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Frequently asked questions
Exchange Marketplace, powered by Shopify, is the marketplace where entrepreneurs offer their ecommerce websites for sale to interested buyers. Discover the thrill of owning your own online business or take an established business to the next level. Have questions about selling your small business or buying a website? Browse our frequently asked questions below.
For buyers
What is Exchange?
Exchange is Shopify’s marketplace where entrepreneurs offer their ecommerce websites for sale to interested buyers.
On Exchange you can find businesses that are ready to make their first sale or choose from more established ones.
Is buying a business on Exchange safe?
Thousands of buyers have successfully purchased a new business through Exchange. We offer many features that help protect buyers, making Exchange one of the most secure and seamless marketplaces to buy a business online.
Learn more about what Exchange does to protect buyers.
What do I do if the seller isn't responding?
If a seller hasn't responded to your inquiry, it could be because they have many interested buyers, or are already in the process of selling to someone else. It can be frustrating, Exchange will ensure that if a seller is non-responsive their listing will be removed.
We recommend you continue messaging other sellers and frequently check for new listings.
I can’t find a store that I like, what can I do?
New businesses are posted everyday, enter your email in the footer to be notified so you can be the first to contact them. Or start your own business.
I found a store that I like, how can I buy it?
You can contact the sellers directly within the listing using our contact form. Once you agree on a price, the seller will open a transaction for you to pay through Escrow.com.
To make the most out of our buyer protection, only pay sellers through the Escrow.com transaction created by the seller.
Do you charge a fee to the buyer?
Nope! Exchange will not charge any fee for buying a business that is listed on Exchange.
What questions should I ask the seller?
If you are looking to buy a store with existing sales, consider asking questions about that store’s traffic and sales:
How do people find out about this site? If it’s using Facebook Ads, can they provide you with information about the ads’ performance?
What are the profit margins of the products the store is selling? Are the margins stable or do they vary a lot depending on the type of marketing the store does?
If you are looking to buy a store that holds inventory. You may want to enquire about the store’s suppliers.
We have more ideas on what to ask the seller.
Where does revenue and traffic data come from?
When a Shopify store owner decides to put their store on Exchange, they have to use the official Exchange App.
This allows Exchange to automatically calculates revenue and traffic data for the seller. Sellers can not modify these numbers.
Learn more about how sales are verified on Exchange.
How do I report a seller?
If you notice a listing that looks fraudulent, or if a seller is acting in deceptive manners, please send us an email at exchange-support@shopify.com with the link to the listing and additional information so we can investigate.
For sellers
How do I list my business for sale?
If you'd like to sell your business on Exchange, install the Exchange app on your Shopify store and create a public or private listing.
I already closed my store but I would like to sell it. How can I do this?
You will need to pick a plan to reopen your store so it’s available to buyers. After you pick a plan, you will automatically be redirected to the official Exchange app to create your listing. You will be able to write a description and set a selling price.
Why is my shop listed as a starter store?
If your business had less than $100 in revenue when you installed the Exchange app, your listing will appear in the Starter Stores category on Exchange. This is the most popular category on Exchange and will give you the most exposure to interested buyers.
Can my listing be featured or promoted?
Only a limited amount of listings can be featured on Exchange at a time. The stores that are featured are rotated often in order to give sellers with quality listings exposure to the thousands of buyers who use Exchange each day.
Featured listings are chosen by a tool that automatically selects top listings to be promoted. You can increase your chances of being featured by following these tips on improving your listing.
Do you offer a payments service to facilitate the purchase payment from the buyer to the seller?
Yes, we've partnered with Escrow.com to offer a safe and cost-effective way for you to sell your store. Once you are ready to move forward with the sale, follow this guide to start a transaction.
How is my store's valuation calculated?
Exchange's valuation tool recommends a selling price by taking into account a number of factors, including your store's lifetime revenue, traffic, and other features like social media followers or email subscribers. Stores that have features that are proven to sell are valued higher by our valuation tool.
Only whitelisted sales are accounted for in this calculation. These are sales that Exchange is able to verify, for a full list of whitelisted channels see here.
How do I find a buyer quickly?
Yes! You should start by creating a detailed description for your listing with as much information about your business as possible. Here are some ideas on what to include:
The type of products you sell (are you dropshipping or do you hold inventory?)
The work you’ve done on the store so far (if you haven’t made sales, is everything set up for the buyer to start selling? What should they consider once they buy your store?)
Links to your social media accounts and description of the campaigns you’ve done so far
What to learn more tips? See our guide on improving your listing.
How do I transfer my store?
Once you've agreed to the terms of the sale with the buyer. Follow these steps to get your store transferred securely by the Exchange team.
This is the only way to have your personal financial information removed from the store before making your buyer the new owner.