Is Flippa legit?
Yes, Flippa is a real marketplace. It has 5,658 businesses for sale today. But anyone can list, so you do the checking.
Listed now
5,658
businesses
Show a profit
57%
of listings
Data Verified
40%
Flippa's label
Our own data from every live Flippa listing · Updated 10 Nov 2026
In short
- Flippa has run since 2009. It's the biggest marketplace for online businesses.
- 88% of everything for sale on the 5 marketplaces we watch is on Flippa.
- Most listings are small: the median asks $8k.
- Only 57% of listings show a monthly profit. Only 40% carry Flippa's "Data Verified" label.
- Flippa is legit. Some listings on it are not. The checks are on you.
Why people ask if Flippa is a scam
Flippa is open. Anyone can list a business for a small fee. That brings choice, and some risk.
- Sellers type in their own numbers. Most aren't checked.
- Some listings are "starter sites" with no real income.
- Traffic and revenue screenshots can be faked.
- Auctions add time pressure. 627 live listings are auctions.
- Scammers sometimes ask buyers to pay outside Flippa. Never do.
What Flippa does to protect buyers
- Escrow: your money is held until you get the business. FlippaPay from 1%, Escrow.com from 1.2%.
- "Data Verified" label: the seller connected real data, like analytics or payments.
- Vetting on some listings: Flippa's team reviews and notes what it checked.
- Brokers: Flippa offers brokered sales for bigger deals.
Flippa fees
| Who | What they pay |
|---|
| Buyers | Free to browse and buy |
| Buyers, optional | Premium plan, $49/mo |
| Escrow | From 1% |
| Sellers, listing | From $29 |
| Sellers, on sale | Success fee, about 10% |
From Flippa's pricing page, November 2026. Check it before you buy.
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How to buy safely on Flippa
- Pick listings with a profit figure and 12+ months of history.
- Ask for a live screen share of analytics and payment accounts.
- Match the profit to bank or payout statements.
- Look up the domain's history on the Wayback Machine.
- Ask why the owner is selling, and what they'd do next.
- Pay only through Flippa's escrow.
- Get every login moved to you before escrow releases the money.
Red flags on a Flippa listing
Walk away if
- The seller wants payment outside Flippa.
- They won't share analytics live.
- Profit is near 100% of revenue for a store.
- All traffic came in the last 2 months.
Good signs
- "Data Verified" label or vetting notes.
- Steady income for a year or more.
- A seller who answers every question.
- A clear, believable reason for selling.
What's on Flippa right now
| Type | Listed |
|---|
| Ecommerce | 2,340 |
| Content sites | 809 |
| SaaS | 750 |
| Apps | 441 |
| Service businesses | 411 |
| Amazon FBA | 314 |
| YouTube channels | 252 |
| Marketplaces | 180 |
Browse by type →
Flippa vs vetted marketplaces
| Marketplace | Listed | Median ask | Median multiple | Shows profit |
|---|
| Flippa | 5,658 | $8k | 24 months | 57% |
| Empire Flippers | 165 | $277k | 30 months | 100% |
| Motion Invest | 85 | $2.1k | 30 months | 95% |
| Investors Club | 59 | $22k | 28 months | 97% |
Flippa is cheaper for the profit. The gap is the price of doing the checks yourself.
See all Flippa alternatives →
The verdict
- Flippa is legit, and it has the most choice by far.
- It's best for small deals and buyers who will do their own checks.
- New to buying? Start with vetted listings, or deals under $10k you can afford to lose.
Questions
Is Flippa legit?
Yes. Flippa is a real marketplace, running since 2009, with 5,658 businesses listed today. Anyone can list, so the quality of listings varies a lot.
Is Flippa safe for buyers?
It's as safe as your checks. Pay only through Flippa's escrow, verify the numbers yourself, and never pay a seller outside the platform.
Does Flippa verify listings?
Partly. 40% of live listings carry a "Data Verified" label. The rest show what the seller typed in.
What does Flippa charge buyers?
Browsing is free. Escrow costs from about 1%. A Premium plan for buyers is optional.
Are Flippa businesses cheaper?
Usually. Listings with a profit figure ask a median of 24 months of profit, against 30 months on Empire Flippers. Cheaper often means riskier.