Do you buy things online? Millions do it. Enough spending money – now it’s time to start earning it.
If you’ve ever dreamed of running your own store but dread the long build process, this super-simple guide is for you.
We’ll cover why ecommerce is so awesome, why buying a ready-made store beats building one from scratch, the main types of turnkey stores you can buy, where to find them, how to finance your purchase, pitfalls to avoid, and most importantly: why Offiro is hands-down the best place to pick up a profit-ready business.
Why is ecommerce your best solution to make extra money?
Ok, let us give you some real data so you can understand the potential of running an online store:
1. Endless consumer demand: online shopping is the new norm. From groceries to gadgets, consumers love the convenience of browsing and buying from their couch. Every year, global ecommerce sales grow by double digits, and new niches pop up daily.
2. Low overhead: no physical storefront means no rent, no utility bills, and no worrying about shoplifting. Most online stores run on simple platforms, or come with reasonable monthly fees.
3. Global reach: your customer base isn’t limited to your zip code. With the right products and marketing, you can sell to someone across the globe in seconds.
4. 24/7 sales potential: an online store never sleeps. Even while you’re sleeping, orders can roll in – giving you truly passive income potential.
5. Perfect timing: with mobile shopping and social media ads at an all-time high, now is the ideal moment to jump into ecommerce. Consumers expect quick shipping, smooth checkout, and unique products. If you’re ready to meet those needs, the timing couldn’t be better.
Why buy ecommerce business instead of building?
You might be tempted to roll up your sleeves and build a store from scratch – but here’s why buying a turnkey store is often the smarter move:
- Day 1 revenue
Buy a ready store and you start earning immediately. You’ll save up months on building a site, sourcing products, setting up payments and shipping, - Proven model
A purchased business comes with data: traffic stats, revenue history, profit margins. You’re not guessing which niche will work – you know it’s already working. - More freedom
Since the setup is taken care of, you can spend your time on promotion, customer service, and growth strategies – rather than staring at tutorial videos.
Three main types of ecommerce businesses for sale
When you’re looking for a turnkey store, you’ll generally find three flavors:
1. General stores
These stores sell wide range of products and aren’t tied to a specific niche. Think Walmart or Target – they sell anything and everything. That’s basically a general store!
- Pros: Easy to test what sells, wide product variety, massive customer base.
- Cons: Margins can be slim, and building a distinctive brand requires more time.
- Best for: Entrepreneurs who want a hands-off approach to fulfillment and minimal upfront investment.
2. Single-product stores
These stores have specific products, often not more than 1 to 5 in the entire lineup. Most of the times
- Pros: Branded products with massive margins
- Cons: Unless the supplier can do dropshipping, you might encounter costs for manufacturing and warehousing, longer lead times for product launches.
- Best for: Those who want full control over branding and want to monetize on the hype of certain products.
3. Niche stores
These stores have a wide variety of products in their catalogs, but they’re focused on specific niches. Think of pet product stores, sports gear, car accessories, home appliances, and so on.
- Pros: Highly targeted audiences, passionate customer base, easier to stand out with specialized products.
- Cons: Seller has to be very peculiar about the products they sell because one nasty item can cause a lot of pain for the brand in and of itself.
- Best for: People who are passionate about niche and want to build a loyal following.
Where to find ecommerce businesses for sale
You’ve got a few options when it comes to marketplaces:
1. General listing sites (Flippa, Empire Flippers)
- Pros: Lots of listings, wide range of budgets.
- Cons: Quality varies, data can be unverified, lump-sum payments only, little to no support after purchase. You don’t receive any guarantees from platforms or the sellers themselves, and if something comes out to be fake or not working – you have no one to hold accountable for it.
2. Curated platforms (Offiro)
- Pros: We build our own online stores. If they are up to our standards and are profitable, they get listed and sold. If not – they’re discarded.
- Cons: Smaller selection – only the best stores make the cut.
While generic sites can be okay for bargain hunters, they often feel like sifting through haystacks. Curated platforms save you time and risk by only listing stores that meet high standards.
Why buy from Offiro?
Offiro was born out of 15+ years of ecommerce expertise – our team has built stores for clients and run profitable stores of our own. Here’s why Offiro stands out:
1. Expert stores
Every store on Offiro is either crafted by our in-house pros. If it doesn’t meet performance, design, and profitability benchmarks, it doesn’t make the cut..
2. Live data
You get access to all the information needed: profits, revenues, and much more.
3. Flexible payments
- Buy outright for complete ownership.
- Installment plans over 3, 6, or 12 months with clear terms.
- Rent-to-own month-to-month if you want to test drive before committing.
4. Turnkey support
From the moment you close the deal, Offiro’s onboarding takes over:
- Step-by-step guides
- Live webinars and video tutorials
- One-on-one calls with the team that built your store
5. Hand-picked niches
We scout markets with proven demand. Each store comes preloaded with top-selling products, tested ad creatives, and customer reviews.
Bottom line: With Offiro, there’s no guesswork. You pick a fully vetted, profit-proven store, handle only the fun parts (like tweaking your brand voice), and start earning right away.
Financing your purchase
Different budgets, different plans. Offiro makes it easy:
- One-time payment – own it outright, no future payments.
- Installment plans – spread the cost over 3, 6, or 12 months. Keep all profits as you pay off your store.
- Rent – pay a small monthly fee, operate the store, keep the profits, and walk away anytime. Perfect if you’re dipping your toes in.
Flexible financing means you don’t have to drain savings or scramble for a bank loan. In this economy? No way we want to put you through that.
Example of a top-tier store
Check one of our stores that are currently available! Here’s why Owleys is the perfect pick for any aspiring entrepreneur:
- Sleek, user-friendly site: visitors will find the perfect fit in seconds with clear categories and detailed product guides
- Hundreds of five-star reviews: real customers are happy about the products
- Quality shipping: your customers will enjoy buying from you. We’ve got fulfilment centers all over the world, so you can be sure that the products get delivered in timely manner
- 24/7 expert support: a friendly team is always on standby to hold your hand
Sounds cool? Here’s what you can do next!
Next steps: Grab your store on Offiro
- Sign up at Offiro.com (it’s free and takes less than a minute).
- Browse listings – filter by niche, budget, or payment plan.
- Deep-dive into the stats: traffic, sales.
- Choose your payment path buy outright, installments, or rent.
- Check out and fill out a quick onboarding questionnaire.
- Get your new store almost immediately, complete with one-click autopromotion, marketing funnels, and dedicated support.
Ready to skip the guesswork and own a profitable online store? Head to our selection of online stores today and buy your perfect ecommerce business – no pain in the neck or risks.