Guide
The Ecommerce Exit-Readiness Checklist
An ecommerce business is ready to sell when its profit can be verified, it runs without the founder in every decision, no single product, supplier or channel carries it, and every account and asset has a clear transfer path. Start 6 to 12 months before you plan to go to market, because some fixes, like reducing concentration, take time to show in the numbers.
1. Financials
- 24–36 months of monthly profit and loss statements, on an accrual basis if possible
- P&L reconciled to Amazon, Shopify, TikTok Shop, payment processor and bank statements
- Every add-back documented (owner pay, personal expenses, one-off costs)
- Inventory counted and valued at landed cost
- Sales tax and income tax filings up to date
2. Platform and channel risk
- Account health clean, with no open policy issues
- Profit shown after ad spend, by channel
- No single channel producing most of the profit, or a clear plan to change that
- Trademark registered; Brand Registry in place where relevant
3. Products and supply chain
- Top product’s share of revenue known and, ideally, falling
- Written supplier terms; a second supplier identified for key products
- Current landed costs, including tariffs, documented
4. Operations
- Standard operating procedures for fulfillment, customer service, ads and listings
- Contractors and agencies on written agreements that can be assigned
- The business runs for two weeks without you
5. Transfer planning
- List of every account, domain, app, tool and login the buyer will need
- Transfer path for each platform (Shopify store ownership, Amazon and TikTok Shop rules)
- Decision on whether the buyer acquires the company or its assets, with your tax adviser
6. Your goals
- Your minimum acceptable price and cash at close
- How long you’re willing to stay after the sale
- Whether you’d accept an earnout or seller note
When most boxes are ticked, get a confidential valuation to see where you stand.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start preparing to sell?
Six to twelve months ahead is ideal. Financial clean-up can take weeks, but changes buyers care about most, such as reducing dependence on one product or channel, need a few months of results to be convincing.
What do buyers check first?
Whether the profit is real. Expect them to reconcile your P&L to platform and bank statements and to question every add-back.
Find out what your brand is worth
A confidential valuation from founders who have operated and sold ecommerce businesses. No upfront fees.
Confidential. We never share your details or your brand name without your permission.