Founder guide
How much is my failed startup actually worth?
A failed startup rarely sells on a revenue multiple, because there usually isn't much revenue. It sells on what a buyer can skip building — a working codebase, an aged domain, real users, and a clear post-mortem.
This guide breaks down what each of those is worth in practice, and how to set a price that actually gets an offer instead of silence.
What buyers actually pay for
Value comes from time saved and risk removed. Price each asset by what it would cost a buyer to reproduce it.
- Code: a shipped product is worth weeks-to-months of dev time — the single biggest line item for zero-revenue sales.
- Domain: an aged, brandable, indexed domain carries standalone value.
- Users & email list: existing signups and traction shorten a buyer's zero-to-one.
- Revenue: if you can verify even small MRR, buyers will pay a multiple on top — verification is what unlocks it.
A simple way to price it
Start from replacement cost, not sunk cost. Nobody pays for the two years you spent — they pay for what they get to skip. Add a modest multiple only on verified revenue.
Zero-revenue products commonly change hands from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Priced honestly, they sell; priced on ego, they sit.
How to raise your price legitimately
Verify your revenue with a read-only key so the MRR is provable. Write a clear post-mortem so the buyer trusts what they're inheriting. Package the domain, code and users together. Each of these raises offers without inventing anything.
Find out what yours is worth — list it free.
Publish your startup as a post-mortem in about 3 minutes, then open it for sale for a one-time $9. 0% commission.
Frequently asked
Can I sell a startup that makes $0?+
Yes. Zero-revenue products still have code, a domain, users and lessons — all of which have real replacement value to the right buyer.
What multiple do failed startups sell for?+
With little or no revenue, price is based on replacement value, not a multiple. Where verifiable revenue exists, small multiples apply on top.
How do I make my listing sell faster?+
Verify revenue, write an honest post-mortem, and price from replacement cost. Listing on Saasgrave is free; opening it for sale is a one-time $9 with 0% commission.