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 Alan Li Co-founder of Moxa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 26:08
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Alan Li Co-founder of Moxa Follow the Guest: Alan Li - ► https://linkedin.com/in/alan-li-711a8629 ► https://twitter.com/alanliberkeley Follow the Host: Andrew Gazdecki - ► https://twitter…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with JM Sanchez Co-founder of Studia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 37:47
    Startup Acquisition Stories with JM Sanchez Co-founder of Studia Follow the Guest: JM Sanchez - ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmsanchezbarbera/ ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-korneev/ (Partner) ► https://www.stu…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Mark Spera, Co-founder of GrowthBar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 29:40
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Mark Spera, Co-founder of GrowthBar Follow the Guest: Mark Spera - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-spera-90a62322 https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailey-friedman-44897734 (Hailey Friedman (C…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Josh Kim, Founder of The Cubby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 53:03
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Josh Kim, Founder of The Cubby Follow the Guest: Josh Kim - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshjiwonkim/ https://thecubby.com/ (SOLD) Follow the Host: Andrew Gazdecki - https://twitter.com/a…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with JK Molina, Co-founder of Tweet Hunter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 48:50
    Startup Acquisition Stories with JK Molina, Co-founder of Tweet Hunter Follow the Guest: JK Molina ► https://twitter.com/OneJKMolina ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkmolina/ ► https://tweethunter.io/ (Sold) Follow the Hos…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Moustaid Ayoub, Founder of Fastdok [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 26:16
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Ayoub Moustaid, Founder of Fastdok Follow the Guest: Ayoub Moustaid - https://twitter.com/mstdayoub https://www.linkedin.com/in/moustaidayoub/ https://www.fastdok.com/ (Sold) Follow the H…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Jeff Richards, Founder of Rayneta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 27:29
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Jeff Richards, Founder of Rayneta Follow the Guest: Jeff Richards - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyscottrichards/ https://twitter.com/notjeffrichards https://www.linkedin.com/in/britt…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Alex Rainey, Founder of MyAskAI.com [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 34:32
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Alex Rainey, Founder of MyAskAI.com Learn How to Sell Your SaaS From a Founder with 3x Sold Follow the Guest: Alex Rainey - ► https://twitter.com/RaineyAllDay ► https://www.linkedin.com/i…
    Startup Acquisition Stories with Noah Bragg, Founder of Potion.so [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

    Duration: 28:04
    From #BuildinPublic to Selling His SaaS for $300,000 Follow the Guest: Noah Bragg - ► https://twitter.com/noahwbragg ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahbragg/ ► https://supportman.io/ (Sold on Acquire.com) ► https://potio…