Episode 83: The Growing World of Internet Businesses, with David Fairley

David is the Founder and President of Website Properties. After graduating from UBC with a Bachelor of Commerce and Major in Marketing, he traveled extensively through parts of Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, and Central America. It was during his travels that he made various contacts and connections that would lead him to start his first entrepreneurial venture. He created a business importing hammocks and selling a wide variety of styles via mail order, trade shows and wholesale. Soon thereafter he expanded operations establishing an online presence that eventually became Hammocks.com and would later be sold to the billion dollar company, Hayneedle.com Over the next six years, David personally developed, bought and sold Strollers.com, Drums.com, Unicorns.com and over 60 website businesses in multiple niches and of various business models.

During this same time period, the e-commerce market was growing rapidly and while there were many business brokers assisting with brick and mortar businesses, there were none that specialized in the sale of internet businesses. Identifying the need for a business broker with e-commerce industry knowledge and experience selling online businesses, he started down the path of his next entrepreneurial venture. David established Website Properties as the first online business brokerage specializing in selling established and profitable Internet-based businesses. From 2002 – present, he continues to enjoy and draws great satisfaction from bringing buyers and sellers together to complete a transaction that is a win, win for both parties.

With his industry knowledge, years of experience, and successes, David Fairley is considered an expert in online business marketing, appraisal, and sale. He is often retained as a consultant for companies seeking to maximize their exit strategy or by companies looking for strategic website opportunities to grow their business through acquisitions. He has been invited as a panel member and speaker at various domain name industry conferences, cited in DN Journal for a number of high profile domain name sales and interviewed by Domainsherpa, The New York Times, and local radio shows for his expertise in the sale of online web based businesses.

What you’ll learn about in this episode: Internet businesses: why they’re so attractive to buyers and why the market is really robust right now How to value an online business Choosing the right business to purchase What to do when you want to sell your business The relationship between brand and higher valuation Should you worry about your brand being tied too close to you (the individual)? Giving your team the ability to use their talents and rewarding them accordingly Things to consider before making the change towards running your company virtually Ways to contact David: Website: websiteproperties.com Podcast: coming soon!