Buy Sell Startups vs Empire Flippers
Empire Flippers is a broker. Buy Sell Startups is a marketplace. One takes a percentage of your exit; the other charges a flat fee so you keep more of what you build.
0% success fee
Free to browse · Plans from $29/mo
Empire Flippers
2–15% success fee (decreases with deal size)
$297 listing fee + 2–15% success fee
Side by side
Startups
Success fee on sale
Empire Flippers charges 15% on deals under $1M, 8–2% above
Listing fee
$297 non-refundable listing fee
Minimum deal size
Empire Flippers requires $50k minimum — most micro-SaaS won't qualify
Self-serve listing
Empire Flippers assigns a broker — you don't control the listing
Direct buyer contact
Empire Flippers intermediates all communication
Revenue verification
Dedicated broker support
Empire Flippers provides full concierge service
Keep 100% of sale price
List and live within 24h
Empire Flippers has a multi-week vetting and listing process
LOI / offer workflow
Buy Sell Startups advantages
- 0% success fee — on a $100k exit, you keep an extra $10,000–$15,000
- No minimum deal size — micro-SaaS side projects welcome
- Self-serve: list and go live within 24 hours
- Direct access to buyers — no intermediary
- Transparent pricing with no hidden broker costs
Empire Flippers advantages
- Full concierge service — ideal for time-poor sellers of large businesses
- Deep buyer vetting — every buyer is qualified and serious
- Strong track record for deals above $500k
- Handles all negotiation, escrow, and migration logistics
Empire Flippers is excellent if you're selling a business above $200k and want full broker support. For micro-SaaS founders with deals under $200k, paying 10–15% of your exit to a broker doesn't make sense when you can sell directly for a flat fee.
Empire Flippers is a full-service brokerage that handles the entire acquisition process — valuation, listing, vetting buyers, and facilitating the transaction. They're the right choice for sellers of high-value businesses ($50k–$20M+) who want white-glove support. The trade-off is a 2–15% success fee and a minimum deal size that excludes most micro-SaaS founders.
Common questions
How much does Empire Flippers charge?
Empire Flippers charges a non-refundable $297 listing fee plus a success fee of 15% on the first $700k, 8% on $700k–$5M, and 2.5% above $5M. On a $200k exit, that's $297 upfront plus $30,000 in success fees.
Is Empire Flippers worth it for small SaaS businesses?
For businesses valued under $200k, the success fee rarely justifies the broker cost. The vetting, marketing, and negotiation support they provide is most valuable for complex, high-value deals.
Can small bootstrapped SaaS businesses use Empire Flippers?
Empire Flippers requires a minimum of $50,000 in asking price and typically looks for businesses with at least $2,000/mo in net profit. Most micro-SaaS side projects and early-stage businesses won't meet these requirements.
What's the fastest way to sell a SaaS business?
Self-serve platforms like Buy Sell Startups let you list and go live within 24 hours. Broker-led processes like Empire Flippers typically take 4–8 weeks before the listing even goes public, plus the time to find a buyer.
No fees. No brokers. No middlemen.
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