Where To Sell Your E-commerce Business (5 Top Options)
Table Of Contents
Top Places Where You Can Sell Your E-commerce Business Online:
Here’s a quick comparison table showing the 4 best options you should consider for selling your e-commerce business and the pros and cons of each:
Route | Best For | Pros | Cons | Typical Fees |
Open Marketplaces | Small to mid-size businesses, side hustles |
|
| Listing fees + ~5–10% success fee |
Curated Brokers | Established, profitable businesses (usually 6–7 figures) |
|
| 10–15% commission |
Direct Sale | Niche businesses with strategic buyers or sellers with strong networks |
|
| None (except legal costs) |
M&A Advisors/Investment Banks | Large businesses (multi-six to seven figures+) |
|
| 10–15%+ of the sale price |
TrendHijacking | Sellers who want vetted buyers and faster, more secure deals |
|
|
|
We Help You Buy / Build, Manage and Scale E-commerce Brands for an EXIT
E-commerce Simplified for Busy Individuals – We handle the buying, building, and scaling, so you can focus on what matters.
Growth-Focused Strategies – From sourcing to marketing, we drive growth and prepare you for a profitable exit.
Expertly Managed Exits – We build a high-value brand designed for a Lucrative exit.
Option 1: Open Marketplaces
This is one of the go-to places for many sellers. Open marketplaces are simply platforms that list online businesses for sale.
Think of these as eBay for businesses. You create a listing, and anyone interested can make an offer.
Some of the most popular to consider include Flippa, BizBuySell, and Empire Flippers.
Flippa is huge. They claim to have helped sell over 300,000 businesses so far. You’ll find everything from small Shopify stores to Amazon FBA businesses.
Why use it: It’s fast, easy to list, and you’ll get a lot of eyes on your business.
What to watch out for: Flippa doesn’t do much vetting. That means you’ll get a mix of serious buyers and tire-kickers. You need to be careful, ask questions, and do your own checks.
This is usually the best choice if your business is small or you just want to test the waters.
Option 2: Curated Brokers and Marketplaces
If you don’t want to deal with random strangers on the online marketplaces, you will find curated brokers a better option.
The brokers usually review your business before listing, check your numbers, and bring you buyers who have been screened.
Some of the well-known options include FE International and Quiet Light.
These brokers make money from commission fees, but in return, they give the buyers confidence that what they see is real.
Why use brokers: Higher-quality buyers, less risk, and you get some hand-holding.
What to watch out for: Commission fees are higher, and the process takes longer.
This is usually the right fit if your store is doing six figures or more and you want a smoother exit process.
Option 3: Direct Sale To A Buyer
This is the old-fashioned way, where you find a buyer yourself. Maybe someone in your niche wants to expand.
Maybe you’ve met someone at a trade show or in a business group who’s interested.
Why use it: No commissions, more control, and sometimes you get a better price if the buyer really wants your brand.
What to watch out for: You’re doing everything on your own, including negotiations, contracts, escrow, and due diligence. If you’re not careful, you can get burned.
This works best if you already have connections or if your business is in a niche where there are obvious buyers.
Option 4: M&A Firms And Advisors
If your e-commerce business is large (say, multi-six or seven figures), then private equity firms, investors, or other companies may be interested.
That’s where M&A (mergers and acquisitions) advisors come in.
They’ll run a full process: create a prospectus, market your business to serious buyers, negotiate deals, and handle due diligence.
Why use it: This is how you maximize price on a big exit. Serious buyers trust advisors.
What to watch out for: Fees are big—often 10–15% of the sale price. The process can also be slow.
If your store is big, growing, and profitable, this path usually gives the best result.
We Help You Buy / Build, Manage and Scale E-commerce Brands for an EXIT
E-commerce Simplified for Busy Individuals – We handle the buying, building, and scaling, so you can focus on what matters.
Growth-Focused Strategies – From sourcing to marketing, we drive growth and prepare you for a profitable exit.
Expertly Managed Exits – We build a high-value brand designed for a Lucrative exit.
Option 5: Sell Your E-commerce Business With TrendHijacking
You can also sell your e-commerce business with TrendHijacking, a platform built specifically to connect e-commerce sellers with serious investors.
Unlike open marketplaces, where anyone can list, TrendHijacking screens and validates every business before showing it to their investor network.
That screening process builds trust, speeds up negotiations, and helps sellers secure better outcomes.
Here’s what makes it different:
Serious Buyers Only: Instead of wasting time with tire-kickers, you’ll be matched with investors who are actively looking to acquire e-commerce businesses.
Trust & Transparency: TrendHijacking runs forensic due diligence on every submission, so buyers know your numbers are accurate and reliable.
Faster Deals: Because the businesses are pre-vetted, buyers skip the “is this real?” stage, which means sales close faster.
Better Valuations: Their assessment process highlights your store’s strengths and future opportunities, making it easier to justify your asking price.
If you want to sell your business with confidence and connect directly with qualified buyers, you can learn more or start the process here: https://trendhijacking.com/sell-e-commerce-business.
How To Decide The Best Route To Sell Your E-commerce Store
Here’s a simple way to decide the best method for selling your online store:
Your Business | Where to Sell | Why |
Small side hustle | Open marketplace | Quick, easy, lots of exposure |
Solid but mid-size | Broker marketplace | Buyers are vetted, and you get help |
Niche and in demand | Direct sale | Save fees, target the right buyer |
Large and scaling | M&A advisors | Max value, serious investors |
Getting Ready To Sell Your Sell Your E-commerce Business
No matter where you sell your business, you should always keep in mind that buyers want to see the same list of things as outlined below:
1. Clean financials: At least two years of clear books. Use software like QuickBooks or Xero.
2. Stable traffic: Show them reliable sources, not just one viral TikTok.
3. Documented operations: Make it easy for someone else to take over.
4. Supplier contracts: Have clear agreements in place.
5. Growth story: Buyers pay more if they see where the business can grow next.
According to this report from Statista, e-commerce retail sales hit 4.3 trillion U.S. dollars across the globe. Buyers want in on that growth, but they want stability too. If you can show both, you’ll get better offers.
Risks To Watch Out For When Selling Your Online Business:
Selling an e-commerce business isn’t always smooth. Some common issues you’re likely to encounter include:
Scammers: Especially on open marketplaces.
Lowball offers: Some buyers try to buy cheaply by pointing out flaws.
Deals falling apart: Sometimes a buyer pulls out after due diligence.
Time drain: Handling endless calls and messages can eat up weeks.
Leaks: If staff, suppliers, or competitors find out you’re selling, it can get awkward.
That’s why some people pay higher fees—they’d rather avoid the headaches.
Conclusion
Where to sell an e-commerce business is just as important as how much you should sell it. If your business is a small store, you should try open marketplaces. For a profitable, mid-size store, brokers usually give better results. And for large, growing brands, consider M&A advisors or direct investor deals.
At TrendHijacking, we help e-commerce owners sell with confidence by connecting you directly to serious, pre-vetted buyers. Our process ensures trust, faster negotiations, and stronger valuations for your business. Ready to explore your exit?Submit your business details today and take the first step toward a successful sale.
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