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How to Safely Acquire an Existing Shopify Store (A Complete Guide) Buying an established Shopify store is a fast track to revenue, customer data, and tested product-market fit. Instead of building from zero, you acquire sales history, supplier relationships, branding, and — ideally — proven marketing funnels.
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But the upside comes with risks: fraudulent listings, hidden liabilities, hacked stores, unpaid tax obligations, and platform policy violations. The difference between a smart acquisition and a disaster is due diligence, proper legal safeguards, and careful transfer processes.This guide walks you through the legal, practical, and security-focused steps to safely buy an existing Shopify store so your investment actually becomes an asset.
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Start with the right mindset: buy a business, not an account
Think in terms of buying a business: revenue, profit, assets (domain, inventory, customer list), liabilities (chargebacks, unpaid taxes, supplier obligations), and intellectual property. Don’t treat the transaction like “buying an account” — that language often signals shortcuts and noncompliance. Buying a legitimate business means documented income statements, verifiable traffic sources, and a formal transfer of ownership with contracts and escrow.
Where to find legitimate Shopify stores for sale
Look for reputable marketplaces and brokers that specialize in online businesses. These platforms typically offer escrow services, vet listings, and sometimes provide guarantees:
Exchange Marketplace (Shopify’s own marketplace for stores)
Empire Flippers
Flippa (use caution; vet heavily)
Quiet Light Brokerage
FE International
Specialist brokers or M&A advisors for e-commerce
A broker can be pricier but often improves safety and handles paperwork. Always prefer listings with verifiable analytics and financial documentation.
Initial screening: what to look for in a listing
Before deeper due diligence, filter by red flags and must-haves Must-haves 6–12+ months of operation (shorter lifespans are riskier) Detailed financials (monthly revenue, costs, profit) Access to analytics (Google Analytics + Shopify admin) Proof of owner identity and reason for sale Clear list of assets (domain, social media, email list, suppliers)
Red flags
Seller refuses to share Google Analytics or raw sales data Owner pressures for quick cash-only transfers Claims of “too good to be true” traffic or revenue without proof No documented supplier relationships (dropship stores may be riskier) High dependency on a single paid channel with no contingency
Due diligence checklist — what you must verify
A thorough due diligence process protects you from surprises. Ask for and verify the following:
Financial verification
Shopify payouts / payment processor statements for at least 6–12 months.Bank statements showing customer payments and refunds.Profit and Loss statement and breakdown of COGS, ad spend, overhead.Reconciled numbers: compare Shopify sales to bank deposits and fees.
Traffic & analytics
Google Analytics access (request viewer or temporary editor access).Shopify admin access for orders and traffic sources.Verify organic vs. paid traffic and seasonality.Check referral sources, conversion rates, bounce rates.
Customers & operations
Customer list and opt-in status (are emails permission-based?)Refund and chargeback history.Fulfillment workflow and supplier onboarding docs.Existing storefront apps and subscriptions (monthly costs).
Intellectual property & legal
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