🔬 Finding & approaching online businesses
Hello fellow Indie Hackers 👋🏻
We are currently working on setting up a tech holding company that builds, buys, and grows online businesses and SaaS products that have strong moats.
I'd like to ask for opinions and tips on how might someone choose to best find & approach founders of online businesses with the goal of connecting with them, and exploring the possibility of working with them or acquiring their business (if they're so inclined).
We're wanting to find the best way to:
-
Find founders and/or businesses that are generating anywhere between $1k-$5k MRR (possibly even outside of IH)
-
How to best get in touch, but in a less-intrusive, friendly way (we're not in this business for quick $, we genuinely want to connect and help). It's important to us not seem as we're here just to acquire their business, this is far from the truth!
Any other tips you might offer from your experience are very much welcome!
Luka, I'd recommend going where people are selling websites first, and look for sites that haven't sold.
That way, you know they are already interested in selling. If they're interested in selling, but the sale was unsuccessful, they may be good lead candidates for your business.
Alternatively, you could connect with the people that run the platforms that allow people to sell their websites (Like Flippa, Investors.club, etc.). Let them know where you fit into the equation, and you may be able to work with them on an email collab (where they email people on their list, letting them know about your service).
You may even offer to "sponsor" an email, where you pay them to be featured in one of their emails.
Here's a list of website selling marketplaces:
https://www.flippa.com/
https://microacquire.com/
https://www.motioninvest.com/
https://investors.club
https://indiemaker.co/
https://feinternational.com/sell-your-website/
https://empireflippers.com/
https://exchangemarketplace.com/
https://helloexit.com/
https://www.microacquisitions.com/
https://www.bizbuysell.com/
https://www.sideprojectors.com/
https://www.quietlightbrokerage.com/ (6 figure +)
https://onfolio.co/
Plus, the "Flipping Websites" Facebook Group
Good luck!
Thank you very much Mike, the list is amazing.
I like the idea of sponsoring an email, can you expand on that? Did you have anything specific in mind?
We're definitely wanting to use the marketplaces as a default when scoping for opportunities (and will use your list!), but I'm inclined to think there are 'diamonds in the rough' when you look where no one is looking - just where that is, not yet sure!
Regarding sponsoring emails -- it's more of a way to open the discussion.
Email Subject: Collaboration + Sponsored Email with [Site]
(test variations)
In the body of the email:
"Hi XXXX,
We're specially equipped to help your subscribers grow their website or software business before selling it on [Flippa], so they can sell it for more on your site."
"We'd love the opportunity to be featured in your email newsletter, or would be happy to discuss the possibility of a sponsored mention, where we pay you to be featured in your email newsletter."
That's the general idea of approaching those sites with a paid/unpaid collab opportunity.
Make sense?
Interesting, makes a lot of sense. We are in the process of setting up our website so when we have everything in place I will definitely keep this advice top of mind. Thank you, Mike.