TrustMRR.

First answer

Good places to browse:

• Acquire.com — Best starting point for revenue-generating SaaS, mobile apps, and Shopify apps. Listings can be filtered by revenue and profit; some details may require a buyer account or seller approval. (acquire.com)
• Flippa — Broad marketplace with SaaS businesses, websites, and apps; listings range from small projects to established businesses. (flippa.com)
• Empire Flippers — More curated online-business listings, including SaaS and apps; the company says it verifies sellers’ revenue and profit. (empireflippers.com)
• Microns — Focuses on smaller startups and micro-SaaS, often suitable for browsing lower-priced projects. (microns.io)
• FE International — Broker-style marketplace for larger or more established software and online businesses. (app.feinternational.com)

For a first pass, I’d compare Acquire.com and Flippa for breadth, then check Empire Flippers or FE International for more curated opportunities. Before making an offer, verify revenue directly against payment-processor records, and review churn, customer concentration, and the code/IP transfer.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

I don’t know your budget, technical experience, or whether you want to operate the business yourself, so this is a default rather than a personalized pick: I’d start with Acquire.com. Its buyer filters let you narrow listings by price, revenue, profit, ARR, growth, and customer count, which makes it a practical first place to build a shortlist. (help.acquire.com)

Then I’d check Flippa to compare more listings and see a broader range of SaaS businesses and apps. (flippa.com)

If you share your budget, preferred business type, and how hands-on you want to be, I can make a more specific recommendation.

First choice after follow-up · Acquire.com
“I’d start with Acquire.com.”

First answer

For a small SaaS or online software business, these are good places to start:

• Acquire.com — focused on startups and online businesses; buyers can request access to a listing, and the platform supports the deal process. Its criteria generally favor operating, revenue-generating businesses. (help.acquire.com)
• Flippa — a broad marketplace for SaaS and other digital businesses, with options ranging from self-managed listings to brokered sales. Check its current package and success fees before listing. (flippa.com)
• Microns — aimed at micro-startups and smaller software projects, including micro-SaaS. (microns.io)
• Empire Flippers — a more selective option for established SaaS businesses; its current stated requirements include at least 12 months of revenue history and $24,000 in net profit over the past year. (empireflippers.com)
• Quiet Light — a brokerage to consider if you’d prefer help with the sale process; it is selective about the businesses it represents. (quietlight.com)

You can also approach strategic buyers directly—companies in your niche, competitors, or businesses that could use your product or customer base. A broker or marketplace can expand your reach, while direct outreach may help you find buyers who already understand the value of the software.

Before you list: prepare clean profit-and-loss statements, recurring-revenue and churn figures (if applicable), customer and traffic trends, a summary of your role and workload, and a clear description of what transfers. Share sensitive details only after screening buyers and using an NDA; compare each platform’s fees, vetting, and exclusivity terms before signing up.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

I only know that it’s a small software business, so I don’t yet know enough to make a fully tailored pick. If it’s an operating, revenue-generating SaaS, I’d start with Acquire.com: it focuses on startups like SaaS and lets sellers share sensitive information with interested buyers under an NDA. (help.acquire.com)

I’d choose differently if it’s a very small project or you want a broker to manage the process. To narrow it down, tell me:

• What the software does and whether it’s SaaS
• Monthly revenue and profit (or whether it’s pre-revenue)
• How long it’s been operating
• Rough asking price—and whether you want to manage buyer conversations yourself

Those details would help me compare Acquire with a micro-startup marketplace or a brokered sale.

First choice after follow-up · Acquire.com
“If it’s an operating, revenue-generating SaaS, I’d start with Acquire.com”

First answer

TrustMRR is probably the best fit: you can filter startups by MRR, growth, category, and sale status, and compare verified revenue metrics. (trustmrr.com)

For a leaderboard-style view, try StartupsMRR—it has filters for verified MRR and 30-day growth. (startupsmrr.com)

One caveat: these databases mainly cover startups whose founders choose to list and connect payment data, so they’re not a complete census of startups. Check each listing’s latest sync date, too.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

Based on what you’ve told me—you want to compare startups by verified MRR and growth—I’d start with StartupsMRR. Its filters are built for that comparison: MRR, 30-day growth, paying customers, category, and last sync. It also says its momentum score incorporates growth over 30 and 90 days and consistency over time. (startupsmrr.com)

I’d use TrustMRR first instead if you’re specifically looking to buy a startup; it combines verified revenue profiles with an acquisition marketplace. (trustmrr.com)

I don’t know yet whether you’re researching a market, benchmarking your own startup, or shopping for an acquisition—tell me which, and I can tailor the pick.

First choice after follow-up · StartupsMRR
“Based on what you’ve told me—you want to compare startups by verified MRR and growth—I’d start with StartupsMRR.”

First answer

For businesses priced below $50,000, I’d start with:

• Investors Club — A good first stop for smaller content and e-commerce sites. It says it curates listings and provides supporting financial and traffic information when sellers supply it. Check each listing’s due-diligence materials; “curated” doesn’t mean every financial figure is independently confirmed. (investors.club)
• Motion Invest — Worth checking if you’re interested in content sites or YouTube channels. It focuses on those types of businesses and says it verifies earnings and traffic. (investors.club)
• Acquire.com — Best suited to SaaS and other startups. Look for listings with connected financial data, and ask what was verified: seller identity is not the same as revenue verification. (help.acquire.com)
• Flippa — Has a large selection and data-verification badges, but be cautious: its “Vetted by Flippa” manual review applies to listings priced at $50,000 or more. Under your budget, don’t assume a listing has been manually vetted just because it shows a verification badge. (support.flippa.com)

Before making an offer: ask for read-only access to the relevant payment or sales platform, monthly revenue and expense records for at least 12 months, and an explanation of any gaps between platform data and the seller’s profit-and-loss statement. Verified revenue doesn’t automatically mean verified profit—or that revenue will continue after the sale. (blog.acquire.com)

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

I don’t know your skills, available time, or whether you prefer SaaS, content, or e-commerce—so I can’t tailor this fully yet. Based only on your under-$50,000 budget and desire for revenue evidence, I’d look at Investors Club first: it has a dedicated under-$50K listings page. Treat the marketplace as a place to find candidates, though—not as proof that a seller’s revenue is independently verified. (investors.club)

Before pursuing a listing, ask to verify sales directly in the relevant platform (such as Stripe, Shopify, or an ad network) and compare them with bank deposits and expenses. If you want a content site or YouTube channel specifically, Motion Invest may be a better first stop because it focuses on those assets. (motioninvest.com)

Tell me your hands-on skills, hours per week, preferred business type, and how much of the $50K you can risk, and I’ll make a more personal recommendation.

First choice after follow-up · Investors Club
“Based only on your under-$50,000 budget and desire for revenue evidence, I’d look at Investors Club first”

First answer

Yes. AppAcquire and What’s the App? are marketplaces focused on mobile apps that say they verify revenue using connected data sources such as App Store Connect, Google Play, RevenueCat, and Stripe—rather than relying only on seller-provided screenshots. (appacquire.com)

AppWill is another option; it says it checks revenue against app-store and ad-network reports. (buy.appwill.co)

One caveat: “verified” usually means the reported figures were checked against a data source—it doesn’t guarantee future revenue, profit, or that the app is a good buy. Before purchasing, ask to inspect the underlying revenue data and expenses, and use escrow for the transfer.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

I don’t know your budget, app-building experience, or whether you’re targeting iOS, Android, or games, so I can’t make a fully personal pick. Based only on what you’ve said—buying a mobile app and wanting revenue checked—I’d start with AppAcquire for an iOS or subscription app. It’s mobile-app-focused and describes verification through sources such as App Store Connect, RevenueCat, and Stripe. Its own docs currently mark Google Play verification as “coming soon,” though, so I wouldn’t make it my first stop for an Android-only app. (appacquire.com)

For Android apps or games, I’d look at AppWill first instead; it says it verifies data through app-store, ad, and subscription platforms. Treat these as marketplace claims, not a substitute for checking the specific listing’s underlying records yourself. (buy.appwill.co)

If you share your budget, target platform, and whether you can maintain the app’s code, I can narrow that down.

First choice after follow-up · AppAcquire
“Based only on what you’ve said—buying a mobile app and wanting revenue checked—I’d start with AppAcquire for an iOS or subscription app.”

First answer

For a direct side-by-side comparison, try:

• Flippa — SaaS listings commonly show asking price, monthly revenue, and a revenue or profit multiple. Good for browsing lots of smaller online businesses. (flippa.com)
• Empire Flippers — More curated SaaS listings; cards show asking price, revenue, net profit, and a multiple. (empireflippers.com)
• BizBuySell — Broader software and app businesses, with asking-price and revenue data plus industry valuation benchmarks. (bizbuysell.com)

Best starting point: Flippa for breadth; Empire Flippers if you prefer vetted listings. Check what “multiple” means on each listing—many marketplaces emphasize profit multiples, not revenue multiples. If you’re calculating annualized revenue, use the same basis for each business (for example, TTM revenue or current MRR × 12), since those can differ.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

Based only on what you’ve shared, I’d start with Flippa: its listings show asking price and monthly revenue, so you can quickly calculate your comparison metric:

Asking price ÷ (monthly revenue × 12) = asking-price-to-annualized-revenue multiple.

One caution: Flippa often displays a profit multiple, not a revenue multiple, so calculate the revenue multiple yourself and compare businesses on the same revenue basis. Its listings also span a wide range of business types, so narrow the search to SaaS/software. (flippa.com)

If you tell me your budget and whether you’re looking specifically for SaaS, I can make a more tailored pick.

First choice after follow-up · Flippa
“Based only on what you’ve shared, I’d start with Flippa: its listings show asking price and monthly revenue, so you can quickly calculate your comparison metric:”

First answer

Yes. You can keep your company’s name and domain hidden from the public while giving buyers confidence in the revenue.

For example, Acquire.com says listings are anonymous by default. You can connect business metrics and share fuller details—such as your P&L and data-room documents—with buyers you approve after they sign an NDA. Its “Verified” badge refers to seller identity/business verification, so don’t assume that badge alone means revenue has been independently audited. (help.acquire.com)

Flippa also offers confidential listings: buyers must sign an NDA and be approved before they can see identifying details and revenue-related attachments. (flippa.com)

A practical setup is to show an anonymized revenue figure or range on the listing, then provide source-backed proof—such as connected payment metrics, processor statements, and a P&L—to screened buyers under NDA. Anonymity is relative: distinctive details in your description can still identify the business.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

Based on what you’ve shared, I’d try Acquire.com first—assuming your startup is a SaaS or tech startup. Its listings are anonymous to the public, and you can let interested buyers see private details after an NDA. You can also share connected metrics and financial documents through the listing’s data room. (help.acquire.com)

One important distinction: connected revenue metrics aren’t necessarily an independent audit. I’d describe them precisely, and back them up in diligence with payment-processor records and a reconciled P&L. Also, approve buyers selectively rather than revealing identifying details too early.

If yours is primarily an e-commerce store, content site, or other online asset, I’d compare Flippa as well; it offers confidential listings with NDA-gated details. (flippa.com)

If you tell me your business type and approximate revenue, I can make the choice more specific.

First choice after follow-up · Acquire.com
“Based on what you’ve shared, I’d try Acquire.com first—assuming your startup is a SaaS or tech startup.”

First answer

You can usually prove the revenue number without handing over a customer list. Try these options, from least to most data-sharing:

1. Ask for an aggregate-only verification method. A platform may accept a read-only payment-provider connection that reports totals, MRR, refunds, and customer counts without names or emails. Some marketplaces describe this kind of aggregate-only verification, but check the platform’s actual permissions and privacy terms—“read-only” alone doesn’t mean it can’t read customer-level data. (trustmrr.com)
2. Get an accountant’s attestation. A CPA or bookkeeper can inspect the underlying records and confirm revenue for a stated period, while giving the listing platform only the aggregate result.
3. Send a redacted proof packet. Provide processor or accounting exports and matching bank deposits, with customer names, emails, addresses, invoice details, and transaction identifiers removed. Include the period and explain whether the figure is gross revenue, net of refunds, or recurring revenue.

Before connecting an account or uploading files, ask the platform in writing: What exact fields will you access and retain? Can reviewers see raw transactions? How long is data kept? Can access be revoked and data deleted? Can you use a CPA letter or redacted report instead?

If you redact a file, remove the data—not just cover it with a black box—and check for hidden spreadsheet columns, PDF text, and metadata. Don’t share your account password or a key with broader permissions than needed. If the platform insists on customer-level data, consider declining or using a different platform; an NDA may limit disclosure but doesn’t eliminate the privacy risk.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

Given what you’ve shared—you want credible revenue verification without exposing customer identities—I’d start by asking the platform whether it accepts an accountant’s attestation based on aggregate records.

That keeps the underlying customer data with your CPA or bookkeeper, while giving the platform a signed confirmation of the revenue, period, and calculation method. Before paying for one, get the platform’s acceptance criteria in writing.

If it won’t accept an attestation, my next choice would be a redacted proof packet. I’d connect a payment account only after confirming exactly what data the platform can access and retain.

First choice after follow-up · Accountant’s attestation
“Given what you’ve shared—you want credible revenue verification without exposing customer identities—I’d start by asking the platform whether it accepts an accountant’s attestation based on aggregate records.”

First answer

TrustCard, powered by TrustMRR, is a good place to start: connect a supported payment provider, then copy an iframe or script badge for your site. It’s free and supports Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, Polar, RevenueCat, and Dodo Payments. (trustcardmrr.com)

Other options:

• Makerhandle — a simple image-and-link badge (no JavaScript), with provider support including Stripe, Paddle, Shopify, and Gumroad. It’s free for up to five projects. (makerhandle.com)
• ShowMRR — provides an embeddable badge and labels provider-connected figures “Verified”; one startup is free. (showmrr.com)

Before embedding one, check exactly what it will make public: revenue figures—and sometimes trends or founder details—may be visible. Also, “verified” generally means checked against payment-provider data, not a full financial audit. (showmrr.com)

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

With what I know—you have a startup website and want a live, verified badge—I’d try Makerhandle first. Its badge is a simple linked image, so it doesn’t need JavaScript; it’s free, supports several payment providers, and you can hide revenue later. (makerhandle.com)

I’d choose TrustCard instead if you already use Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, Polar, RevenueCat, or Dodo and want a TrustMRR profile: it embeds verified MRR, but requires a TrustMRR account and an X sign-in to claim the startup. (trustcardmrr.com)

One caution: a revenue badge makes the figure public. If you share your payment provider and whether you want to show exact MRR or just a verification signal, I can narrow this down further.

First choice after follow-up · Makerhandle
“With what I know—you have a startup website and want a live, verified badge—I’d try Makerhandle first.”

First answer

Acquire.com lets buyers set acquisition criteria—such as startup type and location—and get alerts when matching listings go live. Notifications can be sent in-app and by email, typically within minutes. (help.acquire.com)

After signing up as a buyer, enter your criteria and check Settings → Notifications to choose how you want alerts delivered. (blog.acquire.com)

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

Based on what you’ve told me so far, I’d try Acquire.com first—but only with a free buyer account. It’s the option we were discussing, and its help center says you can set criteria such as business type, price, and revenue to receive matching-listing alerts. (help.acquire.com)

One caveat: Acquire.com’s own help pages appear inconsistent about real-time alerts. So I’d set up your criteria and confirm the alerts actually arrive before paying for a plan. (help.acquire.com)

I don’t yet know your budget, target business type, or deal size, so this is a starting point rather than a tailored recommendation.

First choice after follow-up · Acquire.com
“Based on what you’ve told me so far, I’d try Acquire.com first—but only with a free buyer account.”

First answer

Yes. Acquire.com is probably the closest fit for buying or selling a small online startup: it supports offers and negotiation, legal-document builders, escrow, and a transfer-and-review process where the buyer confirms receipt of the assets before funds are released. (help.acquire.com)

If you’ve already found the other party, Dealroom by Escrow.com is another option: it provides a shared deal room, document sharing and e-signing, activity tracking, and an Escrow.com payment workflow. It’s more of a transaction workspace than a startup marketplace. (sizle.io)

One caveat: these tools can coordinate the handoff, but they don’t replace a lawyer—especially for a company-share sale, complex IP or employee matters, or a deal with earnouts or other custom terms. Check that the platform’s documents and escrow structure fit your deal before relying on them.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

Based only on what you’ve shared, I’d start with Acquire.com—if this is a small online business or startup being sold as an asset purchase. It brings offers, deal documents, escrow, and the asset handoff into one workflow, so it seems closest to your “one platform” goal. (blog.acquire.com)

Important caveat: Acquire says its transactions are asset acquisitions. If your deal is a sale of company shares, or involves complex terms or liabilities, I wouldn’t assume its standard workflow fits; have an M&A attorney help structure the deal. (help.acquire.com)

To tailor the recommendation: are you the buyer or seller, have you already found the other party, and is the deal an asset sale or a sale of the company itself?

First choice after follow-up · Acquire.com
“Based only on what you’ve shared, I’d start with Acquire.com—if this is a small online business or startup being sold as an asset purchase.”

First answer

There isn’t a comprehensive API of verified revenue for all startups: many private companies don’t disclose revenue, so providers mix reported figures with estimates. For a research tool, the key is to preserve each figure’s source and status.

• Sacra Signals — Best fit if you need cited revenue datapoints. Its API exposes revenue observations with sources and labels such as actual vs. projection, metric type, and date. Coverage is currently narrow: Sacra says Signals covers 30 pre-IPO companies. (sacra.com)
• PrivCo API — Better for broad U.S. private-company coverage. Its revenue API gives yearly figures and marks whether each is reported or estimated; API access is arranged through its Power plan and sales team. (privco.com)
• Dealroom API — Worth evaluating for startup discovery plus financials and traction data. Dealroom says it combines trade-register filings with modeled estimates, labeling estimates as such; API access is paid/request-based. (dealroom.co)
• SEC EDGAR API — A solid source for actual filed financials where a company has reported them, but it won’t cover most private startups. The SEC provides public APIs for filings and XBRL financial data. (sec.gov)

Practical pick: start with Sacra if citations and traceable revenue claims matter most; evaluate PrivCo or Dealroom if you need wider company coverage, while clearly displaying reported figures separately from estimates. Before committing, ask vendors for a sample export showing revenue, source, as-of date, estimate/actual flag, and redistribution rights.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

I’d start with Sacra, because your stated priority is verified revenue profiles for a research tool—not the widest possible company directory. Sacra’s Signals API provides cited revenue observations with the metric type, date, and whether the figure is historical or projected. That makes it easier to show users where a number came from and avoid presenting estimates as confirmed revenue. (sacra.com)

The trade-off is coverage: Signals currently lists 30 pre-IPO companies, so I’d treat it as a focused pilot, not a complete startup database. Also, “cited” doesn’t necessarily mean audited—make the source and confidence clear in your product. (sacra.com)

If your research tool needs broad coverage more than source-level traceability, I’d evaluate PrivCo next: its API labels figures as reported or estimated, but access requires its Power plan and a sales agreement. (privco.com)

First choice after follow-up · Sacra Signals
“I’d start with Sacra, because your stated priority is verified revenue profiles for a research tool—not the widest possible company directory.”

First answer

Assuming you’re in the U.S., Fidelity is a solid default for buying publicly traded software stocks: online U.S. stock trades are commission-free, you can buy fractional shares starting at $1, and it offers phone support. (fidelity.com)

Consider Schwab instead if you value branch access or its thinkorswim trading tools; it also offers commission-free online stock trades and fractional shares. (schwab.com)

Whichever you choose, compare account features and any fees beyond the trading commission. And remember: buying individual software companies can leave you concentrated in one industry—consider keeping those picks as part of a diversified portfolio, rather than your whole investment plan.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

You haven’t shared much about your personal situation yet, so this is a default, not a tailored recommendation: I’d start with Fidelity if you’re a U.S. investor making straightforward, long-term stock purchases. It lets you buy fractional shares starting at $1 and charges no commission for online U.S. stock trades—handy if you want to invest fixed dollar amounts rather than buy whole shares. (fidelity.com)

I’d lean Schwab instead if nearby branch support or its trading tools matter more to you; it also offers commission-free online U.S. stock trades and fractional-share investing. (schwab.com)

To make this specific to you, tell me: roughly how much you’ll invest, whether this is a taxable account or IRA, and whether you’ll buy regularly or trade actively.

First choice after follow-up · Fidelity
“I’d start with Fidelity if you’re a U.S. investor making straightforward, long-term stock purchases.”

First answer

Several good options can handle both recurring invoices and automatic payments:

• Square Invoices — A straightforward choice for service businesses. You can schedule recurring invoices and charge a customer’s saved card automatically. (squareup.com)
• Stripe Billing — Better suited to formal subscriptions, such as monthly or annual plans. It can generate invoices each billing cycle and either charge a saved payment method or send the invoice for payment. (support.stripe.com)
• QuickBooks Online + QuickBooks Payments — A good fit if you already use QuickBooks for bookkeeping; it supports recurring invoices and customer-authorized autopay. (quickbooks.intuit.com)
• FreshBooks — Worth considering for freelancers and service businesses; recurring invoices can be paid automatically once customers opt into AutoPay. (support.freshbooks.com)

Quick pick: Square for simple recurring service invoices, Stripe for subscription plans, or QuickBooks if you want billing tied closely to your accounting. Check each provider’s current processing fees and plan costs before choosing.

Follow-up: Given my situation, what would you choose first, and why?

I don’t know enough about your business yet to make a truly tailored choice. If you’re a small service business sending regular invoices, I’d try Square first: it supports recurring invoices and automatic charges to a saved payment method, and its free plan has no monthly subscription fee—you pay processing fees when you take payments. (squareup.com)

I’d choose Stripe instead if customers are signing up for defined subscription plans—especially online or with more complex pricing. (stripe.com)

Tell me what you sell, whether you already use accounting software, and whether you want to charge customers automatically or just send invoices on a schedule, and I can make a more specific pick.

First choice after follow-up · Square Invoices
“If you’re a small service business sending regular invoices, I’d try Square first”