How to Buy a Website

Buying a website differs from purchasing a domain name and hosting space in that you are purchasing an existing entity. You are buying a product with a track record, and that has a value.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Hire an attorney. If you are purchasing a high profile website with original product and content, you need an attorney to guide your purchase. High profile sites can be expensive so you want to ensure that you are getting exactly what you need. If you are purchasing a low profile site, an attorney is not necessary.
2. Know what you're purchasing. Make sure you are purchasing the domain and the content from the legal owner. Obtain a chain of clear title on the domain, especially if multiple people have owned it. Cover all of your bases legally to make sure you don't run into problems down the line.
3. Ask plenty of questions. Find out why the owner is selling, what specifically you are purchasing and what companies you need to maintain links to once you own the site. Address any other issues you have before agreeing to buy.
4. Evaluate the site. Discover what you would like to keep and what you would like to change. Compare your potential purchase to other sites of the same type and review their rankings to determine your competition.
5. Weigh the price of the site against the income it generates. Review its rankings. Find out whether the site is generating any traffic. If you are purchasing an unknown site, remember that the current traffic and ratings will be low. Determine how much income the site is currently generating and decide if it is a good investment or not.