Are you thinking of how to sell Shopify store? You’re likely seeking the most effective ways to ensure a profitable and hassle-free sale.
This guide is tailored to provide you with strategic insights and practical steps to prepare your store, enhance its value, and navigate the market to find the right buyer when you decide to sell your Shopify store.
3 Key Points
Properly evaluate your Shopify store’s worth by considering revenue, traffic sources, brand strength, and owned assets to attract potential buyers.
Prepare your shop for sale by streamlining finances, optimizing the user interface, and maintaining robust sales and traffic to prove ongoing value.
Choose the right platform to sell Shopify store, weighing options like private sales, online marketplaces, and business brokers, considering their benefits and drawbacks.
Selling your Shopify stores requires careful planning and execution to maximize value and attract potential buyers.
- Begin by optimizing your store’s brand identity, traffic, and revenue streams, ensuring it is primed for sale.
- Compile thorough documentation to instill buyer confidence and streamline the due diligence process.
- Select the right platform or marketplace to list your store, whether through ecommerce marketplaces, brokerage services, or industry networking channels.
- To captivate prospective buyers, compellingly present your store, highlighting its strengths and growth opportunities.
By following these strategic steps, you can successfully navigate the process of selling your Shopify online store.
When is the Best Time to Sell Shopify Store?
The optimal time to sell a Shopify online store depends on various factors:
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- Financial performance
- Growth trajectory
- Market trends
- Personal circumstances
It is advisable to consider selling when the ecommerce business has demonstrated consistent revenue and profit over a sustained period, ideally with room for potential expansion. Additionally, selling during peak seasons or when the store has recently achieved significant milestones or growth spurts can attract higher valuations from the potential buyer.
Ultimately, timing should align with the owner’s strategic goals and market conditions to maximize the value of the sale.
How long does it take to sell?
The timeframe for selling a Shopify store can vary widely depending on factors such as the following:
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- Store’s niche
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- Profitability
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- Customer base
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- Marketing efforts
In general, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to complete a sale. Factors influencing the duration include the complexity of the store, the negotiation process with interested buyers, and the time it takes for the new owner to finalize the legal and financial aspects of the transaction.
Engaging professional brokers or utilizing online marketplaces specializing in e-commerce business sales can expedite the process by connecting sellers with experienced buyers.
Understanding the Value of Your Shopify Stores
Before you start the process of selling, you need to understand the value of your Shopify store. Factors such as:
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- revenue
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- traffic sources
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- brand strength
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- owned assets
All play a crucial role in determining your store’s value. Each of these elements contributes to the overall valuation of your online business and will be pivotal in attracting potential buyers.
We will now analyze each of these aspects.
Revenue and Profit
Revenue and profit are the heart and soul of any ecommerce business. Simply put, they’re the money your Shopify store is making. Remember, a higher profit leads to a higher business valuation. But how do you increase revenue and profit? By focusing on factors such as:
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- Increasing store traffic
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- Improving conversion rates
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- Maximizing customer lifetime value
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- Ensuring a diverse and growing source of traffic.
Calculating profit for your Shopify business is straightforward. You can determine the Profit Margin using a simple formula (Gross Profit/Net Revenue) x 100. A store with diverse revenue streams and strong profitability is considered more valuable. The store’s valuation is determined by subscription revenue, customer retention, growth rate, and scalability.
Supercharging your store’s revenue and profit can be achieved by implementing strategies such as capturing new subscribers, implementing killer email marketing campaigns, and focusing on customer retention.
Traffic Sources
Traffic sources are the lifeblood of any online store. They provide valuable insights into customer access and the most effective traffic channels. Diversifying traffic sources can help you:
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- Maximize sales conversions
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- Scale your ecommerce store for long-term success
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- Generate more traffic
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- Increase brand visibility
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- Expand the customer base
There are numerous effective strategies to increase traffic to your Shopify store. Some of these strategies include:
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- Optimizing your store for search engines
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- Leveraging Google Shopping free listings
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- Establishing a referral program
Implementing these strategies can make a significant impact on your store’s traffic.
Traffic is the key to unlocking the success and value of your Shopify store. Increasing website traffic can elevate your sales and revenue, leading to a higher business valuation.
Brand Strength
A strong brand is one of your Shopify store’s most valuable assets. A strong brand with positive reviews, a social media presence, and unique products can significantly increase your store’s value. To create a powerful brand, you need to:
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- Establish an exceptional and consistent style
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- Build authentic relationships with your customers
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- Focus on delivering high-quality products
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- Use messaging that resonates with your audience
Social media presence is a game-changer for building brand awareness, engaging with customers, and establishing social proof. Positive reviews provide social proof and significantly enhance the value of your Shopify store. Unique products give your store a competitive edge and drive customer engagement, ultimately adding value to your brand.
Owned Assets
Owned assets are the valuable items held by your business. These include:
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- Cash and cash equivalents
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- Accounts receivable
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- Inventory
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- Marketable securities
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- Prepaid expenses
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- Fixed assets such as real estate and vehicles
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- Digital products like ebooks and software
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- Brand assets like Pixeled Audiences
Supplier contracts are a vital asset that can significantly enhance the value of your Shopify store. They guarantee consistent quality, price, and delivery of goods or services, helping to cultivate favorable partnerships with vendors and mitigate risks such as availability issues, delays, and subpar quality.
Preparing Your Shopify Store for Sale
Having understood the factors contributing to your Shopify store’s value, we can now concentrate on preparing your store for sale. To make your store appealing to potential buyers, three key areas must be addressed: the user interface should be updated, finances organized, and a focus should be on sales and traffic. Each of these areas is critical in maximizing the value of your store and ensuring a successful sale.
Update User Interface
An intuitive and appealing user interface can make a difference in enhancing your customers’ shopping experience. A well-designed user interface boosts user engagement and shapes the success of your online store.
To elevate your Shopify store, prioritize the following:
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- Function: Ensure all features and apps work correctly and provide a seamless user experience.
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- Sales funnels: Create a clear path for customers to follow, leading them from browsing to purchasing.
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- Attention capture: Use eye-catching design elements, such as clear titles and visually appealing images, to grab the attention of potential buyers.
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- Visual design: Utilize whitespace effectively to create a clean and organized look for your store.
By conducting a detailed analysis of your store’s features, apps, UI, speed and searching for JavaScript and visual bugs, you can make your store more user-friendly and attractive to potential buyers.
A thoughtfully designed UI helps build trust and credibility, encouraging customers to return for future purchases.
Organize Finances
Clean and organized financial records demonstrate your business’s economic health and increase buyer confidence. Use Shopify’s analytics and reporting tools to:
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- Provide detailed reports and insights on your store’s performance
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- Track sales trends
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- Analyze customer behavior
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- Monitor revenue growth
These tools will help you keep your financial records in order and make informed decisions for your business.
Having clean financial records will show potential buyers that you are organized and can smoothly transition the business to them. Keep track of your expenses and utilize Shopify’s accounting tools to maintain accurate records of your costs, profit margins, and overall financial performance. By making your financial records irresistible to potential buyers, you can make your business more attractive and streamline sales.
Focus on Sales and Traffic
Maintaining sales and traffic levels until the sale is complete is critical in demonstrating the ongoing value of your Shopify store to potential buyers. Here are some strategies to help you achieve this through various sales channels:
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- Capture new subscribers to build your email list
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- Implement killer email marketing campaigns to engage and convert subscribers into customers
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- Focus on customer retention by providing excellent customer service and offering loyalty programs or incentives
By following these strategies, Shopify store owners can supercharge their store’s revenue and profit.
Harness the power of social media to skyrocket your traffic and sales! You can reach potential customers and promote brand awareness by running targeted paid advertising campaigns and creating engaging social media posts, driving direct and organic traffic to your Shopify store.
Choosing the Right Platform to Sell Your Shopify Store
Once your Shopify store is ready for sale, you must decide on the platform to sell it. The platform you choose to market your Shopify store can significantly impact the selling process and the final sale price. To help you make an informed decision, we will examine the advantages and disadvantages of private sales, online marketplaces, and business brokers.
Private Sales
Private sales offer a more personalized approach and control over the selling process. However, being mindful of potential risks and scams is also essential.
To set up a private sale, follow these steps:
- Create a private collection page for exclusive items.
- Tag specific customers to access the private collection page.
- Use your profit and loss statement as the basis of your valuation.
- Showcase the financial health of your store to potential buyers and demonstrate its value.
Be vigilant and steer clear of scams by fortifying your Shopify cyber security and safeguarding your account against phishing, vishing, and smishing scams.
Online Marketplaces
Online marketplaces, including exchange marketplaces, provide a regulated environment for selling online businesses, such as your Shopify store, with access to a large pool of potential buyers and professional advice. They offer a great platform to conduct your business online, providing the following advantages:
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- Ability to sell different types of products
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- Easy creation of landing pages and marketing campaigns
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- Integration with popular marketplaces like Amazon and eBay
Listing your Shopify store for sale on third-party online business marketplaces like Shopify Exchange is also an option. While there are no transaction fees for stores using Shopify Payments, if you choose a third-party payment provider, there will be additional fees of 2%, 1%, or 0.5%.
Business Brokers
A business broker can offer expert guidance and assistance throughout the selling process. They can:
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- Create compelling marketing materials
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- Skillfully manage advertising
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- Expertly negotiate with buyers
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- Act as an intermediary to secure the best terms for the sale.
However, their top-notch services come with a commission fee, usually 5% to 15% of the sale price. Some top-rated business brokers you can trust include:
Navigating the Selling Process: Steps and Strategies
Although the selling process might appear daunting, it can be a smooth and rewarding journey with a clear understanding of each step. We will guide you through each step, from listing to negotiating with buyers and transferring assets, to ensure you’re fully prepared to sell your Shopify store.
Listing Process
The listing process is your first real interaction with potential buyers, so it’s crucial to get it right. A compelling listing attracts potential buyers and sets the stage for successful negotiations.
To make a compelling listing, collect accurate data, keep finances current, and create a standard operating procedure. This will give potential buyers a comprehensive understanding of your business operations and financial health. Show off your Shopify store’s achievements by utilizing sales reports or retail sales reports, offering valuable insights into customers’ orders, including sales trends over time, by product, or by channel.
Negotiating with Buyers
Negotiating with buyers is a critical step in the selling process. A successful negotiation ensures a better price and a smoother business transition to the new owner.
When presented with lowball offers, view them as opportunities for fruitful negotiations rather than discouraging setbacks. You can effectively negotiate all deal points by engaging with the buyer and understanding their needs. This may involve considering earn-out arrangements and conducting due diligence to ensure a mutually beneficial agreement.
Transferring Assets
Transferring assets is a crucial step in the selling process. It involves adding the buyer as a staff member, moving the domain, and ensuring a smooth handover of all business assets.
To add a buyer as a staff member on Shopify, navigate to the Settings tab on your Shopify admin area, click Users and Permissions, and then Add Staff. To transfer the domain to a new owner, go to your Shopify admin, click Settings, choose Domains, and enter the domain you want to move.
To ensure a smooth handover of business assets, identify business data to retain post-sale, plan the transition of ownership in advance, and maintain honest communication.
Getting Paid
Finally, the most rewarding part of the selling process – receiving payment! You must confirm the payment from the buyer and ensure that all financial transactions are done securely and transparently.
There are various secure payment methods to choose from when selling a Shopify store, including PayPal, Meta Pay, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and Shopify Payments. Customers can verify their purchase through the Shop app or using a unique six-digit code received via text message or email to ensure a seamless process. By staying proactive and vigilant, you can overcome potential issues during the payment process, such as failed transactions, refund delays, a negative balance in the Shopify Payments account, and difficulties handling customer payments from markets outside the home market.
Legal Considerations When Selling Your Shopify Store
There are several legal considerations involved when selling a Shopify store. For a smooth sale and transition of the business, updating your terms of service, reviewing employment contracts, and ensuring sales tax compliance is vital.
We will discuss each of these aspects in detail.
Update Terms of Service
Updating your terms of service can:
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- Increase buyer confidence during the selling process
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- Ensure that the terms accurately reflect the goods or services being sold
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- Set the stage for your store’s success
To update the Terms of Service, follow these steps:
- Access your Shopify admin panel.
- Navigate to Settings > Policies.
- Edit your store policies or generate a template.
- Format the text as needed.
- Save your changes.
Updating the Terms of Service can influence the terms and conditions if you’re a Shopify Plus user, empowering you to make informed decisions for your business.
Review Employment Contracts
Reviewing employment contracts and ensuring they are transferable can help facilitate a smooth transition for employees and the new owner. Maintaining existing employment contracts for current staff is crucial to provide a seamless transition and preserve the valuable operational stability of the buyer.
When transferring employment contracts during a business sale, it’s essential to:
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- Address the timing of pay on termination
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- Navigate restrictions on certain contract transfers, especially employment contracts in an asset sale.
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- Consider the possibility of employment termination if the purchasing entity doesn’t offer employment to existing employees.
Sales Tax Compliance
Ensuring sales tax compliance is critical to avoid potential legal issues and penalties. Sales tax compliance for online sales empowers you to charge and collect sales tax from online customers, ensuring you fulfill your obligations to the state.
Non-compliance with sales tax regulations can lead to penalties, including fines and, in extreme cases, jail time. The penalties can range from 10-25% of the tax amount, depending on the state. If you’re selling to European customers, select One-Stop Shop registration to collect VAT from customers in EU member countries, and remember not to charge VAT when marketing to customers outside the EU.
Pros and Cons of Selling a Shopify Store
Pros
- Selling your Shopify store can result in a significant lump sum payout, allowing you to realize the value of your business and potentially reinvest in other ventures.
- Exiting the business frees up your time and relieves you of the ongoing responsibilities of managing the store, allowing you to pursue other interests or ventures.
- Selling the store transfers the operational and financial risks to the new owner, reducing your exposure to market fluctuations or unforeseen challenges.
- The proceeds from selling your Shopify store can provide a financial boost for personal or business purposes, such as paying off debts, funding a new project, or investing in other assets.
Cons
- Once you sell the store, you forfeit potential future profits and growth opportunities that could have been realized by continuing to operate the business.
- If you’ve invested significant time and effort into building the store, selling it can be emotionally challenging, especially if you have a strong attachment to the brand or customer base.
- Depending on the terms of the sale, you may be required to assist the new owner with the transition, which could involve training, handover of assets, or providing ongoing support during the transition phase.
- The timing of the sale can significantly impact the valuation of your store, and selling during a downturn or unfavorable market conditions may result in a lower selling price than anticipated.
Wrapping Up My Experience in Selling a Shopify Store
FAQ
You can sell your Shopify store for a valuation based on multiplying your earnings by a factor or multiplier, typically 1 to 3. This method will determine the value of your business.
Yes, you can sell your Shopify shop on the Shopify Exchange Marketplace. List your store and wait for potential buyers to reach out or request a free valuation. It’s an excellent opportunity to profit from your hard work and consider new ventures.
Yes, selling Shopify stores can be profitable, with 81% of merchants being profitable after two years and an average annual revenue of $155,000.
Shopify takes different fees per sale based on the plan you’ve chosen. For the basic, it’s 2.9% + 30 cents; for the Shopify plan, it’s 2.6% + 30 cents; and for the advanced plan, it’s 2.4% + 30 cents.
To increase the revenue and profit of your Shopify store, focus on factors such as increasing store traffic, improving conversion rates, maximizing customer lifetime value, and ensuring a diverse and growing traffic source. By doing so, you can see significant growth in your business.
