Online Business for Sale Websites Reviewed
Searching the Internet to gather key facts on the many alternative online business-for-sale sites can take up much of your valuable time.
Questions addressed:
- Which websites should you consider?
- What key criteria will you use to make a meaningful comparison?
- How much does each cost?
- Can you list your business for free?
- What do you get for your money?
The website reviews presented below highlight similarities and differences so you’ll be better informed when allocating your promotional budget.
Pricing structures differ. The main distinction is between the same listing with standard benefits rented over different monthly time periods, compared with a range of different listing packages and benefits priced at different rates, rented for a fixed period of time.
The offers presented below fall within the monthly price range of c. $30–110. There is also a free listing website included.
Traffic statistics are taken from the websites. Monthly site visitor claims are typically in the range of high six figures to one million.
ExitAdviser
ExitAdviser, established in 2013, is an all-inclusive FSBO (For Sale by Owner) business-selling platform. Small business owners are provided with a guided 4-step sales process that comes with online selling tools, routes to market, and end-to-end collection of sales documents to download. Maximum exposure. Zero commissions. Free 30-day trial.
Joseph Blygges, a former business owner explains how he sold his company in New York.
DaltonsBusiness.com (UK)
Scale: high with c. 28,000 listed businesses for sale. This London, UK based company has been connecting buyers and sellers of businesses since 1870 initially in print, and online since 2002.
Pricing: c. £55-140 p.m. +VAT. with three listing packages available on a time rental basis, either 1, 3, or 6 months. Commitment for six months gives additional features such as a highlighted listing to make the business stand out, a ten day period as a featured business scrolling on the home page, inclusion in a monthly e-shot to c. 58,000 registered buyers, and a refund of the outstanding term payment balance if the business is sold earlier.
Coverage: high traffic, c. 250,000 potential buyers visits p.m. c. 24,000 buyer inquiries to business sellers every month leading to (unspecified) several thousand business sales every year.
Hilton Smythe (UK)
Scale: Low-medium, (around 2,000 listed businesses for sale) but quickly growing. Hilton Smythe was established in 2017 and was the UK’s number one business broker for the most businesses sold in the first half of 2020-21.
Pricing: FREE as Hilton Smythe will operate as your business broker. With their access to thousands of interested buyers, their own Marketing platforms, and partner programmes, they truly market your business in all of the right places for maximum results.
Coverage: Low-medium traffic, around 3,000 potential buyers visits p.m. and several hundred enquiries per month.
GlobalBX
This is where you can advertise your business for sale for free.
Scale: high with c. 42,000 businesses for sale. A US-based site connecting buyers, sellers and lenders. All services are free and have been since 2001.
Pricing: free listings - an unlimited number of free business sale listings, including photographs. Statistics provided that track the number of searches, viewings and leads generated by your listing. Entrepreneur forums allow you to ask questions.
Coverage: (unspecified) thousands of qualified business buyers search the site every day. The listing automatically appears on partner websites and in newspapers and trade journals. Registered buyers can post "business wanted" messages.
Selling Your Business: Going FSBO vs Hiring a Broker
BizBuySell
Scale: high with c. 45,000 listed businesses for sale. First established in the US in 1996, Bizbuysell is one of the original and biggest online business sale sites. Like other major business sale sites it has an international footprint covering c. 80 countries, which opens up potential overseas interest in your business. The scale of the business has greatly increased following the acquisition of Bizquest, one of its oldest and largest competitors (see below), which widens the exposure of your business to potential buyers.
Pricing: c. $60-90 p.m. Three competitive pricing options are available all requiring a three month minimum commitment. A standard package provides a detailed advertisement with photograph and access to sales leads, and statistics showing buyer interest. By paying more you get a higher placement in the list of buyer’s search results, and an email brochure sent to registered buyers expressing prior interest in your type of business.
Coverage: high traffic, c. 800,000 - 1,000,000 visits p.m. Plus a partner network comprising 150 websites that also significantly extends the coverage footprint. The link with Bizquest increases overall selling exposure.
BizQuest
Scale: high with c. 35,000 listed businesses for sale. Founded in Pasadena, California, Bizquest has been a leading player in the market since 1994. Now part of the same stable as Bizbuysell, the market power of the website has increased substantially from this association.
Pricing: c. $70-100 p.m. There’s evidence of offer harmonization with Bizbuysell, although some differences do remain. A three-tier pricing system is based on a minimum initial two month commitment, however the prices per month are slightly higher than on its sister site. By paying for a higher priced listing package your business receives further features and benefits, including your details being reported higher in buyer’s list of search results.
Coverage: high traffic, c. 650,000 monthly visits. Network benefits arise from a group that now includes Bizbuysell, plus access to 150 network partner websites.
BusinessesForSale.com
Scale: very high with c. 64,000 listed businesses for sale. A London, UK-based company, BusinessesForSale.com posted its first online listing in 1996. Since then the company has expanded until it now sells businesses and franchises based in over 80 countries.
Pricing: c. $30-110 p.m. Pricing options are on a monthly rental basis, for 1, 3, or 6 months, depending on your needs and budget. By making a six month commitment you secure one of the keenest rates anywhere in the market. The standard benefits package allows you to include photos, attachments and web links. A limited free trial offer is available so that you can try the service and assess buyer interest before you pay, however you’ll only see full details of interested buyers when you sign-up. With sign-up an account area is allocated to record all incoming inquiries, with buyer responses emailed to you through the website.
Coverage: high traffic, c. 400 - 500,000 unique buyer searches p.m. This generates over 80,000 monthly messages between buyers and sellers to move the selling process forward.
