Flippa vs Empire Flippers vs Acquire.com
Compare the service you would actually buy: listing access, screening, fees and help with closing. Then plan who will operate the business.
Ecomma buys and operates ecommerce businesses across the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, and the UAE and may compete for your business. This is a comparison of published service descriptions checked on 12 September 2026, not a transaction test or an independent ranking. The method is to compare access, screening, fee structure and handover scope; no platform receives an unsupported quality score.
What service does each platform describe?
Flippa offers self-service and broker-led selling packages, alongside free and paid buyer access in its pricing schedule. Its partner directory also lists diligence services. Check which evidence and assistance apply to the listing you are considering; describing the whole platform as unvetted would conceal those distinctions.
Empire Flippers describes checks on revenue, expenses, traffic and the seller in its vetting process. Its seller FAQ describes migration support. Pre-listing vetting and a buyer’s own assessment serve different purposes; neither promises future results.
Acquire.com describes startup access and paid buyer memberships in its buyer plans. Its service overview highlights SaaS advisory expertise. Treat that emphasis as a starting point for fit, not proof that other business models are excluded.
How do the published fees differ?
| Question | Flippa | Empire Flippers | Acquire.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller fee structure | Package and success fees; service level varies. | No listing fee; sale commission with tiers and a minimum. | Listing and closing fees; consult the applicable plan. |
| Buyer access costs | Free and premium access; payment services can cost extra. | The linked seller commission is not a buyer-cost quote; confirm any deal-specific charges. | Free browsing and paid memberships with different access limits. |
| Evidence to request | Listing verification, package scope and any separately purchased diligence. | Vetting records plus your own financial and operational checks. | Listing evidence, membership access and adviser scope. |
| After closing | Specify migration, seller training and ongoing operations separately in the agreements. | ||
Use the linked schedules for current rates. A seller commission, buyer membership and escrow charge are different costs: add the items that apply to your side of the transaction before comparing totals. We do not assign a cheapest platform or a typical deal size from these schedules.
What should determine your shortlist?
Start with businesses that fit your capital, category and operating skills. Request source financials and the included asset schedule. Then compare access to the seller, the diligence you must commission yourself, closing assistance and the work left after handover. Listing approval alone does not prove that payment accounts, suppliers or advertising assets will transfer.
Where Ecomma fits
Ecomma sells from its own deal flow rather than providing a market-wide search. We report 80+ acquisitions since 2022 in our company information. Ongoing marketing and operations are optional by separate agreement; buyers can instead agree an in-house handover. Our private catalogue process explains how to enquire.
Common questions
Is Flippa or Empire Flippers better for an ecommerce buyer?
Compare relevant listings and the service scope for your deal. Flippa offers self-service and broker-led packages; Empire Flippers describes pre-listing vetting and migration support. Neither service removes your need to verify a particular business.
Is Acquire.com only for software businesses?
Do not exclude a business solely on that assumption. Acquire.com emphasises startups and SaaS expertise, but its current eligible categories and the fit of a specific listing need checking. Review the actual opportunity and available support.
Which one has the lowest fees?
There is no like-for-like winner without the deal value, buyer membership, seller package and transaction services. Compare buyer costs separately from seller fees using the linked official schedules, then obtain the quote that applies to your transaction.
Who runs the business after closing?
Agree that in the purchase and service contracts. Migration support, seller training and ongoing management are different services. A buyer can operate personally, retain staff or appoint an operator, subject to the agreed terms.
Keep reading
For a wider shortlist, see Empire Flippers alternatives. Use the buyer due diligence checklist and cross-border transfer guide for the checks behind an offer. Read Ecomma Operate before choosing ongoing support, or share your buying criteria.