Frequently Asked Questions
Can you tell me more about VotanWeb?
VotanWeb was established with
the sole objective of providing a secure and confidential marketplace
for website buyers and sellers. We comply with all state and federal
consumer protection laws and voluntary guidelines. No exceptions.
Is
VotanWeb the largest website marketplace?
Yes, VotanWeb is the largest website marketplace. Beware of other websites
making false claims supported with inflated statistics.
Should I start my own website
or buy an existing website?
An existing website has a track record which should indicate the level
of demand for its products or services. An existing website should have
detailed financial records and a developed business plan. Sometimes,
a seller of a website will agree to help to train a new owner. These
are important factors because many new websites tend to fail during
the early stage of their development.
What should I look for when
buying a website?
A buyer should only consider purchasing a website he or she will feel
comfortable owning and operating. The time and effort which will be
required is an important consideration as is how much the buyer can
afford to pay for the website. The amount of cash the buyer needs to
regularly take out of the website is very important, especially if the
website is to be the buyer's only source of income. Many experts believe
you should not purchase a website unless you can make it better, so
it is helpful if a buyer has some definite ideas on how to improve the
purchased website.
How is the
asking price of a website determined?
Sometimes the seller will simply make up an inflated asking price to
determine if there is any interest in his website at the inflated price.
Regardless of the asking price, buyers are typically willing to pay
from two to five times annual earnings. Many buyers are willing to pay
two times earnings while few buyers are willing to pay five times earnings.
Why do some website owners
refuse to list the domain name?
Often, confidentiality is very important to a website owner. It can
be damaging to a website if it is generally known that it is being offered
for sale. Customers may not be interested in buying from a website in
transition and competitors could use the information to their advantage.
How can I get the most money
for my website?
If you are serious about getting the most money for your website, then
you will need to prepare detailed financial statements, budgets, and
a business plan. Running your website as if you were preparing to sell
it will improve your management practices and increase the value of
your website. If you receive an offer that you can't refuse, being prepared
will put you in a great position to close a deal quickly.
Will my website sell faster with a low asking price?
If your website is priced too
low, it will appear to most buyers that the deal must be too good to
be true. A low asking price may actually scare away otherwise interested
buyers. Of course, it goes without saying that if the website is priced
too high then there will be little or no interest on the part of serious
buyers. An irrational asking price is not going to help you achieve
your goal of finding a buyer for your website.
Can I obtain financing
for the purchase of a website?
The availability of outside financing will depend upon the asset base
of the website, its operating history, collateral availability and projected
cash flow - the same issues considered in all business lending. The
Small Business Administration (SBA) is a helpful resource when trying
to determine what type of financing is available.
Should I use an online escrow service when buying a website?
Most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT. For more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud". If you must use an escrow service, insist on a legitimate service, such as www.escrow.com
Should I hire an attorney?
The answer to this question depends a great deal upon your appetite
for risk. If the purchase price represents a significant amount of money
to you, then it is a good idea to retain an attorney to review the necessary
legal documents. It is important that the attorney you hire be familiar
with business acquisitions to be as effective as possible during the
process.
What is due diligence?
Due diligence is a systematic process for acquiring and analyzing information
to help a buyer or seller to determine whether or not to proceed with
a proposed business transaction. The information obtained relates to
all aspects of the website to be purchased. Due diligence should include
both quantitative information, such as sales and other financial data,
and qualitative information, such as an assessment of the existing website,
security systems, existing relationships with suppliers and customers
and other matters. Sometimes the information to be reviewed can be quite
technical or industry specific. It is important that the person doing
due diligence have a complete understanding of the information being
reviewed.
How does
VotanWeb make a profit?
We established VotanWeb with the sole objective of providing a secure
and confidential marketplace for website buyers and sellers. VotanWeb
has NEVER profited from the service we provide.
If you still have questions, please review the articles below:
The following are links to information that will be helpful to those interested in buying or selling their business:
Advantages of Buying an Existing Website With any new website you have two challenges: developing the product or service and then seeing what if anything, people are willing to pay you for i... |
Websites for Sale - Tips on Selling a Web Site If you have a website that generates profits then you have a valuable asset. But what is your website really worth? In general the website is wort... |
Buy or Build a Successful Internet Business Many people who don’t make their living online believe that the Internet has become very crowded. They are convinced that there are now few opp... |
Website for Sale - How to Determine the Asking Price When you have finally made the difficult decision to sell your website the first thing that needs to be established is the asking price. ... |
Steps When You Purchase an Existing Website The search for a website to purchase almost always starts with a visit to a web site like the one we host at VotanWeb. Sometimes the prospective bu... |
Should I Use an e-Business Broker When I Buy a Website? A website broker is similar to a real estate broker to the extent that they try to put buyers and sellers together. Instead of real estate... |
Websites for Sale! - How Do I Determine the Value of My Websites? If you are going to buy or sell a website that's worth less than $500,000 you may be much more interested in determining the prope... |
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, ... |
Websites for Sale - What are Websites Really Worth? There may be no topic more controversial or misunderstood as the website valuation, also known as a website appraisal. Although they're espec... |
Websites for Sale - Tips to Help You Sell Your Websites If you're thinking about selling your website, it pays to be prepared. Here are some strategies that can help you make the deal: Keep f... |
Website for Sale - Advice on How to Sell Your Website If you are serious about selling your website then you will need to spruce up your financial statements, budgets, and business plans. Runnin... |
Avoid Problems when You Buy or Sell Websites The biggest thing a seller can do to make certain that a transaction proceeds smoothly is to adequately prepare the website’s financial statements... |
Read this Before You Offer an Existing Website for Sale A buyer is usually looking for a website whose cash flow can cover its current operating expenses plus three other numbers: 1) the salary tha... |
Websites for Sale - Get the Highest Price for Your Websites It is very important not to be passive when selling your website. If you don't investigate potential buyers while they are investig... |
Websites for Sale - Keep Negotiations Secret when Selling an eBusiness Imagine this worst-case scenario: During negotiations to sell your website, news leaks out to your key customers and compet... |
Questions Frequently Asked Concerning the Purchase of a Website What are the key motivators for people to buy a website? Before making a decision to purchase a website, a buyer should understand h... |
Tips on Financing to Buy a Website If you're like most people buying a website, you'll probably need to borrow money to complete the acquisition. Although, you may obtain a loan from friends or fam... |
Financing the Purchase of a Website - The Small Business Administration (SBA) One of the Small Business Administration's primary objectives is to help small businesses obtain financing. Although th... |
Which Website Should I Buy? With any new website you have two challenges: developing the product or service and then seeing what if anything, people are willing to pay you for it. Your chances of ... |
Don't Forget Working Capital When You Buy a Website If you intend to obtain a loan to buy a website, you should consider how much capital you should have available until the website starts generati... |
Avoid a Tiresome Search when You Buy a Website If you have been looking online to buy a website, and haven't found one that is worth considering, then you need a better way to go about this proces... |
Due Diligence is Necessary When You Buy a Website According to industry statistics, nine out of ten people who begin the search to buy a website never complete a transaction. While there are ma... |
Considerations When You Buy an Existing Web Site Almost everyone in the business of selling new websites offer impressive presentations projecting future sales and growth, but it's really just an... |
Financing the Purchase of an Existing Website If you're thinking about buying a website, you'll be pleased to learn that financing the purchase is generally quite easy. In fact, it's far simpler t... |
Points to Consider When You Buy or Sell Websites I've worked with many website sellers and many more potential website buyers over the years. I strongly believe that the best way for an entrepr... |
Preparing a Website for Sale A website owner recently asked me to succinctly define what an owner must do in order to prepare a website for sale. I segmented my response into major categories... |
Quit Your Job - Buy and Sell Websites for Profit! The stock market and real estate industry have long been populated by day traders and “flippers”, those that buy and sel... |
Troubled Websites for Sale! You awaken one morning to the realization that the website you've poured so much time, energy and thought into; the dream that was once the preoccupation of your ever... |
Types of Website Buyers and their Impact on Your Bottom Line Different types of website buyers have different objectives and levels of experience. Knowing these differences can help you in getting... |
How to Sell A Website It is a joyous time when you are ready to sell your website. While you will be fraught with questions and unknown variables when ultimately you decide to sell your website it... |
Buying a Website: Due Diligence Due Diligence is the period when you will be able to access the company's books and records to verify that all of the information that you have been told thus far ... |
Valuing a Website Before You Sell There is probably no part of the buying process that worries a potential buyer more than overpaying for a website. While this is understandable (who wants to pay m... |
Web Site for Sale! - Advice Before You Sell Your Website Only 27% of all websites that are put on the market are sold. This is a shocking statistic to most people trying to sell a website. If yo... |
Options for Financing the Purchase of a Website Financing a website purchase, or getting cash for a down payment can take many forms. Hopefully the options listed below will give you some i... |
Develop a Business Plan Before You Buy a Website In recent years, I've written a number of business plans based on ideas I've had for various websites. Most of these ideas were small, but I learned... |
Pricing Websites For Sale As a market leader in existing website sales, VontanWeb receives many questions about valuing websites. It always amazes me how some website owners come up with the value... |
Using VotanWeb to Buy aWebsite Have you considered being your own boss, creating your own financial independence and making your dreams a reality? You're not alone, owning your own website is th... |
Mother of Three Earns Six-Figures with eCommerce Website In January, Sarah Kline bought an old watch for three dollars at a small thrift store she stumbled upon in a tiny town near her home in Flo... |
College Drop-Out Makes it Big with Online eBusiness In May, Sam Lave dropped out of college and stumbled upon an untapped market on the internet. Nothing has been the same since. Sam wanted to ... |
Tips for Boosting Search-Engine Rankings Every online retailer would love to improve their search-engine rankings. Many disreputable companies are taking advantage of this fact by collecting hu... |
It’s Time to Take Your Home Business Online Expanding your presence on the Internet is a logical way for home businesses to operate on a much larger scale. A good example of this can ... |
Fearful of Paying too Much when You Purchase a Web Site? I receive a lot of email from potential website buyers. Recently I received a note from a buyer who was very excited about a particular webs... |
Manage Your Cash Flow after You Buy a Website There is no magic formula to determine the necessary working capital for a website. Sure, every accounting-textbook provides a definition of working ... |
Key to Success when You Buy Websites As a result of the years I have dedicated to VotanWeb, I receive a lot of email from website buyers asking my advice on a variety of topics. A common question... |
You Should Have a Business Plan Before You Buy a Website OK, you have formed your limited-liability company and you have your tax-identification number. You are ready to buy a website, right? ... |
Leaving Corporate America to Buy a Website As a Group Manager of VotanWeb, I receive a lot of email. One frequently asked question relates to making the transition from the corporate world to the... |
The Common Traits of Successful Websites A website is a new way to communicate without direct personal interaction. It is a place on the internet where one can post anything from personal informat... |
An Evaluation of Used Car Websites Getting a used car instead of a new car is becoming a trend in America today. People do not want to spend money for new cars cause of the fact that cars&rsq... |
Websites to Assist You in Buying a New Car By overcoming any fear about buying a car online, consumers can get that dream car for a great price, safely and securely - possibly even for a bette... |
An Evaluation of Cellular Phone Websites The rapid development in communication technology in the last few decades has made productions in personal communication devices more cost effective. Per... |