Are you looking for the best website brokers and marketplaces to buy and sell websites? I’m going to share the best available options that I’ve used to do over 218+ website flips since 2008. These are all my battle-tested recommendations.
Whether you’re buying or selling, I’ve got you covered.
You’ll discover the rules, requirements, pros and cons, and other important information you need to know about each one. I’ll also share the best Facebook groups to buy and sell websites.
Let’s dive in
Table of Contents
What is a Website Broker?
A website broker is a middleman for the buyer and seller of a website. Their purpose is to help with the sale process and make sure everything is above board and Legitimate.
A good broker takes away the headaches involved for the buyer and seller, although their primary obligation is to the seller.
They vet the websites for proof of earnings, traffic stats, liaise with the buyer, and in some cases, handle the transfer of files and domain names over once the sale is complete.
Pros of using a website broker
- They help to provide a valuation for your website
- They save you time
- During the due diligence process, the broker verifies traffic stats and other essential documents like P&L statements.
- They have access to a broad audience of buyers and sellers
- Help to eliminate time-wasters
- Migrate websites and domains over on your behalf
- Hide your listing until you have a serious buyer
- Sell the website for you with good communication to the potential buyers.
Cons of using a website broker
- You have to pay a commission fee.
- You’re limited to selling only with them (Exclusivity Period).
How Do Website Brokers Work?
Besides the differing commission structures and acceptability regulations, most website brokers have a similar approach.
It usually follows the below steps:
- You value your website using the company’s valuation tool (if they don’t have one, the broker will help you with valuation.
- You submit your website providing information about yourself and your business. This information includes income, traffic, tracking, and various other crucial details the broker requires.
- The website broker carries out due diligence and vetting to ensure everything is above board with your details. If they need more clarification, they will contact you.
- Once the website broker is happy, they list it for sale and promote it to their wide range of potential buyers.
- The broker will liaise with you, help negotiate the sale, and iron out any issues on your behalf. Once you have an acceptable offer, you accept the deal.
- They will help negotiate the deal and transfer the relevant files to the buyer.
If you’re buying a website through a website broker, they will save you time with vetting and due diligence, and you can feel confident knowing you will be purchasing a genuine website.
You’ll get access to a deal flow of websites, tools, and support to speed up the buying process.
Using a website broker protects both the buyer and seller.
7 Best Website Brokers & Marketplaces: My Favorites
Now that you know what a website broker does and how they can help you, let’s look at the best options.
1. Empire Flippers
Empire Flippers offers the largest website broker marketplace with vetting included. The INC 5000 business has sold over $380 million in website sales and boasts a 77% success rate.
When selling with Empire flippers, you need to give them two months’ exclusivity to find you a buyer and negotiate the sale. The deal flow for websites is a minimum of around $26,000, with a large majority of the sites being over $100,000.
The website broker performs all the relevant vetting checks for P&L statements, traffic stats, monthly income, etc. In addition, the websites listed use business models, including SaaS, Amazon FBA, Display Advertising, etc.
Pros:
- Private listings to protect your website niche.
- Vetted service.
- Escrow payment option.
- Website details are available after the potential buyer shows proof of income.
- Free Valuations.
- Commission calculator
- Low chance of being scammed.
- The broker will transfer files over after the sale.
- Commission reduced to 8% for websites valued at over $700,000 and as low as 2.5% for those valued at over $5 million.
Cons:
- Most websites are over $100.000, so they are not suitable for those on a low budget.
- Your website needs to earn at least $2000 to be listed.
Key Takeaway: Empire Flippers is an excellent broker site for those with a website worth over $100,000. They take away the worry of buying and selling with good vetting and verification checks while also providing an excellent broker service with a 15% commission fee for sites under $700.000.
2. Flippa
Flippa is an extensive website marketplace. You can buy and sell a website for almost any niche topic you can imagine, and the website prices range from a few hundred dollars to seven figures.
I’ve been an active seller on Flippa since 2010 and have done over 148 transactions totaling $469,118. It’s my go-to marketplace to find undervalued websites that I can buy to then grow and flip.
However, the marketplace is mainly unvetted, so you’re using the platform at your own risk. You will have to perform due diligence and make any decisions without the help and support of a broker.
Pros:
- Great deals are available for you if you know what you’re doing.
- Filtering options are available to target specific websites.
- Low listing fees.
- Escrow payment services are available for safer transactions.
- Fee valuation tool.
- VIP program for high-value websites.
- Huge marketplace.
- Ratings and feedback for buyers and sellers
- Purchase websites, apps, domains, eCommerce stores, and collections
- Website verification is required
Cons:
- You can get scammed if you don’t know how to perform proper checks to verify traffic and income.
- Inexperienced sellers and buyers can be frustrating because they don’t understand the process involved when doing a deal.
Key Takeaway: Flippa is a vast marketplace with decent fees, good deals, and free valuation tools. However, because listings are non-vetted regarding income and traffic, you must be careful before agreeing to the sale.
3. FE International
FE International has been selling businesses since 2010, boasting a successful selling rate of 94.1%. In addition, they provide a professional and thorough service for mid-price deals for companies in multiple niche markets with a standard 15% commission rate for websites sold.
Their M & A (Merger & Acquisition) team specializes in selling SaaS, Content, and eCommerce websites, with most selling for a minimum of 1 million dollars, so it’s not a place for those on a budget.
The award-winning company verifies and qualifies both buyers and sellers and has a global network of potential investors. This means faster and more successful sales.
Pros:
- Zero up-front fees.
- An official Escrow.com partner.
- Full M&A service.
- Exit planning for those who want to sell in the future.
- High success selling rate.
- Free valuation available.
- Pre-qualified buyers.
- They have over 80000+ vetted investors in their network.
- You get tailor-made advice to maximize profits.
- Post-sales obligations.
- Located in Hong Kong, London, and the USA.
Cons:
- Not suitable unless your budget is six-figures.
- 2.5% buyer’s fee in addition to your 1% Escrow fee.
4. Quiet Light
Quiet Light was launched in 2006 and has sold over $300 million in transaction value. The data-driven broker offers low commission fees, vetting, and free migration.
There’s a level of uniqueness with Quiet Light because they focus on hiring staff who have an entrepreneurial background, specifically those who have previously sold or purchased a website. This enables the buyers and sellers to get top-class support and advice from experts who know the industry well.
When selling a website, as part of the vetting, you receive an interview from a broker who will discuss your needs, priorities and go through your P & L statements, traffic metrics, staff, extra costs, and income.
Pros:
- Lower than average commission — 10% for websites under $1 million, 9% for those between $1-2 million, and so on for each million.
- Websites valued at $7 million or over have a commission cap of 3%.
- One-to-one interview to assist with vetting and valuation.
- 85% of listings sell within 90 days.
- 47% of listings sell for over the asking price.
- Free valuation.
- Amazon FBA, Content, SaaS, and eCommerce websites populate the listings.
- Extensive database of vetted buyers.
- Experienced and knowledgeable staff.
Cons:
- The exclusivity period is until the website is removed or sold.
- Not suitable for those looking to buy budget websites.
Key Takeaway: Quiet Light is an ideal website broker for those who like the personal touch from expert staff.
5. Investors Club
Investor Club is a reasonably new company launched in 2020. They provide a service for buying and selling websites with no fee Escrow, zero buyer fees, mediation, free legal documentation, free valuation tool, low seller commission, plus more.
Although free to join, the benefit of using the services as a paid member for $247 per year is where the actual value lies. You get access to a 24-point due-diligence report that focuses on SEO, backlinks, revenue, quality of content, domain strength, niche information, monetization, traffic stats, etc.
In addition, you get instant access to the private deal flow listings (5 days wait on a free plan).
Pros:
- 5% sellers commission fees.
- Proof of funds needed for buyers ($10,000).
- In-depth due diligence reports.
- Free file transfer.
- No fee Escrow service.
- Lifetime access to premium for $747.
Cons:
- The exclusivity period is until the website is removed or sold.
- Not suitable for those looking to buy budget websites.
- Websites need to be making at least $500 per month and be at least 12 months old to be accepted.
Key Takeaway: Investor Club is free to join and offers excellent commission fees; however, you must become a paid member to access the fantastic due diligence reports.
6. Motion Invest
Motion Invests was launched in 2019 by a successful blogger and software developer. The service offers websites to buy and sell in multiple niche markets and dutch style auctions where the listings drop in price until the seller’s reserve price is activated.
This website broker isn’t a private listing service, and as long as you register on their website, you have access to the URL.
You get zero listing and sales fees if you sell directly to Motion Invests; otherwise, you’re looking at 15-20% after a successful sale.
Websites start around the $1700 mark and rise to six figures. The average sale is 36x, and you get free migration support, vetting, and free valuation.
Pros:
- A good option for those on a smaller budget.
- Free to list sites.
- Migration support for sellers.
- Zero fees and commission if sold to the company.
- A Dutch-style auction could net you a good deal.
- Run by an experienced entrepreneur who has experience in buying and selling websites.
- The average sale of websites is 36x.
Cons:
- The seller’s commission fee is on the high side.
- Not suitable if you’re looking for a higher-priced website.
Key Takeaway: Motion Invests is a great website broker if you’re looking for a fast sale with zero fees. In addition, it’s also beneficial for those on a lower budget looking for value.
7. MicroAcquire
MicroAquire is a private listings marketplace that has zero commission fees, no exclusivity period, and you don’t need to have proof of earnings if you’re buying.
It’s a marketplace that helps people buy and sell business startups. You can list a website for free, but you’ll need to upgrade your membership to buy a website or contact a seller.
Membership costs $390 per year, and you get email notifications for new listings, a premium buyer badge, complete data finance metrics, and the ability to contact the seller.
Pros:
- Zero fees and commissions to pay.
- Advisor support is available if needed (not free).
- Filter options are available on the marketplace listings.
- Wide variety of startups available — apps, websites, SaaS, etc.
- Financing options on offer.
Cons:
- Complete metric data and business information aren’t available to free users.
- Due diligence is your responsibility.
- You will have to do your negotiations.
Key Takeaway: If you know what you’re doing and want to use a marketplace with practically no fees, MicroAquire is worth a second look.
3 Facebook Groups To Buy & Sell Websites
Besides using website brokers such as Empire Flippers, and online marketplaces like Flippa, you can often get better deals on Facebook groups.
Most Facebook groups are private, meaning you will have to request to join them, and only members of the group can see the posts (listings); however, once accepted, you can find some great deals from private sellers.
Below are three private Facebook groups that focus on buying and selling websites:
You can find good deals because you will be doing this alone, so there are no fees or commissions to pay.
However, using Facebook and doing this alone carries a greater sense of risk, so pay attention to the pros and cons below (especially the cons) to stay safe.
Pros
- Better deals because it’s a private sale between two parties — the buyer and seller.
- Set your terms and requirements.
- Zero fees.
Cons
- Due diligence and vetting are your responsibility. It’s on you to check everything is above board.
- The quality of websites can vary, so you will need to filter through the listings.
- There’s a greater chance of getting scammed, so always use common sense. If something seems too good to be true, it usually will be.
- Escrow isn’t a requirement, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be using it — always persist in using Escrow to protect yourself.
- Unlike other marketplaces, you don’t get feedback scores or ratings for the seller or buyer, so proceed with caution.
How To Choose The Best Broker For Your Online Asset
Choosing the best broker for your online asset depends on the following:
- Do you want a fast sale?
- Commission and fees
- Exclusivity periods
- After-sales support
- Amount of help needed.
For example, if your website value is below 100 thousand dollars, you might want to use the broker with the lowest commission rate for sites of that value. On the other hand, you might want a quick sale, so choosing a broker that will buy the website from you with no fees could be an option.
It all depends on what you have and need.
Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Number of Available Buyers & Sellers
The number of available buyers and sellers doesn’t always mean it’s the best option. Flippa, for example, has a vast amount of buyers and sellers, but you need to be extra careful about getting scammed, so this could put you off using them.
However, if you’re looking for a quick sale or purchase, the marketplaces and brokers with the most buyers and sellers are Flippa and Empire Flippers.
Commission Structure
Commission from website brokers varies and typically depends on the value of your website.
You’ll typically find sellers’ success fees around 15% for sites under $1 million, and those priced over this will usually be less.
For example, take a look at the commission structure for Empire Flippers below:
- Websites valued under $700.000 — 15%
- $700.000 to $5 million — 8%
- More significant than $5million — 2.5%
They charge a standard commission for lower-priced sites and reduce the commission as the value increases.
Promotion Tactics
A website broker will promote your listing to a network of buyers. In addition, they will provide your website data, income reports, growth capabilities, and other information and metrics on your listing to encourage the sale.
Brokers tend to publish new websites for sale on a set day and will notify their entire email list about the launch of new websites. Your listing will also feature in the ‘new website’ filter.
Other promotional methods include:
- Push notifications of your website listing
- Social media shoutouts
- Syndication of your listing to third-party businesses platforms
- Paid traffic campaigns
Post-Sale Assistance
Website brokers and marketplaces will encourage and, in some cases, require you to support the buyer of your website for at least 30 days after the sale.
This support can come from email, phone, or skype and will assist the buyer with any issues they have in the early days of the transfer. For example, the new buyer could have problems with software, content, email lists, and other technical aspects of a website.
Offering post-sales assistance will increase your chances of making the sale.
Exclusivity Period
The exclusivity period is where you give the broker or marketplace the right to sell your website without anyone else selling it too.
Typically the period is between 30-60 days, but some companies require exclusivity for the duration that your website is listed, so this could be longer than 60 days.
Common Questions about Website Brokers
I have answered a few questions below that you may have when using website brokers to sell your website.
This question is tricky because there are many good brokers out there, and what might be suitable for some won’t be for others.
For example, I couldn’t say that ‘broker A’ is the best because it might not accept websites under 1 million dollars in value — saying that this is the best broker for everyone would be wrong.
The best website broker is the best one for you. Look at the main benefits, features, and fees for all the sites and determine which is more suitable for your situation.
No, you can find deal flow on marketplaces, Facebook groups, newsletters, etc. Having a website broker comes with many benefits, but not using one doesn’t mean you can’t see the deal flow.
Yes, you can buy and sell websites without using a website broker. A broker will take away the hassle and help you complete a deal, but you can do it yourself.
Actionable Takeaways
You now have a list of the best website brokers and marketplaces. I have also added three Facebook groups that sell websites and answered questions related to using these platforms.
Below is a brief breakdown of actionable takeaways from the article:
- Always use Escrow!
- Flippa is the largest marketplace.
- Empire Flippers are the largest website broker online.
- Marketplaces like Flippa are unvetted, so proceed with caution.
- It’s genuinely safer to sell with a website broker.
- Choose a website broker that offers the best features and commission for your website, not what others regard as the best.
- Due diligence and vetting are crucial; some website brokers do this for you; however, it’s always best to do your checks in addition to the brokers.
