Is Empire Flippers the Best Marketplace for Buying Established Online Businesses?

When buying established online businesses, Empire Flippers is widely regarded as one of the top marketplaces available. Empire Flippers specializes in various business models, including content websites and ecommerce businesses. However, whether it is the best choice depends on the buyer’s specific needs. 

This article will explore the advantages and considerations of using Empire Flippers, compare it with other online business marketplaces, and dive into the types of businesses commonly sold on the platform. We will also highlight Empire Flippers’ rigorous vetting process and how it compares to other platforms like Flippa and FE International. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to investing in online businesses, Empire Flippers offers tools and services to streamline your experience.

Key Takeaways

• Empire Flippers offers a curated marketplace with high-quality, profitable businesses.
• The platform’s rigorous vetting process ensures that only legitimate businesses are listed.
• It specializes in small to mid-market businesses like content websites and e-commerce stores.
• Empire Flippers charges higher fees than other marketplaces but provides extensive support services.
• The marketplace’s selection is smaller but highly attractive to serious investors.

Why Empire Flippers Stands Out in the Market

For several reasons, Empire Flippers has become popular for investors seeking established online businesses. With its focus on high-quality listings, thorough vetting processes, and comprehensive services, Empire Flippers offers a solid foundation for new and experienced investors.

1. A Curated Marketplace for Serious Investors

One key reason Empire Flippers is considered a top marketplace is its curated approach. Unlike platforms like Flippa, where anyone can list a business, Empire Flippers has stringent requirements for listing a business. Only businesses with at least a year of operational history and a minimum monthly profit (usually around $2,000) can be listed, ensuring that buyers are presented with financially stable and legitimate businesses.

The curation process filters out low-quality businesses and scams, which creates an environment where serious investors can focus on worthwhile opportunities. This approach attracts high-quality sellers and results in quicker transactions and better sale prices.

2. Rigorous Vetting Process

Empire Flippers’ vetting process is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. It typically takes two to four weeks to vet a business thoroughly, and only about 9% of businesses submitted for listing pass the process. This involves verifying the business’s financials, traffic data, and operational history, ensuring that buyers are purchasing viable, high-quality businesses.

Empire Flippers requires sellers to provide proof of revenue, traffic data from tools like Google Analytics, and verification that rankings are not manipulated or that social media followers are not fake. Sometimes, the platform interviews sellers to give potential buyers more insight into the business and its history. Buyers exploring a potential purchase should always ask questions during the negotiation process to ensure clarity on the business’s operational history and growth potential.

3. Comprehensive Services for Buyers and Sellers

Empire Flippers provides full services to assist buyers and sellers, from escrow services to migration support and negotiation assistance. This hands-on approach makes it easier for investors, especially those new to the industry, to navigate the complex process of buying a business. Additionally, the platform’s large audience ensures that sellers can find serious buyers quickly, and buyers have access to a wide range of opportunities [3][4].

Types of Businesses Sold on Empire Flippers

Empire Flippers is known for listing high-quality, established online businesses that demonstrate a proven track record of profitability and operational stability. The platform specializes in businesses that generate steady revenue streams, making them attractive options for serious investors looking for established, low-risk opportunities. Below is a more detailed look at the types of businesses typically sold on Empire Flippers and the criteria the platform uses to ensure listings meet its high standards.

1. Content Websites (51% of Listings)

Content websites are by far the most common type of business listed on Empire Flippers, accounting for approximately 51% of all listings. These websites generally consist of blogs, niche content sites, and information-based platforms that generate revenue through monetization methods.

Revenue Models for Content Websites

• Affiliate Marketing: Many content websites generate income by promoting third-party products or services and earning commissions for successful sales or leads. These sites typically focus on high-demand niches like health, finance, technology, and lifestyle.
• Advertising: Another primary revenue stream is display ads (e.g., Google AdSense) or direct partnerships with companies looking to place ads on the site. Advertisers are willing to pay higher rates for ad placements as traffic grows.
• Selling Digital Products: Some content websites sell digital products, such as eBooks, online courses, or software tools. These products often generate high-profit margins because they have low overhead costs.

Attractiveness to Investors

Content websites are often considered ideal for passive income because they require minimal ongoing effort to maintain once established. They are generally easier to manage than other business types, especially for buyers who prefer a hands-off investment. Additionally, content websites that focus on evergreen topics (topics that maintain long-term interest) can continue generating revenue for years, making them appealing to buyers seeking long-term profitability.

Why Buyers Choose Content Websites

• Proven Traffic and Monetization: Content websites listed on Empire Flippers often have a history of organic search traffic and demonstrated revenue generation, making them less risky than unproven startups.
• Scalability: Content websites can often be scaled by increasing the content library, diversifying revenue streams, or expanding into new niche markets.
• Flexibility: Investors can choose content websites in various niches, from personal finance to health or entertainment, allowing them to find a business that aligns with their interests or expertise.

2. E-Commerce Businesses (38% of Listings)

Ecommerce businesses are Empire Flippers’ second-largest category, reflecting the growing dominance of ecommerce in today’s online marketplace. Many buyers are drawn to ecommerce opportunities due to their scalability and profitability. It accounts for around 38% of all listings. This category includes a wide variety of business models, with some of the most popular being Amazon FBA stores, dropshipping businesses, and traditional online retail stores.

Popular E-Commerce Models

• Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): This business model involves selling products on Amazon while Amazon handles the storage, packaging, and shipping. Many buyers are attracted to Amazon FBA because it allows them to leverage Amazon’s vast infrastructure, including customer service, shipping, and global reach.
• Dropshipping: In dropshipping, the business owner sells products without maintaining any inventory. When a customer makes a purchase, the product is shipped directly from a supplier. This model is popular for its low upfront costs and scalability.
• Traditional E-Commerce: This includes stores that operate independently or on platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce. These businesses manage their own inventory, fulfillment, and marketing.

Attractiveness to Investors

Due to the ever-expanding online shopping market, E-commerce businesses typically offer substantial growth potential. The increasing adoption of e-commerce and its convenience to consumers have made online retail stores a lucrative investment. Additionally, e-commerce businesses with a proven customer base and strong traffic are highly sought after, as they present lower risks than starting a new store from scratch.

Why Buyers Choose E-Commerce Businesses

• Scalability: E-commerce businesses are often scalable, as they can expand to new markets, increase product offerings, or optimize operations to improve profit margins.
• Direct Control: Investors in e-commerce businesses have more control over their branding, customer service, and marketing efforts than content websites. This can be appealing to hands-on investors who enjoy building a brand.
• Tangible Products: Some investors are drawn to the tangible nature of e-commerce businesses, as they can see and touch the products being sold.

3. Other Online Business Types (10% of Listings)

The remaining 10% of businesses listed on Empire Flippers are more specialized or niche businesses. While these businesses are less common on the platform, they can still present attractive investment opportunities for those with expertise or a specific interest in these models.

Common Types of Businesses in This Category

• SaaS (Software as a Service): SaaS businesses provide subscription-based software services with predictable and recurring revenue streams. Buyers often find SaaS businesses appealing because of their scalability and high-profit margins, as they can easily add more customers without significant increases in costs.
• Lead Generation Sites: These websites generate leads for other businesses, typically by offering free content, services, or tools in exchange for user information. These sites are valuable to businesses in industries like real estate, insurance, and legal services, as they provide a steady stream of potential customers.
• Service-Based Businesses: This category includes businesses that provide online services, such as digital marketing, content creation, consulting, and virtual assistance. Service-based businesses can be highly profitable, especially if they cater to a niche market with strong demand.

Attractiveness to Investors

While these business types are less common on Empire Flippers, they offer substantial growth potential and high returns. SaaS businesses, for example, are particularly attractive to investors looking for scalable, recurring revenue. Lead generation sites can provide highly valuable, targeted business leads, making them profitable for buyers.

Why Buyers Choose These Businesses

• High Margins: Many of these businesses, particularly SaaS and lead generation, offer high margins due to their subscription-based or automated nature.
• Niche Markets: These businesses often cater to specialized markets, allowing investors to tap into less competitive, high-growth sectors.
• Potential for Innovation: Investors in service-based businesses and SaaS businesses have the potential to innovate and introduce new features or services to drive growth.

Empire Flippers vs. Other Marketplaces

While Empire Flippers offers a range of advantages, it’s important to compare it with other online selling sites like Flippa and FE International, especially for their unique offerings. Each platform has its own unique features and may appeal to different types of investors.

Empire Flippers’ Rigorous Vetting vs. Flippa’s Open Marketplace

One of the most significant differences between Empire Flippers and platforms like Flippa is the level of scrutiny placed on listings. Flippa operates with a much more open marketplace model, where anyone can list a business without the same level of vetting. This leads to a wider range of listings but also increases the risk of encountering lower-quality or potentially fraudulent businesses. Buyers on Flippa must conduct their due diligence to ensure they are purchasing a legitimate business.

In contrast, Empire Flippers’ rigorous vetting process ensures that only high-quality businesses are listed, giving buyers confidence in the opportunities’ legitimacy. This can make Empire Flippers a more appealing choice for serious investors who want to avoid wasting time on low-quality or unverified businesses.

Empire Flippers vs. FE International

Like Empire Flippers, FE International focuses on high-quality businesses, often catering to more significant deals. While its vetting process is also thorough, Empire Flippers tends to focus more on smaller to mid-market businesses, which may be a better fit for most investors on the platform. FE International’s process involves detailed information sheets and a strong focus on helping buyers understand the business’s growth potential. 

Still, Empire Flippers’ in-depth evaluation process may offer a more comprehensive review of the business before listing.

Comparing Empire Flippers, Flippa, and FE International

When comparing Empire Flippers, Flippa, and FE International, it’s important to consider factors like vetting processes, business types, fees, and the level of support provided to buyers and sellers. Each platform caters to different investor needs. Empire Flippers focuses on curated, high-quality businesses, Flippa offers a broader selection with fewer restrictions, and FE International specializes in more extensive, high-growth deals.

The Drawbacks of Empire Flippers

While Empire Flippers offers a curated marketplace for high-quality online businesses, potential buyers and sellers should consider a few drawbacks before choosing it as their platform of choice. These drawbacks primarily involve the platform’s fee structure and limited listings available at any given time.

1. Higher Fees

Empire Flippers charges commission fees as high as 15%, which is considerably more expensive than other platforms like Flippa or Investors Club. This higher fee structure may discourage sellers, especially those with smaller or lower-margin businesses, from using the platform and could also affect buyers with a limited budget.

• Commission fees can reach up to 15%, higher than platforms like Flippa or Investors Club.
• Higher fees may deter sellers of smaller businesses or those with lower profit margins.
• The commission might outweigh the benefits for sellers, especially for businesses in early growth stages.
• Buyers may face higher asking prices as sellers factor in the commission fees when setting prices.
• This could be a concern for buyers looking for more affordable options.

2. Limited Listings

Empire Flippers offers a more curated selection of businesses but typically has fewer active listings compared to platforms like Flippa. While this limited selection can be a disadvantage for buyers looking for a broad range of options, the quality of the businesses listed on Empire Flippers tends to be higher, with strict criteria for listing.

• Empire Flippers typically has around 100 active listings, much fewer than platforms like Flippa.
• The limited selection can be a challenge for buyers seeking a wider variety of business models.
• Listings must meet strict criteria, including a minimum of $2,000 in monthly profit and at least 12 months of operational history.
• This results in higher-quality, more stable businesses being listed on the platform.
• While fewer options are available, serious investors may appreciate the curated, higher-quality businesses.

Conclusion: Is Empire Flippers the Best Marketplace for You?

Empire Flippers is an excellent choice for serious investors, as any detailed Empire Flippers review will highlight its focus on high-quality businesses and a thorough vetting process, making it ideal for those looking to avoid fraudulent listings. However, the higher fees and a limited number of listings may be drawbacks for some. Platforms like Flippa or FE International may offer more variety or lower fees depending on your investment goals. 

Whether you’re exploring ecommerce businesses or other profitable niches, Empire Flippers creates an ecosystem where buyers, sellers, and professionals collaborate like-minded individuals and have some fun while engaging in transformative business deals. Looking to increase the value of your online business for sale? Softlist.io can help you maximize your business potential with expert tools and insights. Start today!

FAQs