So, you’re looking to find a passive income stream and looking for a business for sale to achieve this. Earning money while you sleep—we know this is the power of passive income. Buying an established business can be a smart and efficient way to achieve this, allowing you to generate steady revenue with minimal daily involvement.
Whether it’s an e-commerce store, a digital agency, or a subscription-based service, the right business can provide long-term profitability. But how do you choose the best investment? In this article, we explore the top businesses available for purchase right now, breaking down their potential, profitability, and ease of management. Keep reading to discover the perfect passive income opportunity waiting for you!
DEAL 1: Mysterious Footage YouTube Channel
This YouTube channel featuring supernatural content and mysterious sightings maintains 170K subscribers and has generated a TTM revenue of $416K.
Annual profit: $373,000
28-day views: 1,284,373
Business age: 2 years
DEAL 2: Trading Insights & Analytics SaaS
This SaaS business featuring advanced trading tools and predictive analytics features has generated a TTM revenue of $411K.
Annual profit: $224,000
Profit margin: 55%
Business age: 5 years
DEAL 3: Pickleball Paddle Ecommerce
This ecommerce business featuring a brand of pickleball paddles, gear, and apparel has generated a TTM revenue of $217K.
Annual profit: $129,000
Average order value: $123
Business age: 4 years
DEAL 4: Adobe Illustrator Training Blog
This blog featuring educational content on using Adobe Illustrator is monetized through display ads, affiliate sales, and courses.
Annual profit: $25,000
Monthly page views: 32,934
Business age: 3 years
Deal 5: Ecommerce Store | Hobbies and Games Niche
A profitable e-commerce business, BlackBeard, specialising in DIY guitar kits and quality guitar parts, with a dedicated customer base and growth potential.
Monthly Revenue: $3,258
Asking Price: $20,060
DEAL 6: Ecommerce Store | Design and Style Niche
Established e-commerce business in Design & Style industry with $76K revenue and 29% profit margin. Trendy and profitable opportunity.
Monthly Revenue: $6,369
Asking Price: $20,800
DEAL 7: Ecommerce Store | Design and Style Niche
Profitable 8-Yr-Old DTC eCommerce Shopify Store in the Apple Watch Niche with $1.2M+ Sales, 86% Profit Margin,
286K+ Organic Visitors, 30K+ Customers and 28K+ Email Subscribers
Monthly Revenue: $757
Asking Price: $27,000
Business Acquisition Success Stories
Several entrepreneurs have successfully transitioned from traditional employment to owning online ventures, reaping financial rewards and personal freedom. Below are some notable success stories that highlight the transformative impact of acquiring a passive income business that up for sale.
1. Chriss and Mark: From Technophobes to Digital Entrepreneurs
In 2013, Chriss and Mark sought a simpler life after selling their café bookstore. Despite Chriss’s initial aversion to technology—she couldn’t use a computer—they ventured into the digital realm by building and buying websites for passive income. Through dedication and learning, Chriss overcame her technophobia and, alongside Mark, replaced her salary with earnings from their online businesses. This transition allowed them to work flexibly, embracing the laptop lifestyle and achieving both financial stability and personal growth. See link to read more under citations below. ebusinessinstitute.com.au.
2. William: Achieving Financial Milestones
William faced several challenges on his journey to acquiring his first website within the Buying Online Businesses (BOB) community. Through perseverance and support, he now earns passive income each month from his content website, marking a significant step toward financial independence.
3. Angelica: Balancing Motherhood and Business
Aspiring to be a stay-at-home mom while maintaining a work-life balance, Angelica turned to buying established online businesses. This strategy enabled her to achieve her goal without additional work and stress, allowing her to focus on her family while generating income.
4. Matt and Ashling: Rapid Income Generation
This couple from the United States joined the BOB community and, within a few months, purchased their first content website. Their new venture is earning over $3,000 per month, showcasing the potential of online business investments to provide substantial passive income in a relatively short period.
5. Andrel and Kryzia: Diversifying Income Streams
Transitioning from property investments, this Canadian couple ventured into the digital space by acquiring their first online business. Their investment now yields an additional $1,300 per month, demonstrating how online businesses can complement traditional investment portfolios.
6. Trevor: Covering Living Expenses
Trevor embarked on website acquisitions with a straightforward goal: to cover his rent. Despite the complexities involved, he learned valuable lessons and successfully purchased a website that now pays his bills, highlighting the practicality of online businesses in meeting everyday financial needs.
7. Jeff: Transitioning Toward Independence
Initially hesitant about entering the online business arena, Jeff made a breakthrough by purchasing his first website. Within six months, he progressed from zero to $2,400 per month in passive income, positioning himself on the path to quitting his day job and achieving financial independence.
8. Pat Flynn: Building a Six-Figure Online Business
Pat Flynn, founder of Smart Passive Income, exemplifies creating a successful online business without a massive budget. His journey underscores the potential of minimal investment leading to substantial returns in the digital marketplace. medium.com
These success stories illustrate the diverse backgrounds and motivations of individuals who have purchased small online businesses for passive income. Whether seeking financial freedom, work-life balance, or additional revenue streams, these entrepreneurs demonstrate that with dedication and strategic investment, online businesses can significantly enhance one’s lifestyle.
Business Statistics For Someone Seeking Passive Income From A Business That’s Up For Sale
Understanding the dynamics between individuals who purchase existing businesses and those who start new ones offers valuable insights into entrepreneurial trends. While specific comparative statistics are limited, available data highlights notable patterns among various demographics.
Female Entrepreneurship:
In the United States, the number of female-owned businesses is growing at twice the rate of all firms. As of 2018, approximately 40% of U.S. firms are majority-owned by women. In the United Kingdom, the proportion of working-age women engaging in business activities rose by 45% between 2013 and 2016, compared to a 27% increase among men during the same period.
Entrepreneurship Among Older Adults:
Individuals over 50 are increasingly venturing into entrepreneurship, accounting for 43% of new enterprises. This trend is driven by factors such as redundancy, dissatisfaction with current roles, or newfound financial freedom.
Challenges and Motivations:
Women face unique challenges in starting businesses, including rising living costs and childcare expenses. Addressing these issues could significantly boost the economy.
Female entrepreneurs often pursue business ownership to achieve greater freedom, flexibility, and work-life balance. Many report increased happiness, confidence, and empowerment after starting their ventures.
Regional Trends in Business Formation:
In 2023, Americans filed a record 5.5 million new business applications, equating to approximately 16.3 applications per 1,000 residents. Notably, the Southeast and Mountain West regions emerged as hotspots for new startups, with Wyoming leading at 100.1 applications per 1,000 residents, followed by Delaware (53.4) and Florida (29.4).
Venture Capital and Gender Disparities:
In 2020, female-founded companies secured 2.8% of capital investment from venture capital, marking the highest amount recorded. Despite this, a significant gender disparity persists in venture capital funding.
Important Due Diligence Practices When Buying Online Business for Passive Income
When purchasing an online business for passive income, conducting thorough due diligence is essential to avoid risks and ensure a solid return on investment. This process involves carefully evaluating the business’s financial health, traffic sources, operational stability, legal standing, and potential growth opportunities. Below are the key areas to examine before finalising a purchase.
1. Financial Due Diligence
One of the most critical aspects of buying an online business is verifying its financial performance. Request at least 12–24 months of financial statements, including profit and loss (P&L) reports, tax returns, and bank statements (Latka, 2023). Analyze the business’s revenue streams—whether from ads, subscriptions, affiliate commissions, or product sales—to ensure earnings are consistent and scalable. Additionally, use tools like Google Analytics, Stripe, and PayPal reports to confirm revenue data against website traffic and transactions.
Be wary of businesses with sudden revenue spikes or declines. Investigate whether sales are seasonal, dependent on paid ads, or driven by one-time promotions, as these factors could impact future profitability (Flippa, 2022).
2. Traffic & SEO Analysis
For online businesses that rely on organic traffic, it’s essential to verify the source and sustainability of visitors. Use tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to assess:
- Traffic sources: Organic, paid, social, or referral traffic
- SEO performance: Backlink profile, keyword rankings, and domain authority
- Traffic consistency: Fluctuations may indicate algorithm penalties or short-term gains (Empire Flippers, 2023).
If a business heavily depends on paid advertising, examine customer acquisition costs (CAC) and return on ad spend (ROAS) to ensure it remains profitable long-term.
3. Operational Stability & Automation
A true passive income business should require minimal day-to-day involvement. Evaluate the business model and operational workload:
- Is fulfilment automated (e.g., dropshipping, digital products)?
- Are there standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place?
- Is there a team or virtual assistants managing customer service, content creation, or marketing?
If the business requires significant manual effort, consider outsourcing or automation tools (Shopify, 2023).
4. Legal & Intellectual Property Checks
Ensure that the business holds proper ownership and rights for its domain name, trademarks, and digital assets. Look for potential legal issues such as:
- Copyrighted content or unlicensed software
- Pending lawsuits or disputes
- Supplier agreements for eCommerce businesses
Using legal advisors or online business marketplaces like Flippa or MicroAcquire can help verify ownership legitimacy (MicroAcquire, 2023).
5. Customer Base & Brand Reputation
A business with a strong customer retention rate and positive reputation is more likely to sustain passive income. Check:
- Customer reviews and complaints (Trustpilot, BBB)
- Email list engagement and social media following
- Churn rate for subscription businesses
High engagement and repeat customers indicate brand loyalty, making the business more resilient to competition.
6. Growth Potential & Risks
Finally, assess whether the business has scalability opportunities or if it has already peaked. Consider:
- New marketing strategies (SEO, influencer collaborations)
- Expansion to new markets or product lines
- Emerging competition or industry changes
A business that relies on a single product, traffic source, or platform (e.g., Amazon, Etsy, Facebook Ads) can be risky if that channel changes policies or algorithms (Latka, 2023).
Final Thoughts
Buying an online business can be a great source of passive income, but it’s crucial to conduct thorough due diligence to minimise risks. By analysing financials, traffic stability, operational workload, legal issues, customer loyalty, and growth potential, investors can make an informed decision that ensures a steady and sustainable income stream. One of the best ways you can significantly increase and sustain the passive income you receive from a business you’ve bought is by investing in integrated digital marketing & brand consulting services with LeviEmir:Digital to align your SEO, PPC, SOCIAL, EMAIL, and AFFILIATE marketing efforts into a cohesive strategy allowing you to one day exit from this business and make a profit after forcing appreciation of its value.
Citations:
- Flippa. (2022). How to Perform Due Diligence on an Online Business. Retrieved from flippa.com.
- Latka, N. (2023). Buying & Selling Online Businesses for Profit. Retrieved from nathanlatka.com.
- Empire Flippers. (2023). Website Buying Guide. Retrieved from empireflippers.com.
- MicroAcquire. (2023). Guide to Acquiring an Online Business. Retrieved from microacquire.com.
- Shopify. (2023). How to Automate Your Online Business. Retrieved from shopify.com.
Statistics citations:
- census.gov (2025). [PDF] BUSINESS FORMATION STATISTICS
- embroker.com (2025). 70+ Essential Entrepreneur Statistics in 2025
- sba.gov. Market research and competitive analysis | U.S. Small Business
- justworks.com. Millennials & Gen Z Leading Entrepreneurship
- Center for American Progress. Entrepreneurship, Startups, and Business Formation Are Booming
- nerdwallet.com. Small-Business Statistics 2024 – NerdWallet
- uschamber.com. New business applications are booming. Track them by state.
- Forbes. Top Small Business Statistics – Forbes Advisor
- Forbes. Why You Should Buy A Business Instead Of Starting One – Forbes
- benchmarkintl.com. 9 Surprising Stats About Buying or Selling a Business
- Orlando Business Lawyer. Buying a Business Is Less Risky Than a Startup
- certifiedbb.com. 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy an Existing Business – Certifiedbb
- Apollo Technical. 20 Entrepreneur Statistics You Need To Know – Apollo Technical
- bizbuysell.com. BizBuySell Insight Report – Market Trends
- commerceinstitute.com. How Many New Businesses Start Each Year? (2024 Data)
- northone.com. 20 Surprising Entrepreneur Statistics to Know in 2025 | NorthOne
- ipx1031.com. Local Business Shopping Statistics for 2023 – IPX1031
- mesacc.edu. Entrepreneurial Facts | Entrepreneurship – Mesa Community College
Leave a Reply