Picture by Writer | CanvaIf you happen to’ve spent months (or years!) constructing an app, extension, script or SaaS, and also you’re able to money out as an alternative of working an organization, excellent news: There are actually dozens of marketplaces the place you may checklist a accomplished undertaking and discover a purchaser. These vary from full startup acquisition websites to community-driven classifieds and even newsletters. Many platforms concentrate on “micro” acquisitions (offers within the $10K–$100K vary) and cater to solo devs or small groups who desire a one-time exit with out fundraising or long-term dedication. Every market works somewhat in a different way, so right here’s an inventory of 10 locations you will need to strive. We’ll cowl how they work, key options, execs/cons, and who they’re greatest 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 largest identify proper now for purchasing and promoting on-line companies. It’s a SaaS/startup market the place founders can checklist their firms and join with vetted patrons. The positioning is free for founders (you may create an inventory 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 workforce earlier than going dwell, and patrons solely see an nameless teaser (“NDA’d” profile) till the founder approves them. In follow, Purchase.com gives loads of hand-holding: you get an professional acquisition advisor, authorized templates, escrow integration (by way of Escrow.com), advertising outreach and even a valuation instrument to assist value your enterprise. The closing payment (paid solely while you promote) is round 6–8% of the sale value, and there could also be a small month-to-month itemizing payment ($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 superb for tiny apps or scripts price a number of hundred up to a couple hundred thousand {dollars}. Each itemizing on Microns is vetted by the workforce, which verifies income and visitors to assist keep away from scams. The platform presents an escrow service known as “Switch by Microns” for safe funds, and makes a e-newsletter of scorching listings to a premium subscriber base. It’s greatest for solo devs or hobbyists with tiny apps, plugins, or facet tasks that usher in some revenue.
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 undertaking (internet app, script, facet SaaS, and so on.) 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. Not like Purchase or Microns, there’s no vetting or escrow. Meaning you don’t pay something to checklist, however you additionally do your personal 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 in case you’re simply testing the waters, because it’s 100% free to strive nevertheless it has decrease visitors in comparison with huge websites and you must do all work by yourself.
4. Flippi
Hyperlink: https://flippa.com/
Flippa is the unique and largest public market for purchasing 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 checklist just about something: cellular apps, browser extensions, SaaS companies, e-commerce shops, content material websites, Amazon FBA outlets and extra. Good for mid-sized offers ($10K–$250K). Flippa’s mannequin is extra like eBay or Shopify’s market – you checklist an asset, and both public sale it off or set a buy-it-now value. They supply analytics widgets (e.g. Google Analytics, income studies) that homeowners can allow to show visitors/income to patrons. Additionally they provide an escrow service (Flippa Escrow) to soundly deal with giant transactions. On the opposite facet, it fees a hit payment (round 15% of sale value) 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 e-newsletter promotion. Presently, every new itemizing on TransferLot is free for the primary two weeks, and there’s no transaction payment for sellers. In order for you prolonged publicity, you may pay a small payment (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 latest listings, so it’s geared towards traders in search of fast turnkey tasks. There isn’t any 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 completely and solely take websites that meet sure standards (sometimes no less than $1,000/month in revenue or extra). Empire Flippers has an skilled workforce that verifies your financials, visitors, and different information earlier than itemizing. While you promote, you get a devoted account supervisor to information you thru valuation and shutting. Additionally they have an built-in escrow and might 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 e-newsletter that highlights startup for-sale listings. Every week they publish a roundup of fascinating companies (apps, SaaS, websites, and so on.) on the market. As a vendor, you may pay a one-time payment (presently $10) to have your undertaking featured in a problem. The entry is a really brief 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 undertaking via it, and he claims one $10 itemizing can generate many inquiries. There’s no escrow or built-in platform primarily, 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 might 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 – all the sale value goes to the events. Additionally they provide a premium membership for patrons, which provides early alerts on new listings and direct connections to sellers. So when you have a promising undertaking, itemizing it on BuyMicroStartups will expose it to traders seeking to take small “bets”. It’s nonetheless a rising platform, so visitors is modest.
9. Sellmyapp
Hyperlink: https://www.sellmyapp.com/
SellMyApp is a specialised market for cellular app supply code (largely clones of widespread apps or templates) and, by extension, absolutely developed cellular apps. Based in 2013, it has change into one of many largest platforms for purchasing and promoting Android and iOS app code. It began as a easy classifieds website (you paid a small payment to checklist your app for 30 days), however has since developed right into a full market with 1000’s of listings. Sellers can add their supply code, set a value, after which patrons (sometimes builders seeking to launch their very own app) can buy the code with a full license. This isn’t promoting your total enterprise or product – it’s promoting copies of your app’s code. You solely earn every time somebody buys the code, slightly than a lump-sum exit. It’s additionally helpful for quick-cash when you have a accomplished app you now not need to keep – you may checklist it and probably earn 1000’s via a number of gross sales.
10. FE Worldwide
Hyperlink: https://www.feinternational.com/
FE Worldwide is likely one of the oldest and most respectedM&A advisors for SaaS, e-commerce, and content material companies. They operate 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). If you happen to use FE, you’ll get an professional advisor assigned to your case who will assist with valuation, due diligence, advertising your itemizing to the appropriate traders, and navigating the closing course of. It’s just for huge video games – if your enterprise is just too small (below ~$100K/yr revenue) or pre-revenue, FEI received’t work with you.
Wrapping Up
This brings us to the tip of this text. If you happen to’ve been sitting on a facet undertaking, script, or small app that’s bringing in even somewhat income, there’s probably 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 checklist.
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 book “Maximizing Productiveness with ChatGPT”. As a Google Era Scholar 2022 for APAC, she champions range and tutorial 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 girls in STEM fields.
