Sell your software business to a long-term owner.
Playbook Media wants to buy established software businesses directly from their founders. There is no listing and no auction. You talk with the buyer who will own the product after the handover.
ContentsS.1Can I sell my business directly to Playbook Media?1 / 6
§ S.1
Can I sell my business directly to Playbook Media?Yes, if it fits our search.
Yes. We look for established software businesses with loyal customers, understandable economics and room for careful improvement. You write to the founder of Playbook Media, who makes the acquisition decision.
- Playbook Media is a buyer. It is not a broker, a marketplace or a fund.
- The usual fit is subscription software with $5k–$20k in monthly recurring revenue and three to eight years of history.
- We intend to own each business for the long term. We do not buy to resell.
§ S.2
What makes a business a fit.Four questions we ask first.
- Question 1
Do customers rely on it?
Customers use it again and again, pay for it and can say why it matters to them.
- Question 2
Are the numbers clear?
Revenue, refunds, retention and operating costs are in records that we can check.
- Question 3
Can someone else run it?
The code, accounts, licences and know-how can move to a new owner without a rewrite.
- Question 4
Is there a careful improvement to make?
One to three specific changes could make the product better for the customers it already has.
§ S.3
Your main ways to sell.Each path does a different job.
No path is right for every founder. Choose the one that gives you the outcome you want, then compare buyers on that outcome.
- Path 1
Sell directly to a buyer
Talk with the people who will review, buy and own the business. This suits founders who want a private process and one counterparty.
- Path 2
Use a broker or an M&A advisor
An adviser prepares materials, contacts many buyers and runs the process. Compare fees, timing and the buyers they reach.
- Path 3
List on a marketplace
A listing reaches many buyers quickly. You run more of the process yourself and screen each buyer.
- Path 4
Keep the business
Hire help, reduce your hours or wait. Not selling is a valid choice. It also sets the bar that any offer must clear.
§ S.4
Business types we consider.Four categories, 24 types.
Our search covers developer tools, creator software, productivity software and lightweight business software. Each page explains how we look at one type. The same search profile applies to all of them.
Start here
Developer tools
Creator software
Productivity
Lightweight business software
§ S.5
What happens after a sale.We agree it before ownership changes.
We protect the product that customers depend on. We agree customer continuity, knowledge transfer and the responsibilities of each side before ownership changes.
Then we work in a fixed order. We understand the business as it is. We improve reliability, clarity and support. We reinvest where the return justifies the work.
The transition plan that comes with proposed terms says what we expect to change first. We do not promise that nothing will change. We promise that each change has a reason, an owner and a way to judge the result.
§ S.6
Questions owners ask first.Short answers.
Can I sell my business directly to Playbook Media?
Yes, if the business fits our search profile and our capacity. We are a buyer, not a broker or a marketplace. You talk with the founder of Playbook Media from the first email.
Is Playbook Media only interested in SaaS?
Mostly. Our first search is for subscription software. We also look at desktop apps, browser extensions and plugins that customers pay for again and again. Services businesses, marketplaces and regulated businesses are outside our first search.
What do you need to start?
The product URL, what it does, how long it has been operating and what you want from a transition. A short overview is enough.
How fast do you reply?
We aim to reply to every founder email within five business days, including when the answer is that there is no fit.
Have you bought a business before?
Not yet. Playbook Media has not completed an acquisition. We publish our search profile, our process and the reasons we pass, so that you can judge how we work.
Do I have to stop working on the product?
No. We agree your role in the transition plan. Some founders want to hand over quickly. Others want to stay involved for a period. Tell us what you want in your first email.
- 1Search preferences for a first subscription acquisition. Not a valuation, offer or guarantee of fit. ↩
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