selling software/business

**huckbucket** · 02-18-2017, 03:02 PM

I need to network to find potential buyers for a business I've run for fun for the past few years. Looking for recommended online communities of entrepreneurs/buyers of these types of things. Value is in the software only and not really the business per se. The software has application in medical publishing, healthcare, pharma marketing. Approx value is $50K based on comps/fresh build.

Any ideas are appreciated.

**Mazderati** · 02-18-2017, 04:16 PM

craigslist.org

**huckbucket** · 02-18-2017, 05:58 PM

#Thumbsup

**stfu&gbtw** · 02-18-2017, 06:19 PM

Send me a pm with more info.

**Mazderati** · 02-18-2017, 06:21 PM

In all seriousness, I'm interested to see what you learn. Business brokers are a thing but I don't know what valuations they typically handle or what cut they take.

**Rip'nStick** · 02-18-2017, 09:11 PM

Would also like to know what you learn. Consultant that has developed software and business process that I believe is portable

**reckless toboggan** · 02-18-2017, 09:29 PM

...per se...

**Viva** · 02-18-2017, 10:19 PM

$50K? Shit, I spend that in one weekend in Vegas

**iceman** · 02-18-2017, 10:57 PM

Bail is not something to be proud of my man.

**RShea** · 02-18-2017, 11:07 PM

So is the software proprietary or custom vs some application you purchased and licensed in what is commonly called a Line of Business application? It is it custom, is it well enough documented and debugged and operational that someone else can come in and pick up the application(s) and keep them working?

There are a few ways to handle this- depending on the industry and a few other things. Brokers of course as mentioned above, but $50K is many times pretty low for one to touch unless there are other assets or real estate etc. for them to consider also. Your best way of course could be if there are any existing employees that maybe interested. Otherwise any industry specific contacts, associations or even trade magazines that could be used to market the availability and wanting to sell?

**Fritz** · 02-18-2017, 11:12 PM

Are you trying to sell the IP or the business itself?

**digitaldeath** · 02-19-2017, 12:02 AM

Software selling is about as scammy as it gets

No offense

Where's the shareware

Free ware

Pirates always win

**huckbucket** · 02-19-2017, 04:48 AM

Some quick bullets:

No associated IP
It's custom software built by my business partner and myself
Value is based on cost of building from scratch as well, sales history and the performance of the software (including user engagement) over the last 4 years
Product and service is super stable and I have refs to confirm
Currently resides/runs on VPS
We had revenue as of last year, but haven't had the time to keep it going
I still think the market is big for running or resale, but I lack the connections/time to make it fly
Brokers involved for a $50K sale? Seems overkill

PM me if anyone wants to learn more. Tks.

**huckbucket** · 02-19-2017, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by digitaldeath

Software selling is about as scammy as it gets

No offense

Where's the shareware

Free ware

Pirates always win

Yup. Multi-national scam. We've been copied in Pyongyang but they'll never be the original.

**RShea** · 02-19-2017, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by huckbucket

Some quick bullets:

No associated IP
It's custom software built by my business partner and myself
Value is based on cost of building from scratch as well, sales history and the performance of the software (including user engagement) over the last 4 years

We had revenue as of last year, but haven't had the time to keep it going
I still think the market is big for running or resale, but I lack the connections/time to make it fly
Brokers involved for a $50K sale? Seems overkill

So would you offer up the source code? If not then would part of the terms be for ongoing technical support and maintenance on the software? Any plans for continued improvement if no source code transferred?

**Viva** · 02-19-2017, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by iceman

Bail is not something to be proud of my man.

But it was so worth it.

**huckbucket** · 02-19-2017, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by RShea

So would you offer up the source code? If not then would part of the terms be for ongoing technical support and maintenance on the software? Any plans for continued improvement if no source code transferred?

Yup. Source code is what's for sale along with a few other bits (API's, web pages for interface, etc). Integration period during which we help the buyer get up to speed.

No hookers, no blow.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 02-19-2017, 03:46 PM

Is source code not IP?

**huckbucket** · 02-19-2017, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

Is source code not IP?

Maybe this is the wrong thinking, but when I think IP, I think of a patented process. To avoid any confusion, neither my code nor the way it's used is patented.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 02-20-2017, 10:38 AM

Is code patentable? I know algorithms aren't, and that's a big part of code, but maybe you should at least look into copyrighting stuff?
IP can include logo's, implementation, names, colors, etc etc.

**GeezerSteve** · 02-20-2017, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

Is source code not IP?

It can be

**stfu&gbtw** · 02-20-2017, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by huckbucket

Maybe this is the wrong thinking, but when I think IP, I think of a patented process. To avoid any confusion, neither my code nor the way it's used is patented.

Is your code copyrighted?