14stores knowledge base
Selling & Buying Online Stores
A fact-checked guide to selling - or buying - a Shopify or online store in 2026. What it's worth, where to sell it, what the fees really are, how ownership transfers, and every term explained. Each guide is sourced to primary data.
Updated Sep 17, 2026 · 8 published guides
Quick answers
The most common questions, answered in a line each - with the full guide behind every one.
How much is a Shopify store worth?
Most sell for 2-4x annual profit - about 2-3x for thin-margin or dropshipping stores, 2.5-4x for established ones, and 4x+ EBITDA for larger businesses. Full valuation guide →
Where can I sell an online store in 2026?
Shopify closed Exchange on November 1, 2022. Use Flippa (any size), brokers like Empire Flippers and Quiet Light (larger stores), Money Nomad or 14stores (small, flat fee), or a direct deal through escrow. Compare every route →
What does it cost to sell a store?
Brokers 10-15% commission; Flippa a $29-$699 listing fee plus 5-10%; Money Nomad $297 flat; 14stores $199 flat at 0%; a direct escrow deal 0.89-3.25%. What you keep at each size →
How do I transfer a Shopify store to a buyer?
In the admin: Settings → General → Transfer store → Manage, choose "transfer to a new owner outside your business", enter the buyer's email. Fund escrow first - the transfer can't be undone. Step-by-step transfer →
How long does selling take?
A prepared store can sell in weeks. One Empire Flippers case study closed in 10 days of negotiation, 21 days total including migration; a 14stores auction runs a fixed 5 days. The full sale, start to finish →
Can I sell a store that isn't profitable yet?
Yes. Pre-revenue stores are valued on traffic, brand, email list, and transferable supplier terms rather than earnings - the price is lower and rests on proof. How pre-revenue stores are valued →
What do SDE, EBITDA, LOI, and escrow mean?
SDE is owner earnings plus add-backs; EBITDA is team-business earnings; an LOI is the non-binding offer before the contract; escrow is the neutral party holding the money until transfer. Full deal glossary →
All guides
Every published guide, most in-depth first. Sourced to primary 2026 data.
Complete Guide
How to Sell a Shopify Store in 2026
The full playbook: what it's worth, where to sell now that Exchange is closed, how to prepare, and how to transfer ownership safely - fees compared.
14 min→
Valuation
How Much Is a Shopify Store Worth?
The 2026 formula and multiples: SDE vs EBITDA, how to calculate your earnings with add-backs, price bands by size, and what a pre-revenue store is worth.
11 min→
Market Analysis
Where to Sell Your Online Store in 2026
Empire Flippers, Quiet Light, Flippa, Acquire, Money Nomad, 14stores - fees, minimums, and what you keep at $25K, $75K and $250K.
13 min→
Seller Guide
How to Transfer Shopify Store Ownership
The exact 2026 steps to hand a store to a buyer, the full asset checklist, the restrictions that block it, and the escrow-first rule.
9 min→
Seller Guide
Shopify Exchange Alternative (2026)
Exchange closed in 2022. The best replacements to sell your store now, ranked by size - Flippa, brokers, Money Nomad, 14stores.
10 min→
Market Analysis
Flippa Alternative (2026)
Leaving Flippa over the volume, the fees, or the scam risk? The right alternative for each - brokers, Money Nomad, 14stores.
11 min→
Reference
The Online Store Sale Glossary
SDE, EBITDA, multiple, add-back, LOI, APA, earnout, escrow, reserve, live valuation - every deal term in plain English.
11 min→
Seller Guide
How to Sell a Dropshipping Store in 2026
What small dropshipping stores really sell for (2-3x net profit), what actually transfers to the buyer, and the fees compared: 15% brokers vs $199 flat.
10 min→
More, in progress
Guides being written and fact-checked now.
Broker Fees Compared 2026
The 14stores Format, Explained
Who Buys Small Online Stores?
The Traffic Wall
Is My Store Worth Anything?
Asking Price Is a Guess
What Is a Live Valuation?
Why Only 14?