When 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 working an organization, excellent news: There are actually dozens of marketplaces the place you’ll be able to listing a accomplished challenge and discover a purchaser. These vary from full startup acquisition websites to community-driven classifieds and even newsletters. Many platforms specialise in “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 bit otherwise, so right here’s an inventory of 10 locations you will need to attempt. We’ll cowl how they work, key options, execs/cons, and who they’re finest for, so 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 purchasing and promoting on-line companies. It’s a SaaS/startup market the place founders can listing their firms and join with vetted patrons. The positioning is free for founders (you’ll be able to create a list and set your information with out up-front value), whereas patrons pay a subscription to see vendor contact particulars. All listings are screened by Purchase’s group earlier than going reside, and patrons solely see an nameless teaser (“NDA’d” profile) till the founder approves them. In apply, Purchase.com offers loads of hand-holding: you get an professional acquisition advisor, authorized templates, escrow integration (through Escrow.com), advertising and marketing outreach and even a valuation instrument to assist value your corporation. The closing payment (paid solely once 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 dimension.
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 value just a few hundred up to some hundred thousand {dollars}. Each itemizing on Microns is vetted by the group, which verifies income and site visitors to assist keep away from scams. The platform provides an escrow service known 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 initiatives that usher in some earnings.
3. SideProjectors
Hyperlink: https://www.sideprojectors.com/
SideProjectors is a pleasant group market for promoting facet initiatives. It is sort of a free listings board constructed by builders for builders. You may publish your challenge (internet app, script, facet SaaS, and many others.) with an outline, screenshots, income information, and hyperlinks, and patrons can contact you straight. There aren’t any itemizing charges and no fee – SideProjectors merely connects you. Not like 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 fee settlement. SideProjectors doesn’t even deal with funds – when somebody’s , you negotiate and shut the deal privately. It’s additionally good when you’re simply testing the waters, because it’s 100% free to attempt but it surely has decrease site visitors in comparison with large 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 purchasing and promoting web sites, apps, and on-line companies. It’s been round for over a decade and has an enormous 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 value. They supply analytics widgets (e.g. Google Analytics, income reviews) that homeowners can allow to show site visitors/income to patrons. Additionally they provide an escrow service (Flippa Escrow) to soundly deal with massive transactions. On the opposite facet, it expenses successful payment (round 15% of sale value) plus itemizing charges for premium options.
5. TransferLot
Hyperlink: https://transferslot.com/
TransferLot is a more recent market for promoting facet initiatives 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 payment for sellers. If you’d like prolonged publicity, you’ll be able to pay a small payment (round $20) to proceed itemizing or get featured. The primary catch is that solely non-e-commerce, passive-income websites might be listed – they prohibit conventional retail or dropshipping. TransferLot additionally runs a weekly electronic mail to patrons highlighting the latest listings, so it’s geared towards buyers searching for fast turnkey initiatives. There is no such thing as a built-in escrow on TransferLot, so like SideProjectors you’ll have to rearrange fee 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 standard M&A dealer. They vet each itemizing totally and solely take websites that meet sure standards (usually no less than $1,000/month in revenue or extra). Empire Flippers has an skilled group 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. Additionally they have an built-in escrow and may deal with due diligence paperwork.
7. Alternative Overload
Hyperlink: https://www.opportunityoverload.com/
Alternative Overload shouldn’t be 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’ll be able to pay a one-time payment (at present $10) to have your challenge featured in a difficulty. The entry is a really quick blurb (just a few traces) in an electronic mail despatched to ~10,000+ subscribers who wish to purchase or make investments. This service was began by a maker who efficiently offered a challenge by 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 recent platform that calls itself a market for high-potential micro-startups. It was began by a few indie makers who noticed a niche for smaller offers. The thought is to mixture fascinating small companies that would develop with some funding. Listings are reviewed earlier than approval, and there’s a concentrate on high quality. Notably, they promise zero commissions for each patrons and sellers – your entire sale value goes to the events. Additionally they provide a premium membership for patrons, which supplies early alerts on new listings and direct connections to sellers. So when you have a promising challenge, itemizing it on BuyMicroStartups will expose it to buyers trying 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 in style apps or templates) and, by extension, absolutely developed cell apps. Based in 2013, it has grow to be 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 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 value, after which patrons (usually builders trying to launch their very own app) should purchase 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, reasonably than a lump-sum exit. It’s additionally helpful for quick-cash when you have a accomplished app you not wish to preserve – you’ll be able to listing it and doubtlessly earn hundreds by 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 perform like a dealer: working straight with mid-to-large firms to organize 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 professional advisor assigned to your case who will assist with valuation, due diligence, advertising and marketing your itemizing to the best buyers, and navigating the closing course of. It’s just for large video games – if your corporation is simply too small (underneath ~$100K/12 months revenue) or pre-revenue, FEI gained’t work with you.
Wrapping Up
This brings us to the tip of this text. When you’ve been sitting on a facet challenge, script, or small app that’s bringing in even a bit income, there’s possible a purchaser on the market for it. You don’t want VC funding or a co-founder. Only a working product, some trustworthy 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 range and tutorial excellence. She’s additionally acknowledged as a Teradata Variety 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.
