Buying and selling established websites

Australian specific traders

[fish_eye]

I was going to post this in the supporters forum but this A&P forum seems to have a farily significant Australian readership (Woz, annawalla, skip etc) (not suprisingly!)

I'm a member of a non-profit internet related society and this request for assistance has come my way:

[paraphrase]

There seems to be information about selling websites overseas, but not in Australia.

is there a market for selling established websites in Australia?

how is it done?

are there Australian companies who handles website sales?

[/paraphrase]

I can confirm this later with the requester, but I assume we are talking about either dot au's or sites that deal exclusively or heavily with AU content (eg. travel or regional goods and services, portals etc).

Given the more liberal dot au policies over the last couple of years this may have started increasing lately, although I suspect it's pretty small compared to US.

[edited by: Woz at 9:46 pm (utc) on Sep. 5, 2005]
[edit reason] Paraphrased Email per TOS#9 [/edit]

[anallawalla]

It is ad hoc AFAICT. Searching for "website for sale" within pages from Australia reveals at least one for sale, but eBay is where I usually see sites for sale.

Running the search on the global listings will show the international website brokers and I see some .AUs there as well.

[Chris_D]

Hi fish_eye

Given the more liberal dot au policies over the last couple of years this may have started increasing lately

Have a little read of this:

2.2 Because the registrant does not have a proprietary right in the domain name, it is not legally possible for the registrant to "sell" the domain name. By offering to sell their domain name to another party, the registrant is in breach of the Registrant Agreement.

[auda.org.au...]

I think that's discouraged most from hanging out a 'hot .com.au domain names for sale' shingle in Google.

:)

[fish_eye]

I think that's discouraged most from hanging out a 'hot .com.au domain names for sale' shingle in Google.

True (and well pointed out thank you) but I am interested in the market in established websites not just a name.

[auda.org.au...]

3.1 A registrant may transfer their domain name licence to a proposed new registrant if:
a) (i) the registrant sells part or all of their business operations or assets to the proposed new registrant, and the Deed of Sale includes the transfer of the domain name licence;

In other words you are selling a business or a brand name and therefore the purchaser meets the eligibilty criteria. Rather than being bound to release the domain name to the market (which other policies state you must do) you can transfer it across. (There are other conditions under which you can transfer but the first one seems to cover the case in point.)

My own research (briefly on ebay - thank you anallawalla) indicates that there is a market (dubious how valuable it is) in online "concepts" (marketing ideas) and you bring a name to it.

Also, there are established businesses with a domain name.

Given this, I guess a likely source for purchase of established dotcomdotau websites is someone who sells businesses (either indivually or as a broker etc).