Why Selling a Profitable Startup Was The Best Move

Why Selling a Profitable Startup Was The Best Move

Author: Acquire.com August 18, 2025 Duration: 14:41

JJ Englert didn’t start in SEO. He built Trade Backlinks, a profitable SEO marketplace for buying and selling backlinks safely and transparently.


He launched it lean, listened to user feedback, and kept adding features that mattered: automated link tracking, performance analytics, and verified member checks. The platform became the go-to in its niche.


When the excitement to keep building faded, JJ prepared for a clean exit. Organized financials, documented processes, and a business that ran without him meant buyers could move fast.


He listed on Acquire.com. Verified buyers, streamlined communication, and a short due diligence window led to a fast, fair deal, fully on his terms.


In this episode, JJ shares:

  • How early preparation made the sale easier

  • Why losing passion can be the right signal to sell

    • How Acquire.com tools sped up the deal


    3 lessons from JJ’s exit:

    1. Preparation builds trust and shortens deals
    2. Passion impacts performance more than you think
    3. The right platform can connect you with serious buyers fast.


    Whether you’re building to keep or selling to move on, JJ’s story shows that preparation, clarity, and timing make all the difference.


    Follow JJ's Journey:

    LinkedIn

    X (Twitter)

    Youtube




  • Behind every successful startup acquisition, there's a story-a complex mix of strategy, emotion, and paperwork that rarely gets discussed openly. Startup Acquisition Stories, from the team at Acquire.com, pulls back the curtain on those real-world transactions. Each episode features founders and entrepreneurs who have personally navigated the process of selling or buying a business through their platform. You'll hear them recount the nuanced decisions that don't make it into press releases: the challenging conversations around valuation, the subtle art of vetting the opposite party, and the critical, often overlooked, steps after the handshake. This podcast digs into the practicalities of due diligence, structuring terms, and managing the transfer of assets, all the way through to escrow and the crucial post-deal transition. It’s a grounded, detail-oriented look at the mechanics of a business exit or expansion, straight from the people who’ve lived it. For anyone curious about the actual path to a deal, beyond the theory, this series offers a rare archive of lived experience and hard-won advice.
    Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

    Startup Acquisition Stories
    Podcast Episodes
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Yahia Bakour, Co-founder of Stock Alarm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 23:07
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Yahia Bakour, Co-founder of Stock Alarm ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the Guest: Yahia Bakour - https://twitter.com/mynameisyahia https://www.linkedin.com/in/yahia-bakour/ https://stockala…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Justin Vanderheide, Founder of Swimgen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 21:31
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Justin Vanderheide, Founder of Swimgen ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the Guest: Justin Vanderheide - https://twitter.com/Jayvanderheide https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinvanderheide https:…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Harinderpreet Singh, Founder of MicMonster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 12:26
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Harinderpreet Singh, Founder of MicMonster ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the Guest: Harinderpreet Singh ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harinderpreet/ https://listenmonster.com/ https://mi…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Salvatore Aiello, Co-founder of DimeADozen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 41:08
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Salvatore Aiello, Co-founder of DimeADozen ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the Guest: Salvatore Aiello ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dested/ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicapowers/ (Co-fo…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Simon Thompson, Founder of Podseeker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 30:14
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Simon Thompson, Founder of Podseeker ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the Guest: Simon Thompson https://simonthompson.co/ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-lynch-94b85785/⁠ ⁠https://solodrop.…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Cory Lynch, Founder of Solodrop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 27:14
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Cory Lynch, Founder of Solodrop ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the Guest: Cory Lynch https://twitter.com/thecorylynch https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-lynch-94b85785/ https://solodrop.com/…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Jes Bickhart, Founder of Minnow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 41:19
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Jes Bickhart, Founder of Minnow Follow the Guest: Jes Bickhart https://twitter.com/JesBickhart https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesbickhart/ http://www.minnowtv.com/ (SOLD) Follow the Host: An…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Daniel Ch, Founder of SimpleInk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 40:32
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Daniel Ch, Founder of SimpleInk ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the Guest: Daniel Ch https://www.linkedin.com/in/chddaniel/ https://twitter.com/chddaniel https://simple.ink (SOLD) Follow the…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Devon Gethers, Founder of EarlyAdmit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 26:51
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Devon Gethers, Founder of EarlyAdmit ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow the Guest: Devon Gethers - ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/devon-gethers/ ► https://twitter.com/gethersdevon ► https://earl…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with David Sorbara, Founder of Barkley HQ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 18:29
    Startup Acquisition Stories with David Sorbara, Founder of Barkley HQ. Highlights: Years in Business: 4 years Sale Price: High six-figures Buyer Interest: 80 NDAs (Request for more details) ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Follow t…