Selling ECommerce Businesses: Tips For Online Website Business Owners

Selling eCommerce Businesses: Tips For Online Website Business Owners

Selling An Online eCommerce Business

In an advanced, technologically savvy era, virtually anything can be done, purchased or explored via cyberspace. From paying bills, to buying clothing and groceries and having them delivered straight to the front door, large corporations and small businesses alike have made lives easier by going digital and allowing people to run errands and accomplish their daily tasks without leaving their homes.

The industry of eCommerce businesses is booming, with the market more than doubling from 2014 to 2015. With a hot market, owners can look forward to enjoying a price in the range of 4 to 6 times their adjusted net income, understanding that the more money the business makes, the higher the multiple will be. When preparing to sell an e-commerce business, an owner must take the time, approximately 3 or so months, to prepare their eCommerce online portal for sale.

During this period of time, a seller should compile all financial records, including their profit and loss income statement from the previous 3 years, (4 or more years for larger e-commerce businesses), and a document that details everything from the market that they serve, to staffing, industry trends, customer base, and the products/services that the business sells/provides online.

The more information that is gathered and included in this will not only attract potential eCommerce website buyers, but also give them a clear picture of what to expect when acquiring the business, therefore speeding up the selling and training processes with the buyer.

Potential business buyers who are interested in viewing this information and are seriously inquiring about an e-commerce business should first sign a non-disclosure agreement to learn more about the business.

As a seller, it is highly encouraged to obtain representation by an eCommerce business broker professional to help you compile all necessary documents that will help you sell your eCommerce company. By having a business broker intermediary represent you, this will drastically decrease the amount of time it will take you to be prepared to sell your online business and will save you a lot of time and stress along the way.

An eCommerce broker specialist will typically charge between 10-12 percent of the selling price of your company, but that shouldn't discourage you from using one because they will help you secure a higher selling price and save you months of time and effort.

Over 50 percent of all eCommerce businesses sell within the first 90 days of being posted, and that is most achievable by using a team of business professionals to help you every step of the way.

More Information About Buying & Selling eCommerce Online Businesses:

View All eCommerce Businesses For Sale & Wanted To Buy Postings

eCommerce Business Brokers & Intermediaries To Assist You

Financing Assistance Advisors To Help You Buy eCommerce Companies

Articles, Blog Posts, Events Concerning eCommerce Businesses - Buying & Selling

About This Author: Peter Siegel, MBA (Business Purchase Financing Expert, ProBuy & ProSell Program Advisor) at BizBen (started in 1994, 8000+ California businesses for sale, 500 new & refreshed postings/posts daily) working with business buyers, business owners/sellers, brokers, agents, investors, & advisors). Phone him at 925-785-3118 to discuss strategies regarding buying, selling, (or financing a puchase of) California small to mid-sized businesses.

Categories: BizBen Blog Contributor, How To Sell A Business, Selling A Business

Comments Regarding This Blog Post

Contributor: Timothy Cunha JD: Business Broker, SF Bay Area

Peter's article is all great advice. We have several eCommerce business opportunities available and more on the horizon. People considering selling through our brokerage have found my 5-page white paper, "Selling the Software or Technology Business", very helpful in planning, pricing, and executing the sale of their business. I cover special aspects of setting a value for such a business, 12 things NOT to do in such a sale, and specifics about intellectual property, legal representation, and finding the right buyer. I'm happy to share that report with anyone with no obligation.... just ask.

Helpful Resources To Assist In Selling And Buying California Businesses

Lee Petsas, Business Broker: Southern California Area

Lee Petsas has been selling businesses with UBI Business Brokers in Southern CA since 1981. In 1999 he became the Owner and Broker for UBI. He has been approved multiple times by Courts as an Expert Witness in the area of Business Valuations.

Diane Boudreau-Tschetter: Escrow & Bulk Sale Services - CA

California Business Escrow, Inc. is a full service independent escrow company serving all of California and has expertise in a wide range of escrows. Our team prides itself on providing an exceptional escrow experience. For more info phone Diane Boudreau-Tschetter at 888-383-3331 or 209-838-1100.

Chris Seaman, Business Broker: Southern California

Founded in 1994, First Choice Business Brokers has accelerated to become one of the most successful Business Sales Organizations in the world. Our team of agents have gone through extensive training to become experts in the field of business brokerage. Call Chris at 858-578-4111 for more info.

Michael Davidson, Business Broker - Southern California

Los Angeles Business Broker providing M&A quality services for Small Business Owners. We leverage our technology and expertise to Simplify & Expedite the Business Sales Process. Matching the right buyer with the right business is how we define success.

Rick Carlson, Business Broker - Southern California

You Will Never Feel Lost In The Shuffle. Many Brokers Simply Send Out An NDA And That's The End Of Communication. All Buyers Receive A Personal Meeting With An Ace Acquisition Specialist So They Can Recommend The Perfect Business For You. Phone Rick direct at 800-985-4939.

AJ Rana - Business Broker, San Francisco Bay Area

Professionals who understand the importance of world class business brokerage service and the value it can create. Specializing in assisting sellers and buyers with retail stores, restaurants, hospitality & lodging, manufacturing operations, distribution companies, e-commerce and service businesses.

Ryan Clark, Business Broker: Southern California

The Veld Group provides a refreshing approach to Business Brokerage, Mergers & Acquisitions and Business Consulting and Valuations. From Your Street to Wall Street, we cater to Main Street Businesses as well as more complex Strategic Firms and Start-Ups. Phone Ryan, Business Broker at 310-652-8353.

Shalonda Chappel: Escrow & Bulk Sale Services - Southern California

Escrow services to brokers/agents, sellers, & buyers. Established 43 years. Extraordinary service. Experienced with handling difficult transactions. One stop for all your escrow needs: Bulk sales, lien searches, UCC searches, liquor license transfers, publishing & recording services. 951-808-3972.

Related Articles, Events, Blog Posts, Discussions, Videos, Interviews

Buying An eCommerce Business: Tips About Purchasing eCommerce Businesses

When buying an eCommerce business several factors come into play: market position, competition, growth areas, recurring customer base factors and ratios, etc. On this BizBen blog post Peter Siegel, MBA (BizBen Director, Financing Expert) addresses some of these eCommerce factors for business buyers.

Selling eCommerce Businesses: Great Tips For Online Website Business Owners

In an advanced, technologically savvy era, virtually anything can be done, purchased or explored via cyberspace. As the market continues to expand and flourish, eCommerce sellers can continue to reap in the selling of their eCommerce firms. Peter Siegel, MBA (BizBen Director) explores this topic.

How Do I Navigate Through The Negotiation Process When Buying A Business?

Negotiating the terms of a business deal is a delicate process, where one wrong move can cost you the business that you wanted to purchase. Peter Siegel, MBA (BizBen ProBuy Program) discusses the ins and outs of negotiations, and how to work well with the seller to get a deal done.

Absentee Run Businesses - A Myth Or Reality When Buying A Small CA Business?

Buyers search for an absentee business, wanting to collect profits generated by a successful enterprise without having to stand at the sales counter or cash register, without having to cook, operate equipment or talk to customers. Peter Siegel, MBA offers his intake on absentee run businesses.

How Many Listings Is Too Many For One Broker To Handle? Is It 5? 10? 20?

Peter Siegel, MBA in this Vlog/Podcast discusses how many listings is too many for one business broker to handle at one time. Is it 5 is it 20? I recently had a coaching call with one of my BizBen broker clients who asked that question this week. There are many factors that go into the answer.

Key Tax Considerations In A Deal: Deciding Between An Asset vs A Stock Sale

There are a number of the critical tax-related factors which should be reviewed by a party with their legal and tax advisers in determining the best structure for a sale transaction, i.e., whether it should be an Asset Sale or a Stock Sale. Attorney William Ziprick, Esq covers this topic.

Why Deals Fall Out: Unrealistic High Asking Prices Are Usually The Reason

The unfortunate truth is that approximately 50% of all small business sales transactions fall through. While failed transactions can happen for a variety of reasons, Peter Siegel, MBA (BizBen Founder & Lead Advisor) discusses the most common reason deals fall through; unrealistic asking prices.

Back-Up Offers: Crucial When Buying Or Selling A California Small Business

An often overlooked aspect of selling (or buying) a small business is taking back-up offers during the entire process of selling (or buying) a business. Most sellers (or buyers) don't realize that over fifty percent of all deals/contracts fall out escrow or contract for one reason or another.