How to make my online store available for purchase?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Seller wants to transfer ownership of a Shopify store (toyaround.io) and asks how to make it available for purchase.

Key update: Shopify’s Exchange Marketplace was decommissioned on November 1, 2022. New listings aren’t possible; see the Exchange Marketplace FAQ for details.

Suggested paths to sell:

  • Marketplaces/brokers: Flippa (direct sale, brokers, free valuation) and MicroAcquire (startup listings and sale support). Empire Flippers also recommended as an established broker.
  • Aggregators (companies that acquire and operate online stores): OpenStore (claims sales can close in as little as 2 weeks) and OpenStore Drive (they operate the store while the owner receives passive income). Everstores is another aggregator, advertising quick cash-out timelines.

Market note: Empire Flippers reportedly sees a resurgence of buyer demand for ecommerce sites into 2024 as interest shifts from publishing/affiliate sites.

Status/outcome: No single solution chosen. Action items are to evaluate brokers vs. aggregators, compare timelines, fees, and support, and choose the route that fits goals (full exit vs. passive income).

Summarized with AI on January 11. AI used: gpt-5.
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I’ve decided I don’t want to continue my business as I’m focussing on other things. How can I can make my store available for purchase by someone else? It’s a fab store with fab products I just don’t have the time to invest in it anymore.

Store: www.toyaround.io

thanks for any guidance.

Tulika

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Hi, @Tulika .

Thanks for posting to the Shopify Community.

I understand you’re looking to sell your online business as you’d like to focus on other things. What have you looked into so far?

Previously, you were able to sell and or buy stores through the Exchange Marketplace. As of November 1st, 2022, the Exchange Marketplace app has been decommissioned. This is to say that all of Exchange’s listings are not available to browse, and merchants cannot install the app on their store to create new listings.
We have more information included in our Exchange Marketplace FAQ resource.

However, I would like to suggest other options for selling your business online:

  • Flippa - You can sell directly, sell through a broker and receive a free valuation.
  • MicroAcquire - You can list your start-up and get help with selling.

I encourage you to click on each brand’s services to learn more about what they offer and which one best suits your business needs.

We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours.

1 Like
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Hey - These brokers are a great option for listing your store for sale.

Have also been reading about aggregators that acquire Shopify stores.

e.g. OpenStore lets you sell your store to them in as little as 2 weeks per their website and they also have an offering called OpenStore Drive wherein they run your store and you the owner, gets a passive income stream from it.

There are other’s out there as well that I’ve been reading about – e.g. Everstores - you can cash out in weeks per their website.

Good luck with your store!

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Hi @Tulika ,

Not sure if you’re still looking to sell, but along with those mentioned below, I would also recommend Empire Flippers. I spoke to them recently at a conference, and they are seeing and predicting a resurgence of ecommerce site demand from buyers moving into 2024, as the demand comes of publishing and affiliate sites.