Let me tell you something straight: selling your e-commerce business is like trying to land a triple backflip on a unicycle… blindfolded… during a windstorm. It can be done — but you’d better have some guts, a solid game plan, and maybe a whiskey neat on standby. 🍷
I didn’t just want to sell my store. I wanted top dollar. I wanted leverage. And I didn’t want to feel like some chump cashing out on the cheap. This wasn’t a garage sale. This was the culmination of years of 2 a.m. supplier calls, busted Shopify themes, and Black Friday PTSD.
So here’s how I pulled it off — and how you can too.
The Wake-Up Call: When I Knew It Was Time to Sell
You know that moment when you open your dashboard and your brain goes, “Nah, we’re done here.” That was me.
Sales were solid, margins decent, customer LTV trending up — but I felt tired. Not burnout exactly… more like I was stuck on autopilot. I’d scaled this thing from a side hustle in my apartment to a mid-six-figure beast. But passion? Gone. I wasn’t building anymore. I was babysitting.
And I knew something else: if I waited too long, the business might peak… then slide. And trying to sell during a downturn? Yeah, good luck getting full value.
Getting My House in Order (aka Cleaning Up the Digital Garage)
First thing I did? I went full Marie Kondo on my backend.
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Cleaned up the financials: I hired a bookkeeper to retroactively sort everything. Profit & loss statements. Cash flow breakdowns. Clear cost of goods. It wasn’t sexy, but it was NECESSARY.
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Killed dead weight: Old apps, bloated ad spends, pointless SKUs? Axed. I didn’t want a buyer looking at fluff. I wanted them looking at clean, efficient revenue.
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Documented everything: SOPs, supplier agreements, customer service workflows. I even made Loom videos walking through the Shopify admin like a nerdy tour guide. 😂
Why? Because buyers don’t want chaos. They want predictability. Systems. The ability to plug in and keep it moving.
Positioning It Like a Beast (Not a Lemon)
This is where things get fun.
I didn’t just say, “Here’s my store.” I pitched the opportunity. I framed it like this:
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Look at this growing niche.
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Here’s a rock-solid supply chain.
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Our CAC is low, our ROAS is tight, and we have a huge chunk of organic traffic.
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Oh, and we’ve barely scratched the surface of Amazon, wholesale, or international markets.
I told the story not just of what the business was, but what it could be. I painted the vision — and let the numbers back it up.
Picking the Right Buyer (and Walking Away From the Wrong Ones)
Listen, I had a few tire-kickers come in hot with lowball offers, asking dumb questions like, “Can I turn this into a dropshipping model?” 🙄
Pass.
But then came the buyer.
A strategic operator — already had a portfolio of e-comm stores in adjacent niches. Saw the synergies immediately. Understood the value of my audience and brand equity. And he came prepared. Solid LOI. Fast due diligence. Didn’t nickel-and-dime me on inventory or merchant reserves.
We negotiated hard, don’t get me wrong — I’m not here for charity. But it was respectful. And fast.
That was key.
The Exit: What I Walked Away With (and What I Left Behind)
The final deal?
✅ 5.2x SDE
✅ 70% upfront, 30% earn-out over 12 months
✅ Advisory role for 3 months, then I was free
Not bad, right?
But what I really walked away with was peace of mind. I exited clean. No drama. No regrets. And now? I’ve got capital, confidence, and my nights back.
What You Should Know Before You Sell
If you’re even thinking about selling your e-commerce business, hear me out:
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Start early. Prep 6–12 months in advance. The more dialed in your business is, the higher the multiplier.
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Know your numbers. If you can’t explain your margins, churn, LTV, or CAC in under 30 seconds, you’re not ready.
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Don’t get emotional. It’s a business transaction, not a breakup. Stay cool.
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Negotiate like your freedom depends on it. Because it kinda does.
And for the love of all things caffeinated — don’t try to go it alone. Get a broker, M&A advisor, or at least someone who’s sold before in your corner. This game’s not for rookies.
Final Thoughts: Sell Smart, Leave Loud
Selling your e-comm biz isn’t waving a white flag. It’s the boss move of someone who built, scaled, and now wants to cash out and level up.
So do it right. Prep hard. Negotiate harder. And when it’s all said and done?
Pop that bottle. 🎉
Because trust me… selling on your terms? That’s winning.
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Let me know if you want the unfiltered version of this story — it involves a blackout, a missed wire transfer, and one very confused banker. 😎