Buy a Ecommerce Agency
Acquiring a ecommerce agency gives you direct access to the booming online retail market. Ecommerce agencies with Shopify Plus partnerships, CRO expertise, and retention marketing capabilities are among the most sought-after acquisitions in the agency space. Whether you are a PE firm building a marketing services platform, an established agency adding a new discipline, or an experienced operator looking for your first acquisition, understanding the specifics of ecommerce agency deals will help you evaluate opportunities and negotiate effectively.
The ecommerce agency acquisition market is active, with deal volume growing as more founders approach retirement age and private equity interest in the marketing services sector continues to accelerate. Quality agencies in this space are in demand, so buyers who move decisively and demonstrate credibility will win the best deals.
Why Buy a Ecommerce Agency?
Acquiring rather than building a ecommerce agency from scratch gives you an immediate advantage: established client relationships, trained teams, proven processes, and revenue from day one. Building these same capabilities organically would take 3-5 years and carry significant execution risk.
For strategic acquirers, a ecommerce agency fills a specific capability gap and creates cross-selling opportunities across your existing client base. For financial buyers, the recurring retainer revenue and strong margins typical of well-run agencies in this space make them attractive cash-flow investments. The key is finding an agency where the whole is worth more than the sum of its parts — where your resources combined with their expertise create real synergies.
What to Look for When Buying a Ecommerce Agency
Due diligence for a ecommerce agency acquisition should focus on these specific areas:
- Shopify Plus or BigCommerce partner tier and benefits
- GMV growth and conversion lift case studies
- Service scope — platform, CRO, email, paid media integration
- Retainer revenue vs project-based development fees
- Client store revenue and growth trajectories
- Technology capabilities — headless commerce, custom development
- Vertical specialization (DTC, B2B, luxury, etc.)
Beyond the checklist, spend time understanding the agency’s culture, client relationships, and what makes them successful. The best acquisitions happen when the buyer truly understands the business they are buying.
Typical Deal Structure
Acquisitions of ecommerce agencies are structured as asset purchases with premium valuations reflecting the high-growth e-commerce market. Expect 65-80% cash at close with a 20-35% earnout over 12-24 months tied to retainer retention and GMV targets. Platform partner status transferability is critical to verify pre-deal. Transition periods of 6-9 months are standard. Typical deal values range from $400K to $20M, though outliers exist on both ends.
Regardless of structure, every ecommerce agency deal should include clear provisions for client contract assignment, team retention, intellectual property transfer, and non-compete agreements. Work with an experienced M&A advisor who understands agency transactions to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Current Ecommerce Agencies for Sale
Browse our current listings of ecommerce agencies available for acquisition. New listings are added weekly, and our team can notify you when an agency matching your criteria comes to market.
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Ready to Acquire a Ecommerce Agency?
Whether you are looking for your first acquisition or adding to a growing portfolio, we can help you find the right ecommerce agency and close the deal. Our buyer network includes hundreds of agencies across every type and geography.