To celebrate the launch, for a limited time Flippa is offering FREE listings for all newsletters and our lowest success fees ever at just 2.5% when you sell. Find out more here.

If you’re looking to sell your newsletter, you can now share key metrics that specifically relate to newsletters including active subscribers numbers, open rates, click through rates, unsubscribe rates, revenue and more. 

Flippa supports any newsletter platform you use including Beehiv, Substack, Medium, Mailchimp and many others. Simply select the platform you use, choose the industry that best represents your newsletter and begin building your description.

Find out what your newsletter is worth here.

“It’s great to see Flippa promoting newsletter businesses as an asset class by creating a new category for them on the platform. This will give newsletter operators more options and liquidity.”

Richard Patey, expert in the world of alternative assets and monetizing them. Rochard has had seven successful exits including a content review site for six figures. Most recently, Richard has founded three newsletters, Digital Asset Investor newsletter, Letter Meta, and Media Assets, all of which he continues to run.

Biggest Newsletter Sales

Flippa’s entry into the newsletter market comes at a time when the demand for established newsletters is soaring. Here are three notable newsletter acquisitions that have made headlines:

The Hustle:

• Acquired by Hubspot in 2021 for an estimated $25 to $30 Million, The Hustle, a daily business newsletter that grew to over 1.5 Million subscribers, as well as an estimated 5-8 Million annual website visitors. 

Morning Brew:

• Estimated to be around $75 Million, the two co-founders of Morning Brew, both under 30, sold a majority stake to Insider Inc. Retaining a minority stake, The Morning Brew co-founders have an earn-out clause built into the deal, which encourages them to stay and grow the business long-term.

Milk Road:

• When Milk Road, a crypto news newsletter, was acquired the newsletter had amassed 250K subscribers which they had grown to in just 10 months. Shaan Puri and Ben Levy grew the newsletter through targeted marketing and leveraging the crypto hype to sell for 8 figures. 

Want to find out more about selling your newsletter with Flippa? Read our guide on How To Sell Your Newsletter.

Biggest Newsletters by Subscribers

As businesses recognize the potential of newsletters, some have achieved remarkable subscriber numbers. The following newsletters stand out as prime examples of high-value digital assets as measured by the number of subscribers:

NYT’s The Morning:

• With over 17 million subscribers, New York Times, The Morning is the most popular newsletter in the world. Providing daily briefing on global news The Morning also has an estimated 8 million paid subscribers. 

The Skim:

• TheSkim provides a daily roundup of current events with over 7 million subscribers. Started in 2012 by Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin who left their jobs as news producers for NBC, after four years they raised $8 million in series B funds, followed by an additional round of funding in 2018 raising $12 million.

1440:

•  1440 is a 5-minute daily newsletter with over 3.2 million subscribers, sharing news from experts in their fields. Earning the majority of its money from advertising and paid-subscriptions, 1440 has also explored other sources of revenue including events and webinars, content licensing, and affiliate marketing.  

Flippa’s strategic move into the newsletter market reflects the platform’s commitment to staying ahead of digital trends. As businesses continue to recognize the value of newsletters in connecting with audiences, the newsletter category on Flippa is poised to become a thriving marketplace for buying and selling digital assets. Whether you’re an aspiring newsletter entrepreneur or a seasoned investor, the newsletter category on Flippa opens up exciting opportunities to explore the dynamic world of email marketing and digital communication.

Learn more and find out what your newsletter is worth here.

Updated: 10th January 2024

The online business industry is constantly evolving, and at Flippa, we’ve been working hard in the background to update our packages for sellers. Our updated packages in 2024 are designed to help sellers of all sizes access the largest M&A market on the planet and exit their businesses seamlessly.

Introducing our M&A Broker Packages

Our new M&A broker packages are available for all assets valued at USD100k+. The broker package enables you to have your business represented by our in-house brokerage service. Our global network ensures access to a wide pool of buyers. From marketing assistance to end-to-end sale, our M&A brokers will help maximize your sale price. 

Flippa is a member of the International Business Broker Association (IBBA) and our M&A advisors are additionally CM&AA qualified (Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor). We have M&A advisors located across five continents, so you’ll always have local support when you need it.

Introducing our Entry Level Package

It’s back! Our entry level package for assets valued <10k is priced at just $29 for a 60-day term. Our entry level package enables you to go live on the Flippa platform and comes with all of the basic platform features needed to help sell your business. We’re grateful for the huge support from the Flippa community over the years, and we hope this lower price point will help you sell your assets on Flippa.

We’re Looking forward to a huge 2024

At Flippa, we’re looking forward to a huge 2024 as we bring our unique combination of Advisory, Technology and Community to as many of you as we can. We remain committed to building and innovating as the world’s leading M&A platform.

To see our updated pricing, check out these links Listing Fees and Marketing Packages.

What if I’m a buyer?

There are no fees to join as a buyer. Register now to start your search for your dream online business.

Europe: The New Frontier in Flippa’s Journey

Marking its dominance in the European market, Flippa has seen impressive growth with over 50,000 new buyers joining the platform and facilitating 238 startup exits in 2023 alone, an exciting 50% growth year-over-year. The opening of a new sales and brokerage office in Amsterdam, coupled with the acquisition of BitsForDigits, underscores Flippa’s deep commitment to Europe.

The Booming Digital Business Landscape in the EU

The EU’s digital business sector is experiencing exponential growth. Research from Amazon’s EU Impact report highlights the significant scale, with 125,000 Amazon stores selling over 1.2 billion products. Shopify, Amazon’s major competitor, has shown robust growth in Europe, particularly in the UK, France, and Germany, with the number of online stores growing by hundreds of percent since 2020. This surge in digital commerce is mirrored in the SaaS industry, with Europe being home to 19% of global SaaS companies.

The Core of Flippa’s Mission: M&A for everyone

At its heart, Flippa is revolutionizing M&A for startups and small businesses. The acquisition of BitsForDigits.com is a pivotal step in our journey to make the process of business exits and ownership more accessible and equitable.

• Expanding Access: We’re transforming the traditionally complex and opaque process of selling or acquiring a business into a transparent and accessible experience for a wider audience. Flippa combines technology with advisory services, ensuring all business owners, regardless of size, have the necessary tools and resources for successful exits.
• Empowering Tools and Services: Our platform offers over 20 valuation consultants and certified M&A advisors worldwide. We provide embedded legal agreements supported by Dropbox Sign for efficient contract negotiation, AI matching for connecting buyers with suitable assets, and comprehensive data tools integrating with major platforms like Amazon, Xero, Quickbooks Online, Shopify, Google Adsense, Stripe, and more.
• Fostering a Diverse Marketplace: Flippa’s diverse range of businesses offers a plethora of options for buyers, creating an inclusive environment where various business types can find their ideal acquisition targets.

Why BitsForDigits.com?

The acquisition of BitsForDigits.com brings several strategic advantages:

• More High Value Deals: BitsForDigits.com’s revenue floor of $100,000 annually and their appeal to founders of profitable SaaS businesses especially fits the direction of Flippa’s growth as the go-to marketplace for all businesses – from $10,000 to $10 million and more. Flippa’s buyer base consists of thousands of institutional and company buyers making it the perfect home for those looking for a strategic and / or sophisticated buyer.
• Complementary Strengths: BitsForDigits.com‘s focus on European startups complements Flippa’s broad marketplace, enhancing our reach across business sizes and types.
• Shared Vision and Enhanced Capabilities: Both platforms share a vision of making business transactions more accessible. This acquisition provides our European customer base with a platform boasting improved services and a wider range of business opportunities.
  

Looking Ahead

This acquisition, a part of Flippa’s global growth strategy, solidifies our position as the leading marketplace for buying and selling online businesses. It’s a step toward a more inclusive and accessible world of business ownership and exits, opening doors for entrepreneurs and small business owners who might have found traditional paths to selling or buying businesses daunting.

In conclusion, Flippa’s acquisition of BitsForDigits.com is more than just an expansion of market reach. It’s a testament to our commitment to the entrepreneurial spirit and the democratization of business ownership, signaling a shift towards a more inclusive and responsive world of business exits and acquisitions.

The Challenge

Selling a business is not just about the numbers; it’s about telling a compelling story that resonates with potential buyers. However, crafting a persuasive business description can be time-consuming and challenging. Flippa recognized this challenge and set out to find a solution. Our goal was to reduce the time it takes for business owners to complete their business listings while also ensuring that every listing stands out with a captivating summary and detailed description.

The Solution

Flippa’s innovative solution to this problem is powered by AI, specifically ChatGPT. At the “About” step of the listing onboarding process, sellers now have the option to automatically generate a Summary and Description for their business. You’ll see this option as you move through the listing process in the Summary and Description sections, making it easily accessible and user-friendly.

How It Works

When a seller decides to use the AI-generated content, they simply click the “Generate Description” button. In an instant, the Summary and Description text boxes are automatically populated with content generated by ChatGPT.

• Summary: The AI generates a concise summary that is under 140 characters long, highlighting key aspects of the business.

• Description: The AI generates a comprehensive description that is around 500 words long. This description includes essential details such as how the business generates revenue, its type, industry, monetization methods, products/platforms used, financial information, and the duration the business has been in operation.

Customization and Control

Flippa understands that while AI-generated content is incredibly valuable, sellers may want to add their personal touch. After reviewing the suggested copy, sellers have three options:

1. Keep the suggested copy and progress to the next step: This is perfect for sellers who are satisfied with the AI-generated content and want to save time.
2. Use part of the suggested copy and edit as needed: Sellers can leverage the AI-generated content as a foundation and tailor it to their specific needs.
3. Undo and Reload Template: If a seller decides to start fresh or explore other options, they can simply undo the generated content and return to the default placeholder.

This is an example of a business description written by ChatGPT.

Data-Driven Descriptions

Flippa’s AI-driven descriptions are not just generic text. They utilize data collected up to that point in the listing building process, combined with other data collected by ChatGPT. This ensures that the content is relevant, accurate, and tailored to each specific business.

Comprehensive Content Sections

Included in the generated description are several key sections that provide potential buyers with a thorough understanding of the business:

• Key Highlights: Highlights the most appealing and unique aspects of the business.
• Operations: Offers insights into how the business operates on a day-to-day basis.
• Customers: Provides information about the target audience and customer base.
• Technology: Details the technology and platforms used by the business.
• Financials: Presents financial information, including revenue and profit figures.
• Outro Paragraphs: Concludes the description with two “Outro paragraphs” that mention growth opportunities and summarize the business’s key points.

The Impact of AI on Business Sales

The integration of AI in the creation of business descriptions is a testament to the transformative power of technology in the world of commerce. Flippa’s use of ChatGPT streamlines the process for business owners, making it easier than ever to present their businesses in the best light possible when selling.

As businesses increasingly rely on AI to generate content, it’s clear that this technology is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in how we communicate and do business. Flippa’s commitment to innovation showcases the importance of embracing AI to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Flippa’s utilization of ChatGPT to generate business descriptions, is a powerful tool that not only saves time but also helps sellers effectively convey the value of their businesses, ultimately leading to more successful transactions in the world of online business sales.

Who does this impact? The subscription impacts business and asset owners who are asking between $10,000 and $10 million only. Asset owners selling assets under $10,000 have not been impacted by the change.

Did you know that the average listing on Flippa receives more than 50 enquiries? This is a lot and can sometimes be overwhelming. Accordingly, the First Access product is designed to enhance your experience as a seller by segmenting your campaign into two distinct periods, first access and all access.

The product provides paying buyers with an exclusive preview of deals before they go live on the platform. While some sellers may express concerns about this feature potentially reducing their initial access to buyers, it is important to understand the overall benefits this subscription offers and how it does not change the probability of sale.

This guide aims to outline the advantages for sellers and clarify why First Access can be a valuable tool in maximizing the potential of your assets.

The Benefits of First Access

1. Enhanced Visibility to Quality Buyers

By granting First Access subscribers an early look at deals, sellers gain the advantage of showcasing their assets to a group of committed and serious buyers. These buyers have chosen to invest in the subscription (or have a strong purchasing history), indicating their intent to actively seek valuable opportunities. As a seller, this means your assets are exposed to a targeted audience of motivated buyers who are more likely to make a purchase.

2. Increased Competition and Higher Bids

First Access creates a sense of exclusivity and urgency among buyers. When a limited number of buyers gain access to a deal before it goes live, they may be more inclined to make competitive offers to secure the asset. This can potentially drive up the bidding competition, resulting in higher sale prices for sellers. The increased competition among serious buyers can be a significant advantage for sellers looking to maximize the value of their assets.

3. Efficient Sales Process

The early exposure to First Access subscribers streamlines the sales process for sellers. Instead of waiting for deals to go live and then engaging with potential buyers, sellers can connect with interested parties during the preview phase. This allows for early negotiations, discussions, and potentially faster transactions. By connecting with committed buyers upfront, sellers can save time and energy by focusing on the most promising leads.

4. No Change in Probability of Sale

One concern some sellers may have is that offering First Access to buyers will reduce their chances of selling their assets initially to a broader audience. However, it is important to note that First Access does not affect the probability of sale. Once the initial preview period ends, the assets are made available to the wider marketplace, including all potential buyers who did not have First Access. Flippa’s matching engine ensures the most relevant buyers regardless of status are made aware of your asset or business.

Flippa’s First Access subscription offers numerous benefits to sellers by providing increased visibility to quality buyers, fostering competition, and streamlining the sales process. While some sellers may worry about reduced access to buyers initially, it’s crucial to understand that First Access does not change the probability of sale. It is an additional tool that complements the existing marketplace, maximizing exposure to motivated buyers while still ensuring all potential buyers have a fair chance to participate in the purchasing process. Embracing First Access can ultimately lead to faster sales, higher bids, and a more efficient selling experience for Flippa sellers.

Get deals 21 days before the rest.

We’re thrilled to introduce First Access, the ultimate subscription that gives you the competitive edge by providing exclusive access to new businesses on Flippa a full 21 days before anyone else.

With First Access, you’ll be at the forefront of the action, discovering, evaluating, and securing cash flow generating businesses before the wider market even gets a glimpse. Our in-depth analysis has revealed that an astounding 67% of Flippa businesses are snatched up by the buyers who get in first, those who look at a business within 21 days of it hitting the marketplace. By joining First Access, you’ll be among the elite few who can seize these opportunities swiftly.

Gain a Competitive Edge

Be the first to negotiate and get a head start on the competition. With 21-Day First Access, you’ll have the advantage of exploring the latest and most sought-after listings before anyone else. Don’t miss out on the chance to gain an upper hand in the fast-paced world of business acquisitions.

Skip the NDA Process

As a trusted premium buyer you’ll be able to view everything on our site including all search results and listings requiring NDAs – supercharge your outreach efficiency. On average, an NDA takes four days to get accepted. Get instant acceptance with First Access.

Get the Premium Buyer Badge

Stand out from the rest of the competition with a Premium Buyer badge. Looking at an on-market asset. Rise to the top and get preferential treatment. Missed the 21-day benefit…don’t worry, we’ve got your back. With your First Access Subscription you’ll proudly wear a premium buyer badge and stand out from the rest.

Plus, Exclusive Off Market Listing

Unlock a world of high-value opportunities not listed publicly in Flippa Search. With your First Access subscription, you’ll gain access to hidden gems that others can only dream of. Expand your options and increase your chances of finding the perfect business to acquire.

Act now to secure your exclusive First Access subscription and be at the forefront of the business acquisition game.

First Access is available at an introductory price of $99 p/month. Subscribe now to get ahead of the competition and unlock the potential for limitless success with First Access.

In recent years, the rapid growth of startups and mainstream adoption of digital business coupled with the large influx of acquisition entrepreneurs, funds and family offices has significantly and positively impacted the M&A universe. Despite increased deal making across the board the workflow and industry approach to deal making has been slow to adapt. Flippa has led industry change and this latest announcement – an AI powered recommender tool for matching buyers and businesses continues our innovative approach.

In the last two years, we’ve added market insights and deal benchmarking, a deal room, data integrations from 15 leading platforms, an off-market search offering and the addition of key services like due diligence and acquisition financing. This latest offering further streamlines deal making leading to more matches and deal efficiency. 

AI Can Lead to Greater Efficiency in the Initial Matching Process

In this dynamic and fast-paced environment, traditional methods of relying on professional networks and CRM’s are no longer sufficient. Business owners want greater efficiency in the process and the buy-side expects deal flow on tap. As a result, the role of new technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), has become increasingly important in revolutionizing the way deals are done, particularly as it relates to the search for targets in a business acquisition or exit strategy.

In the M&A ecosystem, the foundation of success has historically relied on two key elements: a robust relationship network, and manually crafted company databases. 

The role of brokers and advisors in M&A was to use their networks to create opportunities and bring together the right people for potential deals. But how can they ensure the best match and ensure an exhaustive search, particularly as the universe of buyers continues to grow exponentially?

Last year, nearly 300,000 new buyers entered the Flippa ecosystem. To effectively analyze and understand this world, access to up-to-date mandates, intent and the processing of vast amounts of information is essential. This is where AI comes into play and what we have built here at Flippa; a tool that helps business owners, M&A advisors and brokers.

Building a Scalable Recommendation System

At Flippa, using cutting edge machine-learning, we have developed a system that matches our buyers with quality listings picked specifically for them by leveraging the latent (or hidden) intent of their actions and behaviour which informs their preference.

The AI relies on Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) to provide recommendations by allowing for multiple inputs. By identifying all the inputs (users, listings, search terms, etc) and connecting them via edges (viewed, watched, searched-for, acquired), a graph can be constructed which outlines the highly dimensional journey of a user.

After a significant amount of training, the model has begun to understand the intricate connections and interdependencies hidden within the seemingly endless network of edges and vertices – allowing us to surface recommendations to our users at an accuracy and scale not previously thought possible.

The solution is an effective scalable recommender engine where buyers will be matched algorithmically giving business owners, advisors and brokers a network of buyers at their fingertips. Just hit ‘Invite’ and the target acquirer will be notified of a relevant deal, expertly matched by the Flippa platform.

For more information, read the post here from our lead data scientist, or check out the product announcement here.

This Effectively Answers the Question: “Who is Likely to Buy My Online Business?”

The power of AI lies in its ability to predict future behavior based on a set of examples. By creating a learning model through algorithms, AI can analyze new data and make predictions about future acquisitions and investments. The Flippa platform now provides a unique and comprehensive matching database on startups and SMEs from around the world. 

To book a demo and see how this matching tool may work for your business simply send an enquiry with details of your business or mandate to Deals@Flippa.com.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the Recommender Engine, flick me a note at product@flippa.com

At Flippa, using cutting edge machine-learning, we have developed a system that matches our buyers with quality listings picked specifically for them by leveraging the latent(or hidden) intent of their actions and behaviour which informs their preference.

The Single-Purchase-Single-User Problem

Flippa boasts a whopping 2M+ active buyers and trying to learn each individual preference becomes especially challenging when considering that once a buyer and listing are successfully matched, (usually) they are both removed from the pool.

Most traditional methodologies assume that either:

a) all users will consume multiple products during their lifecycle

or

b) the same product is consumed by multiple users

The prototypical example of the traditional recommender system is Netflix. As a user continues to spend their time consuming movies, an algorithm can learn the commonality across the watch history and find similar unwatched movies from the catalogue (content-based filtering).

Another common approach is collaborative-filtering. Using the collective experience of multiple users, inference can be made about how different groups like/dislike different movies.

E.g.:

Enjoying **The Shawshank Redemption** and **The Dark Knight** infers that the user will probably enjoy **Fight Club** because most users who enjoy the **The Shawshank Redemption** and **The Dark Knight** also enjoy **Fight Club**

However – given the unique nature of the Flippa marketplace, preference would have to be learnt in a more flexible way.

flippa.com enables users to express their interest across many different dimensions. A user can view, watch, discuss and search for listings. So, the problem then shifts to determining which of these dimensions can be used as a proxy for consumption or understanding which action actually infers intent/preference. The problem would need to be simplified or reduced.

Or would it?

Graphs

Rather than reduce the problem space, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) can help solve recommendations by allowing for input in a less constraining form. By identifying all the nodes (users, listings, search terms, etc) and connecting them via edges (viewed, watched, searched-for, purchased), a graph can be constructed which outlines the highly dimensional journey of a user.

Utilising the GNN architecture, we are no longer required to reduce the problem or make assumptions on which actions we deem important and which not. Given enough data, the GNN learns the complex relationship between all the nodes in the graph and can then answer questions such as which user is most likely to purchase listing X?

The end result? Introducing Flippa’s AI recommendation engine.

At Pulse ‘22 Flippa revolutionized online business M&A with the launch of Flippa Invest, the Off-Market database, increased integrated and verified data, and much, much more.

Introducing:

Flippa Invest

The fastest and most efficient way to raise growth capital for your business AND invest in thriving online businesses.

Flippa Invest provides US based accredited investors with unique opportunities to invest in thriving, healthy and growing online businesses.

Learn More >

The Off-Market Database

We have mapped the world’s largest database of online businesses, giving you unprecedented access to greater deal flow.

Shortlist and engage us to help you connect and seal the deal. We are navigating, analyzing, and graphing the life cycle, ownership, transaction history, growth, and valuation of every online business in the world. You benefit!

Learn More >

Flippa Data

Connect and expose financial and operational strengths, and assess business quality easily with Flippa’s network of Integrations.

15 of the world’s leading financial, eCommerce and accounting platforms are now available. Buyers can now access more data to make informed acquisition decisions, and business owners can connect data showcasing the quality of their business.

Learn More >

Along with these huge category defining products, we also announced Crypto Payments, CRM Integrations for Brokers, Managed by Flippa, and a Referral & Influencer Program.

You can watch the entire announcement here.

Thoughts and feedback can be directed to product@flippa.com.

If you have purchased a service or package through the Partner Market, the provider will continue to fulfill that service, and you will be able to repurchase directly through the provider. 

If you’ve recently acquired a business and are looking for ways to grow your business, we have a number of resources to help you. Check out:

• How to Grow Ecommerce Business and Increase Sales: Actionable Strategies
• How To Grow An Amazon FBA Business: The Complete Guide
• How To Grow Your SaaS Business: The Complete Guide
• 7 Advanced Affiliate Marketing Strategies to Double Your Sales
• How To Market, Grow, And Sell an App