Sell or Buy an E-commerce Business in Illinois

E-commerce Business Overview

Illinois is home to thousands of e-commerce businesses, from Amazon FBA sellers to direct-to-consumer brands. Online businesses offer location flexibility and scalability that traditional retail cannot match.

E-commerce businesses include online retail stores, dropshipping operations, Amazon FBA businesses, subscription boxes, and digital product sellers. These businesses require attention to traffic sources, customer acquisition costs, and platform dependencies.

E-commerce Business Valuation

Business Type	Multiple Range	Basis
Amazon FBA	2.5x - 4.0x	SDE
Shopify/DTC	2.0x - 3.5x	SDE
Dropshipping	1.5x - 2.5x	SDE
Subscription	3.0x - 5.0x	SDE or MRR

Key Valuation Factors

Traffic sources: Organic vs. paid, diversification
Customer metrics: CAC, LTV, repeat purchase rate
Platform dependency: Amazon, Shopify, marketplace risk
Brand strength: Trademark, social following, email list
Supply chain: Supplier relationships, inventory management

Selling an E-commerce Business

Key Selling Considerations

Traffic documentation: Google Analytics, ad account history
Financial records: Clean P&L, separated personal expenses
Supplier agreements: Transferable supplier relationships
Brand assets: Trademarks, domains, social accounts
Operations documentation: SOPs and training materials

Complete Selling Guide →

Buying an E-commerce Business

Key Buying Considerations

Traffic verification: Verify analytics and traffic sources
Financial verification: Bank statements, payment processor data
Platform risks: Account standing, policy compliance
Supplier verification: Contact suppliers directly
Growth potential: Market trends and expansion opportunities

Complete Buying Guide →

E-commerce Business Types

📦 Amazon FBA

Fulfilled by Amazon businesses.

🛒 Shopify/DTC

Direct-to-consumer brands.

🚚 Dropshipping

No-inventory retail models.

📬 Subscription

Recurring subscription boxes.

📱 Digital Products

Courses, software, downloads.

🏪 Marketplace

Multi-vendor platforms.