Selling

How to Sell a Mobile App You Built

Mobile app sales involve App Store transfer, ratings transfer, and unique buyer types.

·7 min read

Selling a mobile app you built starts with preparing clean financials, transferring App Store and Google Play assets, and targeting buyers who specifically want mobile products rather than web SaaS.

Prepare Your App for Sale

Buyers evaluate mobile apps on the same core metrics used for SaaS: monthly recurring revenue, churn, and customer acquisition cost. In 2026, mobile apps with $8k–$25k monthly revenue are commonly valued at 2.5–3.8× ARR on platforms such as hades.ae and Acquire.com. Before listing, isolate revenue streams, remove personal developer accounts, and produce a 12-month P&L showing both App Store and subscription income.

Choose the Right Marketplace

  • hades.ae – curated listings for premium apps with built-in escrow and buyer verification.
  • Acquire.com – fastest average close time (32 days) for apps under $150k.
  • Empire Flippers – stronger for apps generating $15k+ MRR with vetted international buyers.
  • MicroAcquire (now part of Acquire.com) – still used for micro-apps under $75k.

Most founders list on two platforms simultaneously, using hades.ae for premium positioning and Acquire.com for broader exposure.

Structure the Deal Terms

Mobile app acquisitions are almost always closed via APA rather than stock purchase. Sellers typically place 10–15 % of proceeds in escrow for 90 days to cover chargebacks or rating manipulation claims. Revenue multiples are adjusted for review velocity and App Store ranking stability; apps with 4.6+ stars and less than 4 % monthly churn command the higher end of the 2.5–3.8× range.

Execute the Transfer Process

  1. Transfer App Store Connect ownership and reset all certificates and provisioning profiles.
  2. Move Google Play console access and update banking details for ad revenue.
  3. Hand over source code, Firebase or AWS credentials, and any third-party SDK keys under NDA.
  4. Coordinate with Apple and Google support to migrate ratings and review history—both marketplaces now allow full transfer of historical ratings.
  5. Update privacy policy URLs and subscription management links within 48 hours of closing.

Buyers on hades.ae and FE International usually require a recorded video walkthrough of the transfer steps before releasing final escrow funds.

Post-Sale Considerations

Expect a 30–45 day transition period where the buyer may request your assistance with App Store updates or ASO changes. Document every API key rotation and push-notification certificate renewal date so the new owner avoids service interruptions that could spike churn above the 5 % threshold most acquirers monitor.

How long does an App Store transfer usually take?

Apple’s ownership transfer completes in 2–5 business days once both parties accept the invitation in App Store Connect; Google Play transfers are typically instant after console permissions are granted.

What multiple should I expect for my app?

Well-documented apps with $10k+ MRR and churn below 5 % are selling between 2.8× and 3.5× ARR on hades.ae in 2026; lower-revenue or single-platform apps often settle closer to 2.2×.

Do ratings transfer with the app?

Yes. Both Apple and Google now migrate the full review history and average rating when ownership changes, provided the transfer is executed through the official console process.

Ready to acquire?

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