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Guide for Selling Digital Assets and Online Businesses

Umut Güncan
Finance
Illustration of digital assets including websites, apps, and e-commerce platforms with a handshake symbolizing the sale of online businesses.

Selling digital assets and online businesses is becoming a popular way for entrepreneurs to earn money from their work. Digital assets can be things like websites, software, e-commerce stores, intellectual property, or social media accounts. Selling these assets requires careful planning, setting the right price, and using reliable tools like Ruul. By following a clear process, sellers can make sure the sale goes smoothly and both the seller and buyer are happy with the deal.

Understanding Digital Assets

Digital assets can take many forms, such as websites, blogs, software, apps, social media profiles, and online stores. To sell any of these digital products successfully, it's important to understand their true value. For example, a website can be valued based on how much traffic it gets, how much money it makes, and the quality of the content it has. An app could be worth more if it has a large number of users or offers subscriptions that bring in regular income. Intellectual property, like trademarks, copyrights, or patents, can also be valuable assets when selling a business. Understanding the worth of these assets is key to getting a fair price in the sale.

The value of a digital asset can be hard to determine, so sellers should understand their asset’s performance and potential. Many use third-party tools or consult experts to set a fair price.

Ruul provides guidance on establishing the value of software assets, offering insights into software solutions pricing strategies, which can be especially helpful for tech-based products.

Preparing Your Digital Assets for Sale

Before listing your digital assets for sale, it's important to prepare them well. A clean and organized asset will attract more buyers and help you get a better price. Here are some steps to consider:

  1. Clean up the Asset: Make sure your digital asset is free from unnecessary files or outdated content. For websites, remove broken links and irrelevant articles. For apps, update to the latest version, fix bugs, and make sure it’s easy to use.
  2. Financial Transparency: Buyers will want to know how the asset makes money. Provide clear financial records showing revenue, expenses, and any profit-sharing details. If you have an online store or subscription business, showing steady growth and reliable income is important.
  3. Legal Protection: Ensure all your legal documents are in order, like copyrights, trademarks, and terms of service. If you’re selling a domain name, make sure it's registered and can be transferred.
  4. Documentation: Gather all the important documents related to the asset you're selling, such as user manuals, guides, analytics reports, and anything else the buyer might need to take over easily. Having everything ready can increase the asset’s value and speed up the sale.
  5. Prepare for Transfer: Set up a clear and easy process for transferring the asset to the buyer after the deal is done. This might include giving login details, transferring intellectual property rights, or providing API keys for software. A smooth transfer helps build trust with buyers and makes the deal easier to close.

Pricing Your Digital Assets

Pricing your digital asset correctly is a delicate balance. On one hand, you want to ensure that you get a fair price for the time, effort, and money you’ve invested into developing the asset. On the other hand, overpricing can deter potential buyers.

There are a few pricing models that you can consider:

1. Revenue-Based Valuation:
If your digital asset generates regular income, like a website or an e-commerce store, you can use a revenue-based valuation method. For instance, you might calculate the value of the asset by multiplying the annual profit by a certain multiplier based on industry standards.

2. Market Comparisons:
Another common method is to compare your asset with similar assets that have recently sold. By looking at sales data of comparable digital assets, you can gauge what price range your asset might fall into.

3. Time-Based Valuation:
For digital assets like software or apps, the development time and cost may play a significant role in the pricing strategy. It’s essential to factor in your development costs, including time spent coding, designing, and testing.

It is important to note that pricing strategies for different digital assets can vary, especially when dealing with tech products like apps or software. For instance, determining the software solutions price for a digital product requires a deep understanding of market demand, functionality, and competition.

Selling Through the Right Marketplace

After getting your asset ready and setting a price, the next step is to find the right place to sell it. The platform you choose will depend on what kind of asset you’re selling. For example, websites and online businesses can be sold on sites like Flippa or MicroAcquire, while software can be sold on platforms like CodeCanyon.

For more specific assets, like social media profiles or digital marketing accounts, private deals or smaller, specialized marketplaces might work better. When choosing a platform, think about things like its audience, fees, and reputation.

Payment and Transaction Handling

One of the most important aspects of selling digital assets is handling payments. With global transactions becoming more common, having the ability to accept multiple payment methods is essential.

Traditional payment methods like bank transfers and PayPal remain popular, but in recent years, more sellers are opting for crypto payout. Ruul provides crypto payout to freelancers as well.

Additionally, platforms like Ruul offer flexible payment options for both buyers and sellers. Using an early payment solution allows sellers to access their funds quickly, improving cash flow and offering greater financial flexibility.

Legal Considerations

Selling digital assets involves legal matters that need attention. It’s important to have a clear agreement that explains the sale terms, including transferring intellectual property, warranties, and payment details. Legal issues are especially important when selling software, websites, or online businesses that may have contracts with clients.

A good contract should clearly state the rights and duties of both the seller and buyer. It should also protect the seller from future problems and make sure the buyer knows exactly what they’re buying. For this reason, sellers should think about getting help from a lawyer to make sure all legal steps are followed.

Selling digital assets can be a great way for entrepreneurs to make money from their valuable online properties. However, the process requires careful planning, preparation, and setting the right price to ensure a successful sale.

By using professional tools like Ruul, sellers can simplify the payment collection process, offer flexible payout options, and create professional invoices that reflect the value of their assets. Whether you are selling a website, software, or intellectual property, following best practices for asset preparation, legal compliance, and payment handling will help you achieve a successful transaction.

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