Most micro SaaS businesses sell for 2–4x ARR at under $50K ARR, rising to 4–6x ARR above $100K ARR with low churn. The best time to sell is right after a growth milestone. The three most-used marketplaces are Acquire.com, Flippa, and FE International.
The exit market for small SaaS has matured. Acquire.com alone has facilitated over 10,000 acquisitions. A product at $3K MRR — that would have been unsellable in 2018 — now regularly sells for $70K–$120K. Buyers range from solo investors to small private equity roll-ups hunting profitable micro products.
How Much Is Your Micro SaaS Worth?
Micro SaaS businesses are valued on ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) or MRR × 12, adjusted by a multiple based on churn, growth, and how much the business depends on you personally.
Most acquisitions use trailing 12-month ARR multiplied by a factor between 2x and 6x. At $3K MRR ($36K ARR), a 3x multiple = $108K exit. The multiple is driven more by churn and growth than revenue size.
| Factor | Negative Impact | Positive Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly churn | >7% monthly → lower multiple | <2% monthly → premium multiple |
| Revenue trend | Declining or flat | Growing 10%+ MoM |
| Founder dependency | Only you can run it | Documented SOPs, automated ops |
| Revenue quality | 1–2 large customers | 100+ small customers |
| Tech stack | Custom obscure stack | Standard stack, clean code |
| Traffic source | Paid ads only | SEO + organic with no spend |
When to Sell
Founders who time their exit to a milestone — hitting $5K MRR, $100K ARR, or crossing into profitability — consistently get higher multiples. Buyers pay for momentum, not for potential.
Founders often wait too long. Once growth plateaus, buyers apply lower multiples even if absolute revenue is high. The $3K MRR growing 15% MoM is often worth more than the $8K MRR growing 2% MoM.
Where to Sell
The platform you list on determines who sees your business and what multiple you can realistically achieve. Smaller marketplaces attract flippers who lowball. Established brokers attract operators who pay more.
| Platform | Best For | Typical ARR | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acquire.com | Self-serve, fast sale | $10K–$500K ARR | No seller fee |
| Flippa | Budget buyers, quick exit | Under $50K ARR | ~10% success fee |
| Empire Flippers | Premium multiples | $50K–$5M ARR | 15% below $700K |
| FE International | Institutional buyers | $500K+ ARR | ~15% commission |
| MicroAcquire (Acquire) | SaaS-specific buyers | $5K–$1M ARR | Free listing |
From listing to money in bank: average is 3–6 months on Acquire.com for well-priced listings under $200K ARR. Empire Flippers runs 3–9 months. Rushed sales at below-market prices can close in 30 days.
How to Prepare Your Business for Sale
Buyers do due diligence. They will check your MRR history, churn rate, traffic sources, and code quality. Preparing these in advance removes objections and protects your multiple.
The three things that kill deals after LOI:
Write a clear SOP covering: how customers are acquired, how billing works, how support is handled, and how the tech stack is maintained. Buyers who can't picture running the business without you will pass or lowball.
If one customer is more than 20% of your MRR, buyers will discount the multiple significantly. Start diversifying at least 90 days before listing. Even adding 10 new small customers improves the risk profile.
If monthly churn is above 5%, address it before listing. 90 days of improving churn data changes the conversation from 'risky asset' to 'stable recurring revenue.' One good churn improvement story can add 0.5–1x to your multiple.
What Buyers Actually Look For
Buyers are looking for products that run without the founder. The most common reason deals fall apart is founder dependency — the product requires knowledge only you have, customers rely on your personal relationship, or the support queue requires your specific expertise.
The most common acquirer of micro SaaS under $200K ARR is an individual operator — someone leaving a 9-to-5 who wants to buy rather than build. They value documentation, simplicity, and proven distribution over growth potential. Optimise your listing for this buyer.
Negotiation and Closing
Most micro SaaS deals close via an asset purchase agreement. You sell the code, domain, customer list, and intellectual property. The buyer assumes no liabilities. Common deal terms include:
| Component | Typical Structure |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | Paid in full at close (under $200K), or 80% up-front + 20% earnout |
| Earnout period | 3–12 months, tied to MRR retention target |
| Transition support | 30–90 days of founder availability post-close |
| Non-compete | 2–3 years in the same niche |
| Escrow | Standard on Empire Flippers and FE International |
Earnouts (where part of your payment depends on the business hitting targets post-sale) are common but risky for sellers. The new owner controls product and marketing decisions. If possible, negotiate for higher upfront payment rather than a larger earnout.