Flippa Review – Is Flippa Legit for Buying and Selling Websites?

Looking to buy or sell an online business and are looking for a Flippa review? I have personally bought one website as well as have sold three websites in the past, and I think this can be a great way to make extra money. Flippa is a popular marketplace where people buy and sell websites,…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: October 9, 2024

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Looking to buy or sell an online business and are looking for a Flippa review?

I have personally bought one website as well as have sold three websites in the past, and I think this can be a great way to make extra money.

Flippa is a popular marketplace where people buy and sell websites, e-commerce stores, YouTube channels, and other online businesses.

Flippa connects buyers and sellers of online businesses, helping hundreds and sometimes thousands of deals happen each month. You can find all kinds of digital properties on the platform, from small blogs to big e-commerce sites.

But is Flippa the right choice for you? While it has many opportunities, some listings might not be as good as they seem. It’s important to do your homework before jumping into any deal.

Let’s take a closer look at what Flippa has to offer and how you can use it safely.

Please click here to head to Flippa’s website where you can buy and sell online businesses.

Flippa Review

Below is my Flippa review. Enjoy!

Flippa Review

What Is Flippa?

Flippa is a popular online marketplace for buying and selling digital businesses. It connects entrepreneurs looking to sell their websites, apps, or online stores with potential buyers.

It’s like eBay but for websites and apps instead of physical items. You can find all kinds of online businesses for sale on Flippa.

The platform is easy to use. Sellers list their businesses, and buyers can browse or search for what they want. Flippa handles the money part to keep things safe for everyone.

Types of online businesses on Flippa

Flippa has a wide range of online businesses for sale. Here are some types you can find:

  • Websites: Blogs (such as finance or travel blogs), content sites, and niche sites
  • E-commerce stores: Shopify, Amazon, and other online stores
  • Mobile apps: iOS and Android applications
  • Domain names
  • SaaS businesses: Software as a service companies

You can find both small starter sites and big, profitable businesses. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to millions. This variety makes Flippa great for buyers at all levels.

Buying a Business on Flippa

Flippa is a marketplace where you can buy websites and online businesses. It has many options, but you need to be smart and do your homework before making a purchase.

Why buy a website?

Buying a website can be a great way to make money online. You don’t have to start from scratch. Instead, you get a ready-made business that’s already earning money. This can save you time and effort.

Some benefits of buying a website include:

  • Instant income
  • Existing traffic and customers
  • Proven business model

Many people buy existing online businesses (like blogs) and find ways to improve them so that they can make more money. For example, you may improve the blog design or add a new revenue stream to the business.

But remember, not all websites for sale are good deals. You need to look closely at each one to make sure it’s worth your money.

I have personally bought a website many years ago, and I have many friends who have bought websites as well. For me and most of my friends – we have been able to make money by buying a website that someone else created.

Recommended reading: How I’ve Turned Buying Websites Into My Full-Time Career

How to buy a business on Flippa

Buying on Flippa is pretty simple.

Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Create an account on Flippa.
  2. Search for websites in your niche or budget.
  3. Review the listings carefully.
  4. Ask the seller questions.
  5. Place a bid or make an offer.
  6. If you win, complete the payment.
  7. Transfer the website to your control.

It’s important to take your time and not rush into a purchase. Buying a business is a big decision!

How Flippa works for buyers

Flippa connects you with people selling their websites or online businesses. You can browse listings, ask questions, and make offers.

Flippa has some tools to help you such as:

  • Verified traffic data
  • Revenue proof
  • Site age information
  • Seller ratings

These can help you decide if a listing is worth your time. But you still need to do your own research too.

Due diligence for buyers

Due diligence means checking everything carefully before you buy. This is super important when buying a website.

Here are some things to look at:

  • Traffic sources: Check Google Analytics to see where visitors come from
  • Revenue: Ask for proof of income, like PayPal statements
  • SEO: Use tools like Semrush to check the site’s search rankings
  • Content: Make sure it’s original and high quality
  • Technical issues: Look for any problems with the site’s code or design

Flippa has a “Red Flag Report” that can help spot potential issues. Flippa does charge for this – anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 per report. But don’t rely on this alone as you should always do your own research too.

The Selling Process

Selling a website on Flippa can be a great way to make money from your hard work.

Why sell a website?

You might want to sell your website for a few reasons.

Maybe you’re ready for a new project. Or you need quick cash. Sometimes, you’ve grown the site as much as you can and want someone else to take it further.

Selling can give you a big payday as websites usually sell for 20 to 36 times their monthly profit. So if your site makes $1,000 a month, you could get $20,000 to $36,000 for it!

Recommended reading: How I’ve Made $80,000 Selling Blogs

How to sell a business on Flippa

Selling on Flippa is pretty easy. First, you make a listing. You’ll need to share info about your site, like how much money it makes and how much traffic it gets.

Flippa charges a listing fee, and the fee all depends on how much you plan on selling your online business for.

When your site sells, Flippa takes a cut. This is called a success fee. It’s 10% for sites that sell for under $50,000. The fee gets smaller for more expensive sites.

You can set a starting price or let people bid. You can also set a “Buy It Now” price if you want.

Preparing your business for sale

Getting your site ready to sell is very important. You want to make it look as good as possible to buyers.

You can start by cleaning up your finances. For example, having clear records of your income and expenses is a must.

Next, make sure your site looks nice and works well, such as by fixing any broken links or errors.

In your listing, you should talk about what makes your site special. Maybe it’s a loyal audience or a unique product – highlight these things in your listing.

Flippa’s Fees and Payment

Flippa charges fees for listing and selling websites and online businesses. They have different fee structures depending on the sale price.

Below we will take a look at how Flippa’s fees work and how you get paid when selling a site.

Listing fees

When you list your site on Flippa, you’ll need to pay an upfront fee. This fee helps keep listings high quality. The cost depends on what you’re selling and your asking price:

  • Domains: $9 starting fee to list
  • Websites and apps: $15 starting fee to list
  • Established businesses: $49 starting fee to list

You can also buy extra features to make your listing stand out. These include a “featured” tag or a spot at the top of search results. These add-ons cost more but might help you sell faster.

Success fees for sales

Flippa takes a cut when you sell your site. This is called a success fee and the amount depends on how much your site sells for:

  • For sales up to $249,999: 10% fee
  • Sales between $250,000 and $499,999: 9% fee
  • Sales from $500,000 to $999,000: 8% fee
  • Sales from $1,000,000 to $4,999,000: 7% fee
  • Sales from $5,000,000 to $9,999,000: 4% fee
  • Sales over $10,000,000: 3% fee

So, if you sell your site for $75,000, Flippa would take $7,500 as their fee.

How does Flippa pay you when selling a site?

When your site sells, Flippa uses a system called escrow to handle the money. Here’s how it works:

  1. The buyer sends money to the escrow account.
  2. You transfer the site to the buyer.
  3. The buyer checks that everything is okay.
  4. The escrow service releases the money to you.

This process keeps both you and the buyer safe. You don’t give up your site until the money is there, and the buyer doesn’t pay until they get the site. Flippa takes their fee from this final amount before sending you the rest.

Flippa Scams

Buying and selling websites on Flippa can be risky because there is money involved. Some sellers try to trick buyers with fake info.

Below let’s look at common scams and how to protect yourself.

Common Flippa scams

One of the most common Flippa scams includes fake revenue screenshots. Now, there are plenty of real sites for sale on Flippa (with honest sellers), but this can sometimes be a problem on Flippa. Some sellers may edit images to show higher earnings than reality, and this trick fools buyers into paying more money for a website.

Another scam is lying about pageviews and traffic. Sellers might use bots to boost visitor numbers and this makes their site look more popular than it is.

Some people sell sites with copied content. They steal articles from other websites and this can lead to legal issues for the buyer.

How to stay safe on Flippa

Even though there are some scammers on Flippa, the majority of listings and sellers are truthful and are real. But, since money is involved, I always recommend that you be careful because you just never know.

There are some ways to stay safe on Flippa, such as:

  • Always double-check the numbers. Ask for proof of income from PayPal or bank statements. Don’t trust screenshots alone.
  • Use tools like Semrush to check real traffic. This helps you spot fake visitor claims.
  • Look for original content. Use plagiarism checkers to find copied text.
  • Get an expert to review high-priced sites. They can spot red flags you might miss.
  • Check the seller’s history. Look for good reviews from past buyers. Be careful with new sellers who have no track record.
  • Ask lots of questions. An honest seller will be happy to give you more info.

Flippa Pros and Cons

Flippa has good and bad points for buying and selling websites.

Pros of Flippa

Here are two Flippa pros:

  • Flippa has a huge group of buyers, so this means that you have more chances to sell your site. There are thousands of people who just browse on Flippa each day looking for the best deals.
  • You can find many types of sites on Flippa. They have different topics and prices, and you might find a cheap site to start with or a big one to grow.

Cons of Flippa

Here are two Flippa cons:

  • Flippa takes a big cut when you sell. They charge 10% for sites sold under $50,000. This can eat into your profits, of course.
  • There are sometimes scams on Flippa so you need to be very careful when buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about Flippa.

Is Flippa reputable?

Flippa is a well-known marketplace for buying and selling websites. It has been around since 2009 and many people use it. But like any online platform, you need to be careful.

Is it safe to sell on Flippa?

Selling on Flippa can be safe if you take the right steps. Make sure to use their escrow service and give honest info about your website.

Is it safe to buy on Flippa?

Buying on Flippa can be safe, but you need to be careful. I recommend that you always do your own research on any website you want to buy and don’t rush into a purchase.

What should I look out for to make sure a website I buy on Flippa is legitimate?

To make sure a website you want to buy is real, I recommend that you check the site’s traffic proof, income proof, the seller’s history on Flippa, and that you ask questions about anything that seems odd. If possible, talk to the seller directly. Don’t ignore red flags.

How much does Flippa take from a sale?

Flippa takes a cut of your sale price. For sites selling for $50,000 or less, they take 10%. The fee gets smaller for higher-priced sites.

How long does it take to sell on Flippa?

Selling time on Flippa can vary a lot. Some sites sell in a few days, while others might take weeks or months. According to Flippa, the average online business that costs less than $50,000 usually sells within 15 days, the average $50,000 to $250,000 business takes around 1.5 months, and businesses over $250,000 usually take around 2.5 months.

What are some Flippa alternatives for buying and selling sites?

You have other options besides Flippa for buying and selling sites. Some other popular ones are Empire Flippers, Motion Invest, and FE International.

Flippa Review – Summary

I hope you enjoyed my Flippa review.

So, is Flippa legit?

Flippa is a real company that’s been around for years. Many people use it to buy and sell websites and they have done over 450,000 transactions.

They also have many different categories that you can buy and sell in, such as e-commerce stores, blogs, apps, and other digital assets. Flippa’s marketplace also has many businesses in all kinds of price ranges, so you don’t need to have a ton of money saved in order to buy a business, as there are businesses for sale for less than $10,000 on Flippa all the time.

But like any marketplace, you need to be smart and careful when using it.

I have personally bought and sold a few websites over the years, and I actually just took a quick look on Flippa and saw one of those very same sites listed for sale again on Flippa – what a small world, especially since there are currently over 4,200 websites listed for sale on Flippa. Many people use Flippa all the time to buy and sell a website, and if I were needing to buy or sell right now, I would have no problem with using Flippa – it is a safe site as long as you are careful and avoid scams.

Please click here to head to Flippa’s website where you can buy and sell online businesses.

Are you interested in buying and selling online businesses?

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Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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