A reader asks:
I want to buy an Internet business but I’ve no experience of Internet businesses so I’m not sure which ones are worthwhile and which aren’t. So can tell me where I can find a good Internet business for sale?
Well there are a number of places that list Internet businesses for sale:
- Ebay - but these tend to be very cheap and very low quality, I would avoid these.
- DigitalPoint - has more of an American/International focus, it tends to be domains, content or sites that are for sale, not whole Internet businesses.
- SitePoint - again more of an more of an American/International focus and it tends to be domains, content or sites that are for sale. There is a huge range of sites ranging from $50 to $600K at the time of writing.
- WebsiteBroker.com - another American/International focused site which also tends to be domains, content or sites that are for sale rather than full Internet businesses. Prices ranging from $77 to $3M at the time of writing.
- BusinessesForSale.com - has quite a range of Internet businesses for sale prices ranging from £40 to £5.5M at the time of writing.
- BizSale.co.uk - it’s a mixed bunch of Internet business and other computer related businesses.
If you browse through those sites you might find what you are looking for, however there is another way, which might help you find some hidden gems - find an Internet business that isn’t for sale.
Finding an Internet business for sale that isn’t advertised
Here’s where the search engines can help. Pop along to Google, MSN and Yahoo (you want to try all three as they’ll provide different results therefore allowing you to find more sites). Then start searching for sites that you might be able to buy. Try searching for some of the following terms (note the quotes they are important):
- “website for sale”
- “website is now for sale”
- “website is closed”
- “site is closed”
- “website no longer updated”
- “website is no longer updated”
- “website is no longer being updated”
- “website will no longer be updated”
- “no longer be updated”
- “we are now closed”
- “website last updated” 2001
Note with the last one you should vary the year. Not all of the sites you find will be appropriate but for those that are the trick is then to find the owner of the site, determine a valuation and make them an offer. Not all of them will be interested (after all they weren’t looking to sell their site) but you might find some that are prepared to sell and pick up some bargains as a result.
Asking John:
Do you have a business question you would like me to answer? If so you can Ask John, inquire about using me as your Business Consultant or or you can ask on the forums where you’ll get both my input and that of your fellow entrepreneurs.
This blog is about business opportunities and ideas that I spot, think of or hear about and think are useful and interesting. It is intended to provide ideas and inspriation for you to help you find the right business idea for you to then grow it into a successful business.
Just a follow up to this post John, I also get a few people who want to start or buy an internet business, but have no internet knowledge or computer skills. I think it is worth saying that although an internet business can be cheap to run from home, it is not a magic formula for making money. Owning a website is just the first step!
Hi John - I didn’t know about these so I’ll be browsing through it. It’s interesting to see what some of these sites are going for.
Last night I was reading on Virtual Impax about some banking blog going for over $15 million. I’m betting a lot of folk will be starting banking blogs now.
Yes I read about that too. As you say, no doubt there’ll be a number of copy cats soon.