For decades, selling an online business meant signing an exclusive mandate with an intermediary brokerage. In exchange for drafting a prospectus and making private introductions, brokers routinely took 10% to 15% of the total acquisition consideration.
In 2026, the economics of digital asset sales have shifted permanently. Modern micro-SaaS founders and indie developers are increasingly unwilling to forfeit five-figure commissions on deals where both buyer and seller are already technically literate.
Direct marketplaces like SellMyWeb empower sellers to keep 100% of their acquisition proceeds. By pairing verified revenue analytics with direct, end-to-end buyer-seller messaging, buyers can conduct transparent due diligence without third-party gatekeepers.
As developer tools, automated due diligence scripts, and standardized escrow options proliferate, the traditional business broker model is rapidly giving way to transparent, commission-free founder dealflow.