ECommerce or direct to consumer sales or sales refers to the process of sellers selling products or services directly to consumers through online channels, bypassing traditional retail intermediaries.
Most valuations of an e-commerce business look at the historical earnings—the net profit of the business for at least the last twelve months—and apply a multiplier (typically between 1.5 and 3.5, though some calculations put the multiplier as high as 5) to arrive at the company's valuation.
Ing to data from Empire Flippers, the average multiple for an eCommerce business in 2021 was approximately 42.6x monthly net profit. This equates to a 3.55x multiplier on annual net profit. Across all marketplaces, most eCommerce businesses are valued between 2.5 – 5x annual net profit.
Step 1: Research and validate your business idea. What problem or challenge are you seeking to solve? ... Step 2: Source products. Step 3: Choose an online selling channel. Step 4: List and optimize products. Step 5: Market and promote your ecommerce shop.
How Much Is My Ecommerce Business Worth: Finding Your E-commerce Valuation Multiple Collecting Financial Data. Comparable Company Analysis (CCA) ... Market Trends and Industry Benchmarks. Factors Affecting Valuation Multiples. Discounts and Premiums. Weighted Average Multiple. Sensitivity Analysis. Seeking Professional Advice.
Selling an e-commerce business can be a complex process, but with careful planning and execution, you can increase the value of your business and attract strong potential buyers.
The majority of Ecommerce businesses doing under $1M in profit sell for between 3 X and 4.5 X their annual profit, although more desirable brands can sell for higher multiples. This valuation spectrum varies greatly by the quality of the business as well as its size.