Online business brokerage is unusual in this trade because the platforms publish their fees. That makes it the one segment where a seller can compare cost before making contact, and it changes the question from what will this cost to which service level do I need.
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What the published fees look like
Of the US firms read at their own pages for the record on this site, the online platforms are the ones that print a rate. Flippa's success fees start from 5% on a listing that starts at a small flat charge. Acquire.com prints three bands: 8% below a $250,000 asking price, 7% to $1m and 6% above it. Empire Flippers prints a ladder beginning at 15% up to $700,000 and falling above that.
Service level is what differs
A self service listing leaves screening, negotiation and diligence coordination with you. A full service brokerage runs the sale end to end and charges accordingly, which is why the highest published rate belongs to the most hands on service. Comparing rates without comparing what is done for them is comparing nothing.
Choosing between them
Judge on where your buyers are and how much work you want. A store with a strong brand and diversified traffic is attractive to more buyers and can carry a self service listing. A complicated supply chain, an untransferable platform account or a business needing a story told is better served by an online business broker who will tell it.
Questions people ask about e commerce business brokers
Are online brokers cheaper?
Their rates are published, which is not the same thing. A self service listing is far cheaper than any brokerage; full service online brokerage sits at the top of the published range.
Do they reach the same buyers?
Partly. Platforms reach individual and small fund buyers who watch listings. Strategic acquirers usually have to be approached directly.
What do they verify before listing?
Most verify revenue and profit against source data before a listing goes live, which is a benefit to a seller with clean numbers and a delay for one without.