Since its founding by Mark Daoust in 2006, Quiet Light Brokerage has been driven by the entrepreneurs it represents. They are a company that seeks not just to represent its clients, but to understand their unique story and goals. With over 750 online businesses sold and $500 million in total transaction value, Quiet Light is one of the top brokerages in the digital business space. What they do and how they do it is what sets them apart.
- The types of businesses that Quiet Light sells include e-commerce, Amazon FBA, content, SaaS and membership sites.
- Most of their listings are e-commerce related with content sites close behind. Net profit ranges from $100,000 to $3+ million a year.
- Price multiples vary by monetization category and other assorted factors, from about 1 to 5 of SDE (Seller’s Discretionary Earnings).
Quiet Light Advisors
Their success is rooted in their 17 advisors, who are all high-achieving entrepreneurs themselves and share a passion for online business. Many advisors are former clients who have been through the transaction process multiple times as buyers and sellers, so every Quiet Light advisor understands how to craft an effective exit strategy to maximize value and negotiate favorable deal terms.
Their five-step approach with potential sellers consists of:
- An initial valuation phone call to establish a broad value range for a business.
- A letter of engagement – a 90-day commitment.
- A detailed client interview to get to know the business and all its numbers.
- A public listing consisting of an enticing package that highlights the business’ strengths and frames its weaknesses.
- Finding the right buyer with a focus on sales price/multiple, cash at closing, and earnout terms, among other considerations.
Values Come First
Strong values are at the heart of what they do. Quiet Light advisors pledge to speak the truth with a business owner, even if it’s not what they want to hear. Putting the needs of their client first is part of their DNA, even when it doesn’t benefit them. Explaining a businesses’ strengths to a potential buyer is vital, but weaknesses can’t be ignored either. This honesty and transparency builds trust with a buyer and might be one reason why 85% of their listings close within 90 days of listing.
A few emphatic customer testimonials attest to their values and commitment:
Putting the customer first – “When I was deciding to sell my business, it was like jumping into the deep side of the pool without any swimming experience. My first call with Quiet Light was like being thrown a lifesaver while explaining the entire process. I was originally planning to sell ASAP, but decided to follow their advice to wait a few months and optimize my business value. Sure glad I did, because it ended up increasing my valuation by a third.” -LV
Surpassing expectations – “Before choosing a website broker, I made a list of all the things that were important to me in a broker. Most of the other choices had 4 or 5 of the 10 things that were important to me. Quiet Light had 14 out of the 10. Why 14? They brought to my attentions things that I would never even have thought of, and he executed flawlessly in finding me a buyer. I’ve been unable to find another broker at their level to this day, and I feel like they are truly the best in the business.” – Brian
The Role of Data
Data is also a big part of what they do. Quiet Light maintains detailed records for every closed deal, which are used to inform important decisions around pricing and other key considerations. Their database of deals documents each business’s vertical, revenue, SDE, asking price, sold price, listing and sold multiples, deal terms, number of offers received, deal timeline, and other relevant data points.
By utilizing this in-depth dataset from their most recently closed deals, their advisors set realistic expectations with sellers, make informed pricing recommendations, and evaluate offers with confidence.
Building Relationships
For those who are looking to do a little exploring on their own, their resources for buyers and sellers consist of videos, podcasts, articles, and guides that address topics from SBA loans to exit stories. Their emphasis is on building a relationship with a business owner over time and to get the business into the best shape possible to maximize a return. Some of their recommended changes might be small and easily addressed, but others may take more time to address, which is okay. This patient, long term focus is an integral part of who they are.
If you are looking for a highly personalized approach led by an entrepreneur-minded advisor, Quiet Light is a worthy brokerage to add to your list. To view Quiet Light listings on Hatchit, select “Quiet Light Brokerage” in the listing owner drop down in the search bar.
1st photo by Markus Winkler, 2nd photo by Lukas.
