They Got Acquired

New Report

14 Companies That Sold with a Contractors-Only Model

Are you building a business that relies on contractors, rather than employees?

Our newest report features 14 companies that grew and sold using this model, plus advice about how to make this type of business attractive to buyers.

Download the report for free

Resources

Tips for selling a business that runs on contractors (no employees)

Many lean, online businesses use contractors or freelancers rather than employees. But what does this model mean for an acquisition? What do buyers think of this structure?

A person is sitting on a large stack of money while working on a laptop, with a paper airplane flying in the background, symbolizing the concept of making money online or remote work profitability.

Agency

How this U.K. SEO agency turned a major client into a buyer

Fergus Clawson’s SEO agency had worked with XLMedia on its gaming and sports websites for a year before selling.

Agency

Focusing on reputation management helped this agency grow recurring revenue

Richart Ruddie taught himself online marketing techniques. When he cornered the reputation management niche, his business really took off.

Resources

Should you consider seller financing when you sell your business? We explain how it works

You can increase your business sale price by lending your buyer funds, but beware of the pitfalls if you offer seller carry-back financing.

Two stylized figures stand on separate pieces of a puzzle that fit together, shaking hands. It symbolizes collaboration and the idea of two parts coming together to complete a whole.

Marketplace

This couple grew a remote work marketplace used by 10K software engineers

Two digital nomads created a platform they needed themselves. Moonlight paired developers with businesses that needed them. When the pandemic hit, they decided to sell.

A man and woman. The man is wearing glasses and a blue buttoned-up shirt. The woman is wearing a black top with sleeves, pose with crossed arms. Both are smiling at the camera.

Agency

They split their digital marketing agency into two pieces — and sold for 15% more

Digital Natives Group couldn’t find a good-fit buyer, so they decided to split the digital marketing agency into two pieces. Both deals closed on the same day.

Course: How to Sell Your Business (1 hour)

A high-level, practical overview of what you need to know.

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Hear From Founders

Podcast Episodes

Anna Maste, Co-Founder of Boondockers Welcome

How a 7-hour workweek led to Anna Maste’s 7-figure sale

30 minutes

This is the story of how Anna Maste and Marianne Edwards, a mother-daughter duo, bootstrapped and sold a membership site for RVers called Boondockers Welcome.

Donald Spann, Co-Founder of Vicky Virtual Receptionists

Donald Spann’s goal was time freedom. He got it by building a virtual call center

36 minutes

This entrepreneur says you don’t have to be passionate about your business. Here’s what he suggests instead, and how he built Vicky Virtual Receptionists to an exit.

When’s the right time to exit? Jon Hainstock on selling ZoomShift

30 minutes

Is there a right time to sell your business? This was what Jon Hainstock and his co-founder, Ben Bartling, had to figure out when they were planning their exit from ZoomShift.

From hot dog stand to 8-figure exit: How Sam Parr built and sold The Hustle

39 minutes

How did this down-to-earth guy with no previous media experience build such a valuable company? Here’s how Sam Parr became one of the leading voices in entrepreneurship.