Rebuild unit economics
Start from net revenue after discounts and returns, subtract landed product cost, fulfillment, merchant fees and variable customer acquisition. Then separate fixed operating expenses from working-capital needs.
Inspect inventory quality
Age inventory by SKU, identify slow-moving stock and check whether inventory is included in the purchase price or valued separately. Verify quantities and landed cost rather than using retail value.
Use the live marketplace to compare real listings against the criteria in this guide.
Check supplier dependence
Review lead times, minimum order quantities, payment terms, exclusivity, quality issues and whether relationships transfer. A single supplier can be as consequential as a single customer.
Validate acquisition channels
Inspect paid-media efficiency over time, branded demand, organic traffic, influencer dependence, email contribution and marketplace sales. Ask what happens to contribution margin if the strongest channel becomes more expensive.
Review platform and account risk
Shopify stores, Amazon accounts, ad accounts, payment processors and email tools all have rules and transfer constraints. Confirm continuity before closing.
Plan working capital after acquisition
Buying inventory businesses often requires more capital after the purchase. Model reorder timing, seasonality, supplier deposits and ad spend so the purchase price is not confused with total capital required.