How to buy or sell an online business safely
A plain guide to valuing an online business, what to check before paying, how escrow works and how to hand over a domain, code and hosting.
Buying safely
- Compare monthly profit with the asking price before reading the story.
- Ask for proof in chat: payment-processor screenshots, an ad-network export, read-only analytics access for 12 months.
- Find out where the traffic comes from. One source is a risk.
- Check exactly which assets transfer.
- Prefer verified sellers and listings with figures checked by SaleGuru.
- Pay only into SaleGuru escrow, never to the seller directly.
- Use the whole inspection period (7 days) before releasing the funds.
Selling
- Average the last six months of revenue and profit.
- Write an honest listing.
- Upload proof of earnings and traffic so SaleGuru can mark your figures as checked.
- Get the Verified badge.
- Accept an offer or run an auction, then wait until the payment is verified before handing anything over.
How escrow protects both sides
- Deposit. The buyer sends the agreed price to SaleGuru, not to the seller.
- Payment verification. SaleGuru checks the receipt and confirms the money has arrived.
- Asset handover. The seller transfers the domain, code, hosting and accounts.
- Inspection. The buyer checks that everything matches the listing.
- Funds release. SaleGuru pays the seller, minus the platform fee.
After a sale is agreed the buyer has 6 days to pay into escrow.
Auctions
An auction runs 3 to 30 days. The seller sets a starting bid and a reserve price, approves bidders, and cannot bid on their own listing. Bids are binding. A new highest bid in the last hour extends the auction to one hour after that bid.
Valuation
Online businesses are usually priced at a multiple of the last 12 months of net profit. Try the free valuation tool.
Fees
| Deal value | SaleGuru fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $2,000 | 15% |
| $2,001 to $10,000 | 12% |
| $10,001 to $25,000 | 10% |
| $25,001 to $75,000 | 7% |
| Above $75,000 | 5% |