Empire Flippers: The Gold Standard for Online Business Brokers

Ready to make a fortune buying or selling online businesses? Of course, you are. (Aren’t we all?)

With the internet overflowing with so-called “opportunities,” finding the right business to invest in, or the right platform to sell your existing business on can be a real monster of an undertaking.

That’s where Empire Flippers comes in – a company that connects you with profitable online businesses and makes the buying and selling process smooth. 

But is Empire Flippers worth all the hype? 

We’re about to put Empire Flippers under the microscope to find out why they’re so widely trusted, what their fees are, and even give you the down-low of the potential downsides of using the platform.

So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let’s explore, shall we?

What Does Empire Flippers Do?

Empire Flippers, founded in 2011, is a trusted platform that offers a range of services to help buyers and sellers of online businesses. They have built a reputation for their expertise in connecting profitable businesses with qualified buyers. Offering services such as marketplace listings, business valuations, and due diligence reports, all designed to help every client make an informed decision.

The company’s vetting process is something that really sets them apart. Empire Flippers only allows businesses with a proven track record of profitability to be listed for sale. They also perform a thorough due diligence process on all listings, which includes verifying financials, traffic sources, and other critical information.

Empire Flippers also provides a range of support services to help buyers and sellers navigate the process of buying or selling a business. They offer advice on everything from negotiating deals to transferring assets, and their team of experts is always on hand to answer questions and provide guidance.

While there are no guarantees when it comes to investing, Empire Flippers has a strong reputation for providing a high level of service and connecting buyers and sellers of profitable online businesses.

Who is the Owner of Empire Flippers?

The co-founders and current owners of Empire Flippers are Joseph Magnotti and Justin Cooke.

Together, they have built Empire Flippers into an uber-successful platform for buying and selling online businesses. They have worked hard to establish the company’s reputation for quality and professionalism, and their dedication to their clients has helped them become one of the most respected names in the online business brokerage industry.

Where is the Headquarters of the Empire Flippers?

Empire Flippers has headquarters located in Wilmington, Delaware, 427 N Tatnall Street, to be precise. But, its workforce is primarily remote, which allows them to serve clients worldwide. 

The remote nature of their workforce also allows Empire Flippers to tap into a global talent pool and bring on board the best and brightest minds in the industry. 

With its headquarters in Delaware and its remote team members spread across the world, Empire Flippers is well-positioned to provide its clients with a global reach and responsive customer care that is unmatched in the industry.

Empire Flippers Testimonials and Reviews

We took a peek at Trustpilot to see what people are saying about Empire Flippers. To say the least, we were impressed.

Out of the 68 reviews left by users of the platform, 93% left a solid 5-star review.

In March of 2023, an Empire Flippers client had this to say about her experience selling her website:

Most reviews we found are just as outstanding. But as we all know, you can’t please everyone. Let’s take a look at the most recent 1-star review left by a client in September 2021:

Empire Flippers has built a reputation for itself by listing only legitimate and profitable businesses, ensuring that its clients make smart investments. Although, investing in anything does involve risk, as far as we can tell, Empire Flippers does a fantastic job of keeping their clients informed of this.

If you head over to Empire Flippers’ homepage, you’ll also find a handful of video testimonials. It’s definitely worth checking out in case you need more proof to help you get off the fence.

How Do You Use Empire Flippers?

Before we dive in head first with how to use the platform, there are a few points I need to cover. Instead of sugar-coating it, I’m just going to say it – Empire Flippers is not for everyone. This particular platform is exclusive to serious investors or online business owners looking to exit.

What do I mean by that?

Well, simply put, if you wanted to buy an online business for a few thousand bucks, you’re not going to find them for sale on Empire Flippers. They only deal with vetted, legitimate, and profitable businesses.

The Empire Flippers team provides a high level of service, including calculating the valuation, preparing a profit and loss statement, and handling legal documentation, escrow, and migration. They also guarantee a minimum income during the inspection period. 

Accredited investors can invest in Empire Flippers Capital to invest in website portfolios managed by an experienced portfolio manager.

With all of these premium features, it’s plain to see that these guys are not messing around.

How to Buy a Business With Empire Flippers

1. Create an Account – The first step to buying a business with Empire Flippers is to create an account. You’ll be asked to provide some basic information such as your name, email address, and phone number. Once you’ve filled out the form, click the “Get Started” button to continue.
2. Browse Listings – Once you’ve created an account, you’ll be able to browse the available listings of businesses for sale. You can use the search bar or filters to narrow down your search based on factors like price, niche, and revenue.
3. Sign NDA – Before you can view the full details of a listing, you’ll need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). This is to protect the confidentiality of the business and its sensitive information.
4. Verify Funds – Once you’ve found a listing that you’re interested in, you’ll need to provide proof of funds to verify that you have the necessary capital to make the purchase. This is to ensure that only serious buyers are able to access the full details of the listing.
5. Review Listing – Once you’ve been verified as a serious buyer, you’ll be able to review the full details of the listing, including traffic and revenue data, profit and loss statements, and any other relevant information.
6. Ask Questions – If you have any questions about the business or the listing, you can ask the Empire Flippers team for clarification. They’re happy to provide additional information and help you make an informed decision.
7. Make an Offer – If you’re interested in buying the business, you can make an offer through the Empire Flippers platform. Your offer will be reviewed by the seller, and negotiations may begin.
8. Conduct Due Diligence: Once your offer has been accepted, you’ll have a period of time to conduct due diligence on the business and its financials. This is to ensure that you’re making a wise investment and that the business is as profitable as it appears to be.
9. Finalize the Sale: Assuming that everything checks out during due diligence, you can finalize the sale by signing the necessary legal documents and transferring the funds to the seller. Empire Flippers will handle the escrow and transfer of the website and included assets.

Becoming a Verified Buyer with Empire Flippers comes with a full range of benefits, including exclusive access to detailed information about the businesses listed on the platform. As a Verified Buyer, you will have access to the actual URL of the business, as well as intimate details that are not available to others, making it a ton easier for you to carry out your due diligence.

Becoming a Verified Buyer is quick and easy – all you need to do is provide proof of your funds. There are no prerequisites for becoming a Verified Buyer, and you can do so as soon as you sign up. Once you have provided proof of your funds, Empire Flippers will upgrade your status, giving you access to 10 free unlocks to explore businesses within your price range.

As a Verified Buyer, you will also have access to your own sales team, including expert Business Advisors who will be by your side from beginning to end. They will offer advice, answer any questions you may have, and gather information from the seller to aid your due diligence. For deals over $300K, your assigned Business Advisor will attend your calls with sellers to help you negotiate the perfect deal.

Becoming a Verified Buyer with Empire Flippers is free, and you can verify your funds in a variety of ways, including connecting your bank account, providing a bank statement or stock portfolio, or providing a letter from your CPA confirming your resources. Verification is seamless and can be done through Empire Flippers’ step-by-step registration process, giving you access to exclusive benefits in just a few short minutes.

How to Sell Your Business With Empire Flippers

Before a website can be listed on the Empire Flippers marketplace, it must meet certain requirements:

• Net Profit – The online business must generate a net profit of at least $2,000 per month on a 12-month average.
• Google Analytics – The website must have Google Analytics installed for at least three months, or Clicky Analytics is also acceptable.
• Track Record – The website must have a solid track record of at least 12 months of revenue/earnings.
• Advertising Sites – If the website is an Adsense/Amazon Associates/Affiliate/Advertising site, it must have been on the same domain for the previous 12 months.
• No Evidence of Manipulation – The website/business cannot have evidence of actively manipulating with penalizations, deleted accounts, 301 redirects, short-term earnings, etc. If there are two or more instances of these activities, the website/business will be rejected immediately.
• Service/Client Businesses – Service/client businesses must come from over 50% of their income from multiple clients and can’t rely on a single customer.
• Restricted Categories – The business cannot be related to pornography, gambling, payday loans, hacking, illegal substances, any form of criminal activity, or sell physical products that are CBD or hemp oil-related. Any site promising cures through herbal remedies/other dubious claims, or anything that leans in the direction of these categories, will not be accepted.
• No Fake SEO or Followers – Any website with fake SEO, IG/Facebook/Twitter followers, etc. will be immediately denied.

Once these requirements are met, here are the steps to list and sell a website on Empire Flippers:

1. Submit Listing: The website owner submits their listing to Empire Flippers with all relevant information, including traffic and earnings data.
2. Vetting Process: Empire Flippers’ team will review the listing and conduct a thorough vetting process to ensure the website meets their standards and requirements.
3. Listing Goes Live: Once the website has been approved, it will be listed on the Empire Flippers marketplace.
4. Offers: Interested buyers will make offers on the website, and the seller can choose to accept or reject them.
5. Negotiations: The seller and interested buyers will negotiate the final sale price and terms.
6. Sale Agreement: A sale agreement is drawn up and signed by both parties, outlining the terms and conditions of the sale.
7. Escrow: The buyer will transfer funds to an escrow account held by Empire Flippers, and the seller will transfer ownership of the website and its assets.
8. Migration: Empire Flippers’ team will assist with migrating the website and its assets to the buyer.
9. Payment: The funds in the escrow account will be released to the seller, and the transaction will be complete.

Take advantage of Empire Flippers’ free valuation tool to help you better understand where the price point of your business should be set.

What Does it Cost to Use Empire Flippers?

Empire Flippers allows you to create an account for free and access their extensive marketplace of online businesses available for purchase. Furthermore, if you meet their strict criteria for online businesses, it’s also free to list your website on their platform.

It’s important to note that Empire Flippers operates on a commission basis, which means that they charge a percentage of the sale price as their fee. This commission varies depending on the sale price of the business.

• For businesses sold for up to $700,000, Empire Flippers charges a 15% commission. 
• For businesses sold between $700,001 and $5,000,000, the commission rate drops to 8%. 
• Finally, for businesses sold over $5,000,000, the commission rate decreases to 2.5%.

It’s important to keep in mind that this commission covers all the services Empire Flippers offers during the sales process, including valuation calculation, preparation of a profit and loss statement, mediation of conference calls, legal documentation provision, handling escrow, and website and asset migration.

What are the Downsides of Empire Flippers?

There are several potential drawbacks to using Empire Flippers as a platform for buying or selling websites. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Higher Prices for Listings – While there are some listings on Empire Flippers that are priced below $100,000, the majority of websites listed on the platform are priced much higher. In fact, the average sale price on the marketplace in 2020 was $269,000, which may put some deals out of reach for newer or less well-funded investors.
• Premium Pricing – Websites listed on Empire Flippers tend to have higher multiples than those found on other marketplaces, with an average multiple of 43x for the trailing twelve months (TTM). While some websites may be listed for as much as 55 times monthly earnings, the industry averages for Amazon Associates websites and display ad websites are 40.5x and 34.6x, respectively. This means that buyers using Empire Flippers may need to pay more compared to other platforms like Flippa which don’t provide as many services. 
• Professional Operators Only – Sellers on Empire Flippers tend to be experienced operators and investors who have already implemented many of the easy wins or low-hanging fruit. This means that buyers may not be able to find as many listings that are suitable for beginners or hobbyists who are just starting out.
• Competition from Professional Investors – Because Empire Flippers works with private equity firms, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals, buyers on the platform may find themselves competing with more experienced and well-funded investors for deals. Additionally, Empire Flippers Capital, the platform’s own investment fund, also buys websites listed on the marketplace.
• High Sales Commissions – Empire Flippers provides a high level of service, including a dedicated team that performs website migrations. However, this also means that their sales commission is relatively high at 15%. For sellers, this may mean that they need to sell their websites for more in order to make up for the platform’s cut. For buyers, this may mean that prices are inflated due to the higher commission.

Empire Flippers vs Flippa

Now, let’s look at Empire Flippers compared to their top competitor, Flippa – see how they stack up next to one another. 

	Empire Flippers	Flippa
Total Sales	$310 million	$375 million
Commissions	Up to 15%	Up to 10%
Listing Fee	$0	$49
Live Listings	~120 at a time	~5K at a time
Exclusivity	60 days	None
Vetting	Yes	Minimal
Pricing	Fixed-Price	Auction or Fixed

Empire Flippers has sold $310 million worth of websites, while Flippa has sold $375 million worth. While Flippa has a focus on quantity, Empire Flippers specializes in higher-end, quality websites and tends to attract more serious buyers and sellers.

Empire Flippers charges up to 15% in sales commission, while Flippa charges up to 10%. This means that if you sell a website for $100,000 on Empire Flippers, you will pay $15,000 in commission, compared to $10,000 on Flippa. However, Empire Flippers provides a higher level of service, including vetting and migration assistance, which may justify the higher commission rate.

Empire Flippers charges nothing to list a website, while Flippa charges $49. This may not be a significant factor for higher-end websites, but if you are listing a lower-priced website, the $49 listing fee on Flippa could eat into your profits.

Empire Flippers typically has around 120 live listings on their marketplace, while Flippa has around 5,000. Flippa’s more extensive selection might give buyers more options to choose from, but it also means that there is more competition for sellers.

Empire Flippers requires a 60-day exclusivity period when you list your website on their marketplace, which means that you cannot list it on any other marketplace during that time. Flippa allows you to list your website on other marketplaces while your listing is live.

Empire Flippers personally vet every website listed on their marketplace, which helps to ensure that buyers are getting high-quality websites. While all listings must be approved, Flippa does minimal vetting, which means that there is a higher risk of buying a low-quality or fraudulent business. When buying any business, it’s up to you to do your due diligence. 

Empire Flippers uses a fixed-price model, while Flippa uses an auction-style model. If you prefer a more straightforward buying process, Empire Flippers may be a better choice. If you enjoy the excitement of bidding on auctions, Flippa may be more appealing.

Here’s what it boils down to:

If you are selling a high-end website and are willing to pay a higher commission rate for a higher level of service, Empire Flippers is the better choice.

If you are selling a lower-priced website or prefer a larger selection of listings, Flippa may be the one for you.

Ultimately, the job of weighing the pros and cons falls on you to decide which platform best suits your needs.

We recently gave Flippa a full workup, read more here →

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping it Up

If you’re dead set on buying or selling a highly profitable online business, then buckle up and head on over to Empire Flippers! These guys are the real deal, with a team of experts who know the ins and outs of the online business world better than the back of their hands. 

And if you think you can outsmart them with your “get rich quick” schemes, think again, because they’ll sniff out any shenanigans faster than a bloodhound on a scent trail.

Seriously though, if you want to be a player in the online business arena, you gotta bring your A-game, Empire Flippers is where the big boys (and girls) play.

So, stop your dawdling and head on over there now to start your journey to online business domination!