You have a side project. It works, maybe a few hundred users, but zero revenue. You are done with it — burned out, pivoting, or just ready to move on.
Good news: your project has value. Here is how to sell it.
Why Buyers Want Pre-Revenue Projects
Buyers in the micro-acquisition space are not always looking for cash flow. Many are looking for:
- A head start — working code saves months of development
- User validation — even 100 active users proves the concept works
- A niche position — your project may own a small market they want to enter
- Technology — your tech stack, integrations, or algorithms have standalone value
Step 1: Know What You Have
Before pricing, inventory your assets:
- Working codebase (what language, framework, quality?)
- User count (active in last 30 days, not total signups)
- Domain and any SEO equity
- Social accounts, email lists
- Documentation and README
Step 2: Price It Realistically
Do NOT price based on hours invested. A buyer does not care that you spent 500 hours — they care about what they GET.
Use the free ExitBid Pre-Revenue Calculator to estimate. Select "Pre-Revenue" as the business type.
Rough benchmarks:
- Clean code, no users: $500-$5K
- Code + 500 users: $3K-$10K
- Code + 2K users + growth: $10K-$25K
- Code + 5K+ users + strong growth: $15K-$50K+
Step 3: Prepare the Listing
- Clean your code. Remove debug logs, add README, document setup steps.
- Screenshot everything. Analytics, user dashboards, app UI.
- Write a clear description. What it does, who uses it, what the buyer gets.
- Be honest about limitations. No revenue, known bugs, what is missing.
Step 4: Choose Where to Sell
ExitBid — Auction format is ideal for pre-rev projects. When multiple buyers compete, the market reveals the true value. Zero commission.
SideProjectors — Free bulletin board, good for small projects.
IndieHackers — Post in the marketplace. Community audience.
Twitter/X — If you built in public, sell in public.
Step 5: Handle the Transfer
- Use escrow (never transfer before payment)
- Transfer code repository
- Transfer domain and hosting
- Transfer user database
- Provide 2 weeks of support
Full preparation guide: Exit-Ready in 90 Days
Common Mistakes
- Overpricing based on effort. 500 hours at $100/hr does not mean your project is worth $50K.
- No documentation. Buyers will not buy code they cannot understand.
- No demo. Screenshots or a live demo are essential.
- Refusing code access. Serious buyers need to review code before committing.
The Opportunity
The pre-revenue acquisition market is growing. Buyers — especially indie hackers and small funds — actively seek projects with users and clean code that they can monetize. Your abandoned side project might be exactly what someone is looking for.
Valuation calculator: exitbid.io/tools/calculator
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