Seller actually owns it
Company records, domain registrant and trademark owner match the seller.
Buying an online business
Buying an online business: the legal checklist
How to buy an ecommerce business without inheriting hidden problems. The legal checks to complete from first offer to handover.
Discuss Your AcquisitionOverview
How to buy an ecommerce business safely
Buying an online business looks simple: agree a price, pay, get the logins. In practice the value sits in things that are easy to lose in transfer: marketplace accounts, trademarks, supplier terms, customer data and ad accounts.
This checklist sets out the legal steps buyers should work through, in order. Use it whether you are buying through a broker or marketplace, or directly from a founder.
Get Legal AdviceWhat It Covers
The five stages of buying an online business
What needs legal attention at each point in the deal.
Set price, structure, exclusivity and conditions in a short LOI before spending money on diligence.
Buyer Checklist
Legal checks before buying an online business
Revenue can be verified
Platform reports and bank statements, not just screenshots or spreadsheets.
Accounts can transfer
Amazon, Shopify, payment processors and ad accounts allow a change of owner.
No hidden liabilities
Unpaid tax, chargebacks, supplier debts, product claims and IP complaints.
Key contracts survive
Supplier, 3PL, software and influencer agreements can be assigned to you.
Seller stays helpful
Transition support and a non-compete written into the agreement.
Our Process
How we support first-time and repeat buyers
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Find the business, agree headline terms in a letter of intent, complete financial and legal due diligence, sign a purchase agreement, then close by paying (often via escrow) and transferring the accounts and assets.
Buyer Guides
Related legal guides for ecommerce buyers
Cross-border
Cross-border ecommerce acquisition legal advice
Asset purchase
Asset purchase agreement for an ecommerce business
Share / stock purchase
Share and stock purchase agreements for ecommerce businesses
Due diligence
Legal due diligence for buying an ecommerce business
Amazon FBA
Legal advice for buying an Amazon FBA business
Shopify
Legal advice for buying a Shopify store
Acquisition lawyer
Specialist legal counsel for ecommerce business acquisitions
Letter of intent
Letter of intent for buying an ecommerce business
Closing
Ecommerce acquisition closing checklist
Amazon
Amazon seller account transfer when buying an FBA business
Transition
Transition services agreement for ecommerce acquisitions
Deal terms
Earnouts and seller financing in ecommerce acquisitions
Valuation
Ecommerce business valuation: the legal checks behind the price
Cross-border
Buying a US ecommerce business from the UK or abroad
Starting your first acquisition?
Tell us about the business you plan to buy and where the deal stands. We will explain the legal support you need.