Where to sell your online business
Compare an M&A advisor with online marketplaces when selling a SaaS or other online business. See what to check before you choose.
The best place to sell depends on what kind of business you have and which parts of the sale you want help with. Compare who will prepare the materials, find buyers, negotiate offers, and manage diligence. Both brokerages and marketplaces can offer support, so check the actual service package. Neither route guarantees a sale or a particular price.
I’m an advisor at Quiet Light. That is a real bias, so I’ve included other credible options and the tradeoffs that matter. The descriptions below reflect each provider’s own current materials, checked October 6, 2026. Treat provider claims about reach, speed, screening, and results as their claims, not independent comparisons. Ask each firm what applies to your business before signing.
Start with the process you want
| Route | May fit when | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet Light | You want an advisor-led process for an established online business, including SaaS, ecommerce, content, or other digital businesses. Quiet Light describes valuation, preparation, listing, and offer support. | Ask who will advise you, what work is included, the engagement term, how fees are calculated, and what happens if you pause or end the engagement. I work here. |
| Acquire | You want a marketplace built around startups and SaaS, with the option of more advisory help. Acquire currently offers both self-directed marketplace listings and its Guided by Acquire service for SaaS businesses meeting its eligibility criteria. | Compare the self-service and guided processes. Confirm current eligibility, total listing and closing costs, advisor involvement, and what work remains yours. |
| Empire Flippers | You want a curated marketplace and support through a sale and asset transfer. Its current materials cover multiple online-business types, including SaaS. | Ask how it evaluates your business, which buyers can see what information and when, how offers and diligence work, and the full fee schedule. |
| FE International | You are considering a more formal M&A advisory process for a technology business. FE describes support with financial preparation, marketing materials, and the transaction process across SaaS, ecommerce, and content businesses. | Ask about the deal-size and business-profile fit, the team assigned, the engagement structure, fees and expenses, and expected seller workload. |
These are different processes, not a league table. A marketplace can be a sensible choice when you are comfortable presenting the business, screening buyer interest, and managing much of the process yourself. An advisor may be worth considering when you need help preparing materials, reaching buyers, assessing offers, or navigating diligence. Some marketplaces now offer guided or advisory services too, so compare the actual service package rather than the label.
Compare the full deal, not the headline fee
Before choosing, ask each provider the same questions:
- What businesses do you accept, and what would make mine a poor fit?
- Who will work on my sale, and what will that person handle?
- How are fees, listing charges, closing fees, and other expenses calculated? Ask for an example using a hypothetical sale price and deal structure.
- What financial and operating information must I prepare? Which figures or claims will you verify, and how?
- How do you screen buyers and protect confidential information before an NDA or proof of funds?
- Who handles buyer questions, negotiation, diligence, legal documents, escrow, and asset transfer?
- What happens if the business does not sell, I receive an offer with an earnout, or I want to stop the process?
Compare the likely cash at close, contingencies, seller financing, earnout conditions, transition work, and time commitment. A higher asking price can still produce a weaker outcome if the buyer cannot close or a large share of the value depends on uncertain future performance. Get the engagement and proposed deal terms in writing, and have your attorney and tax advisor review documents that affect your sale.
If you run a SaaS business
First get clear on owner earnings, recurring revenue, customer retention, growth quality, and how much of the operation depends on you. Those details affect both the buyer pool and the work required to prove the business. Use the SaaS revenue valuation calculator or compare SDE, EBITDA, and ARR as preparation; neither tool replaces a business-specific valuation or offer review.
If you want to discuss an advisor-led sale for your SaaS business, see how I work with SaaS sellers at Quiet Light. You can ask for me by name. I’ll tell you if the fit looks wrong or if waiting and improving the business may be the better move.
Provider information can change. Confirm current eligibility, services, fees, and contract terms directly with each firm before making a decision.