Working with a Broker when You Buy or Sell an eCommerce Website

When buying or selling a website, using the services of an intermediary can, in many cases, make or break a deal. If you're a buyer, an intermediary can show you opportunities that you might never find on your own. Owning a website that sells T-shits might sound intriguing until you learn that someone has to make the T-shirts – and mail them! A good intermediary can help you keep an open mind during your search and figure out what you don't want to do -- e.g., print T-shirts -- and move on from there.

It's important that you remember one key fact: Unless you've hired the intermediary, he or she represents the seller of the website. So, no matter how helpful or pleasant the intermediary is, he or she is still in the employ of the seller. However, that doesn't mean he or she won't treat you fairly. But you must watch out for your own interests.

Of course, intermediaries are also a great source of information on current market conditions, issues related to pricing and financing, and many other facets of the business buying process.

If you're selling a website, an intermediary can bring more prospects than you could ever do on your own. Professional intermediaries also separate the buyers from the lookers, which can save you valuable time. And, in most cases, they will get you a better price for your website than you could on your own. Intermediaries can also help you price your website properly, tell you how you can make it more saleable, and simply be there as a resource throughout the sale.