Maybe you’re burned out from running your Shopify store 24/7. Maybe you want to try something completely different.
Or maybe, and this is the best-case scenario, you’ve built something so successful that someone’s willing to pay you serious money for it.
Whatever brought you here, you’re probably wondering: How do I actually sell my Shopify store without getting ripped off?
Let me walk you through this, a guide on how to Sell Your Shopify Store like I would if we were grabbing coffee together. I’ve seen too many store owners rush into selling and leave money on the table, or worse, get scammed.
We’re not letting that happen to you.
First Things First: What’s Your Store Actually Worth?
Here’s the thing that trips up most people: they have no clue what their store is worth. They either think it’s worth way more than it is (because they put their heart into it), or they sell themselves short.
Let me break down the three ways people figure out what their store is worth:
The Simple Math Method
This is the most common way, and it’s pretty straightforward. Take your monthly profit, not revenue, but actual profit after all expenses, and multiply it by somewhere between 20 and 40.
Let’s say your store makes a $2,000 profit every month. If we use a multiplier of 30, your store could be worth around $60,000. Not bad for something you built from scratch, right?
But here’s where it gets interesting. That multiplier isn’t random. A store that gets most of its traffic from Google searches (organic traffic) is worth more than one that depends on paid ads.
Why? Because free traffic is more reliable than traffic you have to pay for every month.
The same goes for repeat customers. If people keep coming back to buy from you, that’s gold. It means you’ve built something people actually want.
The “What Do I Actually Own?” Method
Sometimes your store might not be making huge profits, but you still own valuable stuff. Think about:
- Your inventory (if you keep stock)
- Your domain name (some are worth thousands)
- Your email list (people who already trust you)
- Your social media following
- Any equipment you bought for the business
This method usually gives you a lower number, but hey, something is better than nothing.
The “What Are Similar Stores Selling For?” Method
This one’s my favourite because it’s based on reality, not theory. Go check out Flippa or other marketplaces where people sell online businesses.
Look for stores similar to yours same type of products, similar traffic, and similar earnings.
What are they actually selling for? Not what they’re asking for, but what they actually sell for. That’s your reality check.
Where Should You Sell Your Store?
Okay, so you know what your store is worth. Now, where do you actually sell it?
Flippa: The eBay of Online Businesses
This is probably your best bet. Flippa has been around forever, and it’s where most people go to buy and sell online businesses.
The good news? Lots of buyers browse there, so you’ll get eyeballs on your listing. The bad news? You’ll pay anywhere from $29 to $499 just to list your store, depending on how much exposure you want.
But here’s a pro tip: spend the extra money on their verification services. Buyers trust verified listings way more than random ones.
The Broker Route
If your store is making serious money (think $10,000+ per month), you might want to work with a broker. Companies like Empire Flippers specialise in selling profitable online businesses.
They’ll charge you a commission (usually 10-15%), but they handle all the messy stuff, finding buyers, verifying everything, and handling the paperwork. If your store is worth six figures, this might be worth it.
Going Solo
You can also try selling on your own through communities like Reddit’s entrepreneur groups or Facebook groups for Shopify sellers. It’s free, but you’ll have to do all the work yourself, and there are more scammers to watch out for.
Getting Your Store Ready to Sell
Here’s where most people mess up. They think they can just throw up a listing and boom – money in the bank. Nope.
Selling your store is like selling your house. You need to clean it up and make it look attractive to buyers.
Get Your Numbers Straight
Buyers want to see real numbers, not your best guesses. They want:
- How much money have you made each month for the past year
- How much did you spend on ads, apps, and other expenses
- Screenshots of your Shopify payouts
- Your tax documents (yes, really)
I know, I know. Record-keeping is boring. But messy books will either kill your sale or get you a much lower price.
Show Off Your Traffic
Numbers don’t lie, and buyers love numbers. Use Google Analytics to show:
- How many people visit your store each month
- Where they’re coming from (Google, Facebook, direct visits, etc.)
- How many actually buy something (conversion rate)
- How many come back to buy again
If most of your traffic comes from Google searches, definitely highlight that. It’s like having a money machine that doesn’t require you to keep feeding it ad dollars.
Clean Up Your Store
Walk through your store like a buyer would. Remove products that don’t sell. Update any broken links. Make sure all your apps are working properly.
Think of it this way: would you buy a car with a dirty interior and weird noises? Your store needs to look and work perfectly.
Write Everything Down
This is huge, and most people skip it. Write down:
- How do you run your store day-to-day
- Where do you get your products
- How you handle customer service
- Your marketing strategies that actually work
- Login details for everything (but don’t share these until after the sale)
The easier you make it for the new owner to take over, the more they’ll pay.
The Legal Stuff (Don’t Skip This!)
I’m not a lawyer, but I’ve seen enough deals go wrong to know you need proper paperwork.
At a minimum, you need a sales agreement that covers:
- The exact purchase price
- How and when they’ll pay you
- What exactly they buying (domain, inventory, social accounts, etc.)
- What happens if something goes wrong
You can find templates online, but honestly? If your store is worth more than $10,000, spend a few hundred bucks to have a lawyer look at the contract. It’s cheaper than getting sued later.
Common Questions (Because I Know You’re Wondering)
“How much does it cost to run a Shopify store?”
Basic Shopify plans start at $39 per month, but most profitable stores spend $100-300 monthly on apps, themes, and tools. Buyers want to know this upfront.
“Will Shopify charge me anything for selling?”
Nope, Shopify doesn’t take a cut when you sell your business. But make sure you’re not locked into any long-term app subscriptions that the new owner doesn’t want.
“What if I can’t find a buyer?”
This happens more than you’d think. Maybe your asking price is too high, or maybe your store isn’t as attractive as you thought. Don’t panic – you have options.
Maybe Don’t Sell Shopify Store Yet!
Wait, what? I know we’ve been talking about selling this whole time, but hear me out.
Sometimes, the reason you want to sell isn’t that you hate your business; it’s that you hate the limitations of running it on Shopify.
The monthly fees, the app costs, and the lack of control over your own store.
What if instead of selling, you moved your store to WooCommerce? You’d own everything, have no monthly fees, and have way more control over how your store works.
The WooCommerce Alternative
Here’s the thing about WooCommerce it runs on WordPress, which means you own everything. No monthly platform fees. No worrying about Shopify changing their rules or raising their prices.
“But moving my entire store can be frustrating,” you’re thinking.
That’s where Shop2Woo comes in. It’s a plugin that moves your entire Shopify store to WooCommerce without needing access to Shopify’s API or any technical wizardry.
You literally export your products and import them into WooCommerce. Everything – products, descriptions, images, variants comes over perfectly.
Why People Make the Switch
- Lower costs: No more monthly Shopify fees
- More control: You can customize anything you want
- Better for SEO: WordPress is search engine friendly
- More payment options: Accept payments however you want
- Your data stays yours: No platform can hold your business hostage
I’m not saying WooCommerce is perfect for everyone, but if you’re thinking about selling because you’re frustrated with Shopify’s limitations, migration might be your answer.
What Happens After You Sell (Or Switch)?
Let’s say you do sell your store. Congratulations! You just cashed out on something you built from scratch. But now what?
A lot of people take the money and immediately start another store. If that’s you, consider whether you want to go back to Shopify or try something with more freedom.
You could:
- Start fresh with WooCommerce from day one
- Focus on digital products (they’re way easier to manage)
- Research profitable niches you didn’t try the first time
- Take a break and enjoy not worrying about customer service emails for a while
The Bottom Line
Selling your Shopify store can be incredibly rewarding, both financially and emotionally. There’s something powerful about turning your idea into cash.
But don’t rush it. Take time to value your store properly, clean it up, and find the right buyer. And definitely don’t skip the legal paperwork.
And hey, if you decide selling isn’t right for you, remember that migration to WooCommerce is always an option. Sometimes, keeping control of what you built is better than cashing out.
Whatever you decide, you built something from nothing. That’s pretty amazing, regardless of what happens next.
Ready to Make Your Move to Sell Your Shopify Store?
If you’re leaning toward keeping your store but want more control and lower costs, check out Shop2Woo. It’ll move your entire Shopify store to WooCommerce without the headaches – no Shopify API needed, no technical skills required.
Sometimes the best business decision isn’t selling what you built, but taking full control of it instead.
