who need a one-time exit with out fundraising or long-term dedication. Every market works a little bit otherwise, so right here’s an inventory of 10 locations you should strive. We’ll cowl how they work, key options, execs/cons, and who they’re finest for, so you realize what to anticipate. So, let’s get began:
1. Purchase.com (previously MicroAcquire)
Hyperlink: https://purchase.com/
Purchase.com (the rebranded MicroAcquire) is the most important identify proper now for getting and promoting on-line companies. It’s a SaaS/startup market the place founders can listing their firms and join with vetted patrons. The location is free for founders (you may create a list and set your information with out up-front price), whereas patrons pay a subscription to see vendor contact particulars. All listings are screened by Purchase’s crew earlier than going reside, and patrons solely see an nameless teaser (“NDA’d” profile) till the founder approves them. In observe, Purchase.com gives plenty of hand-holding: you get an knowledgeable acquisition advisor, authorized templates, escrow integration (by way of Escrow.com), advertising and marketing outreach and even a valuation instrument to assist worth what you are promoting. The closing charge (paid solely once you promote) is round 6–8% of the sale worth, and there could also be a small month-to-month itemizing charge ($25–$100) relying in your deal measurement.
2. Microns.io
Hyperlink: https://www.microns.io/
Microns.io is a micro-SaaS market that focuses on smaller offers so it’s excellent for tiny apps or scripts price a number of hundred up to some hundred thousand {dollars}. Each itemizing on Microns is vetted by the crew, which verifies income and site visitors to assist keep away from scams. The platform provides an escrow service referred to as “Switch by Microns” for safe funds, and makes a publication of sizzling listings to a premium subscriber base. It’s finest for solo devs or hobbyists with tiny apps, plugins, or facet tasks that usher in some earnings.
3. SideProjectors
Hyperlink: https://www.sideprojectors.com/
SideProjectors is a pleasant neighborhood market for promoting facet tasks. It is sort of a free listings board constructed by builders for builders. You may put up your venture (net app, script, facet SaaS, and many others.) with an outline, screenshots, income information, and hyperlinks, and patrons can contact you instantly. There aren’t any itemizing charges and no fee – SideProjectors merely connects you. In contrast to Purchase or Microns, there’s no vetting or escrow. Which means you don’t pay something to listing, however you additionally do your individual due diligence and cost settlement. SideProjectors doesn’t even deal with funds – when somebody’s , you negotiate and shut the deal privately. It’s additionally good for those who’re simply testing the waters, because it’s 100% free to strive but it surely has decrease site visitors in comparison with massive websites and it’s a must to do all work by yourself.
4. Flippa
Hyperlink: https://flippa.com/
Flippa is the unique and largest public market for getting and promoting web sites, apps, and on-line companies. It’s been round for over a decade and has a large viewers of patrons. You may listing just about something: cell apps, browser extensions, SaaS companies, e-commerce shops, content material websites, Amazon FBA retailers and extra. Good for mid-sized offers ($10K–$250K). Flippa’s mannequin is extra like eBay or Shopify’s market – you listing an asset, and both public sale it off or set a buy-it-now worth. They supply analytics widgets (e.g. Google Analytics, income experiences) that house owners can allow to show site visitors/income to patrons. In addition they supply an escrow service (Flippa Escrow) to securely deal with giant transactions. On the opposite facet, it fees successful charge (round 15% of sale worth) plus itemizing charges for premium options.
5. TransferLot
Hyperlink: https://transferslot.com/
TransferLot is a more moderen market for promoting facet tasks and small on-line companies. It combines a free itemizing interval with publication promotion. At present, every new itemizing on TransferLot is free for the primary two weeks, and there’s no transaction charge for sellers. If you’d like prolonged publicity, you may pay a small charge (round $20) to proceed itemizing or get featured. The principle catch is that solely non-e-commerce, passive-income websites could be listed – they prohibit conventional retail or dropshipping. TransferLot additionally runs a weekly e mail to patrons highlighting the most recent listings, so it’s geared towards traders in search of fast turnkey tasks. There isn’t a built-in escrow on TransferLot, so like SideProjectors you’ll have to rearrange cost individually and be cautious.
6. Empire Flippers
Hyperlink: https://empireflippers.com/
Empire Flippers is a brokerage and market for worthwhile on-line companies. It’s a hybrid between Flippa and a conventional M&A dealer. They vet each itemizing totally and solely take websites that meet sure standards (usually not less than $1,000/month in revenue or extra). Empire Flippers has an skilled crew that verifies your financials, site visitors, and different information earlier than itemizing. Once you promote, you get a devoted account supervisor to information you thru valuation and shutting. In addition they have an built-in escrow and may deal with due diligence paperwork.
7. Alternative Overload
Hyperlink: https://www.opportunityoverload.com/
Alternative Overload is just not a full-fledged market web site, however a high-volume publication that highlights startup for-sale listings. Every week they publish a roundup of fascinating companies (apps, SaaS, websites, and many others.) on the market. As a vendor, you may pay a one-time charge (presently $10) to have your venture featured in a difficulty. The entry is a really quick blurb (a number of strains) in an e mail despatched to ~10,000+ subscribers who want to purchase or make investments. This service was began by a maker who efficiently offered a venture by way of it, and he claims one $10 itemizing can generate many inquiries. There’s no escrow or built-in platform basically, you’re paying for visibility.
8. BuyMicroStartups
Hyperlink: https://www.buymicrostartups.com/
BuyMicroStartups is a more moderen platform that calls itself a market for high-potential micro-startups. It was began by a few indie makers who noticed a spot for smaller offers. The concept is to mixture fascinating small companies that would develop with some funding. Listings are reviewed earlier than approval, and there’s a deal with high quality. Notably, they promise zero commissions for each patrons and sellers – your entire sale worth goes to the events. In addition they supply a premium membership for patrons, which provides early alerts on new listings and direct connections to sellers. So you probably have a promising venture, itemizing it on BuyMicroStartups will expose it to traders seeking to take small “bets”. It’s nonetheless a rising platform, so site visitors is modest.
9. SellMyApp
Hyperlink: https://www.sellmyapp.com/
SellMyApp is a specialised market for cell app supply code (largely clones of standard apps or templates) and, by extension, absolutely developed cell apps. Based in 2013, it has develop into one of many largest platforms for getting and promoting Android and iOS app code. It began as a easy classifieds website (you paid a small charge to listing your app for 30 days), however has since advanced right into a full market with hundreds of listings. Sellers can add their supply code, set a worth, after which patrons (usually builders seeking to launch their very own app) can buy the code with a full license. This isn’t promoting your whole enterprise or product – it’s promoting copies of your app’s code. You solely earn every time somebody buys the code, fairly than a lump-sum exit. It’s additionally helpful for quick-cash you probably have a accomplished app you not need to preserve – you may listing it and doubtlessly earn hundreds by way of a number of gross sales.
10. FE Worldwide
Hyperlink: https://www.feinternational.com/
FE Worldwide is among the oldest and most respectedM&A advisors for SaaS, e-commerce, and content material companies. They perform like a dealer: working instantly with mid-to-large firms to arrange them on the market and discover patrons. Since 2010 they’ve offered over 1,200 companies. FE Worldwide offers largely within the six- to seven-figure vary (and even greater). When you use FE, you’ll get an knowledgeable advisor assigned to your case who will assist with valuation, due diligence, advertising and marketing your itemizing to the correct traders, and navigating the closing course of. It’s just for massive video games – if what you are promoting is simply too small (underneath ~$100K/12 months revenue) or pre-revenue, FEI received’t work with you.
Wrapping Up
This brings us to the tip of this text. When you’ve been sitting on a facet venture, script, or small app that’s bringing in even a little bit income, there’s doubtless a purchaser on the market for it. You don’t want VC funding or a co-founder. Only a working product, some sincere metrics, and the willingness to listing.
Kanwal Mehreen Kanwal is a machine studying engineer and a technical author with a profound ardour for information science and the intersection of AI with drugs. She co-authored the e-book “Maximizing Productiveness with ChatGPT”. As a Google Technology Scholar 2022 for APAC, she champions variety and educational excellence. She’s additionally acknowledged as a Teradata Range in Tech Scholar, Mitacs Globalink Analysis Scholar, and Harvard WeCode Scholar. Kanwal is an ardent advocate for change, having based FEMCodes to empower ladies in STEM fields.