Website flipping is an exciting and lucrative side hustle for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make some money on the side. Ever thought about flipping websites? You probably think its way too much hassle for so little money right? This couldn’t be further from the truth. Some websites just require little improvement and just a ‘shine around the edges’ and can be flipped for thousands more.
You find websites that need a little love, fix them up—whether that’s improving the design, SEO, or how they make money—and then sell them for more than you paid. Sounds pretty cool, right? Whether you want a side gig or some steady income, website flipping can be a great option. Plus, platforms like Flippa make it easy for anyone to jump in, even if you’re just starting out.
Here’s what you need to know to take the plunge and make it work.
Wait, What is Website Flipping?
Okay, so website flipping is exactly what it sounds like. You buy websites that aren’t doing so hot, make them better, and sell them for a profit. It could be a small blog, an affiliate site, or even a little e-commerce store. The trick is finding sites with potential—ones that are decent but could use better SEO or maybe a more streamlined design.
For example, think of flipping blogs for profit – maybe the person running it doesn’t know much about monetising or is just tired of running the thing. You swoop in, make some changes, and increase its value. The goal? Buy low, improve, sell high.
Lets address a key question you probably have:
Don’t I need to be able to code to do this?
Honestly, having the ability to code or at least understand code will help this side hustle, however the majority of websites sold on Flippa are made through platforms such as WordPress or Shopify. These platforms make it so very limited coding knowledge is needed – if you have a keen eye for design, you can easily change a Shopify template to more suit a websites needs.
Although improving SEO doesn’t require any coding knowledge, it will require a foundation understanding of what SEO is, how to identify keywords to target and increase search engine results. Depending on the niche, this often isn’t as hard as it sounds. Tailoring blog posts towards certain keywords for example might boost page ranking significantly. It might seem very technical, and from a top level I guess it is, however anyone IT savvy can pick it up with some little work.
Why Would Anyone Pay for a Website?
It’s a fair question. Why buy a website when you can build one yourself? Well, building something from scratch takes time, and not everyone wants to wait months—or years—for traffic and income to roll in. Buying an established site is way easier and faster.
For you, flipping is all about spotting a hidden gem. Platforms like Flippa have tons of undervalued sites just waiting for someone with an eye for what’s possible. There might even be websites being poorly advertised on Flippa – for example a site ad could just show some basic pictures and not correctly advertise the traffic and income potential of the site, however, with a few tweaks of purely the ad it could be looking miles better, with yourself picking up a hefty profit for just changing some pictures and description…
How to Start Flipping Websites
Step 1: Find Undervalued Websites
First things first, you need something to flip. Flippa is a great place to hunt for blogs, affiliate sites, or small stores. Use the search filters to find websites in your budget or niche.
When you’re evaluating sites, look for:
- Traffic: Steady numbers are always a plus. Tools like Google Analytics can help you verify that data.
- Monetisation potential: Sites with little or no income streams leave room for you to add stuff like ads.
- Aged domains: Older domains often perform better on Google.
- Easy wins: Does the site have poor design or bad SEO? Those are fixable problems that can boost its value fast.
Look up keywords like “Flippa websites for sale” or “buy undervalued websites” to track down options with hidden value.
Step 2: Buy the Site
Found something you like? Great. Now it’s time to make a move—but not without doing your homework first.
- Ask for proof. Check the site’s analytics, income reports, and SEO status before handing over any cash.
- Haggle a little. A lot of sellers are open to offers, so don’t be afraid to negotiate.
And hey, is the website in a niche with rising interest? Is this a website you could see an interest for? Pick something trending on social media at the time – people love trying to make quick cash off trending topics and will resort to buying websites to quickly do this, take advantage of this fact. If you see buzz around certain keywords in that niche, you’ve got confirmation that it’s a smart investment.
Step 3: Make It Better
This is where the magic happens. You’ve bought a site; now it needs some TLC to bring in that extra cash.
Spruce Up the Design
A fresh, clean design can make a big difference. Update the layouts, add some graphics, maybe tweak the colour scheme. Make sure it’s mobile-friendly too—otherwise, you’re missing out on a ton of traffic.
Boost Its SEO
- Add strong keywords that resonate with the niche and are trending to your headings and content.
- Rewrite the meta titles and descriptions to make the site more clickable.
- Get quality backlinks to boost its rankings.
Monetise Like a Pro
- Add affiliate links for passive income. Sites like Amazon Associates are easy to get started with.
- Use Google AdSense to pop in some ads and make money from clicks.
- Sell digital products, like eBooks or courses, to create an extra income stream.
These changes not only make your website better—they make it more attractive to potential buyers. If you can get a website earning even $2 a month, this shows to buyers that growth potential is there.
Step 4: Track Your Progress
Buyers love seeing results. Track everything you’ve fixed—traffic growth, revenue increases, faster loading speeds. All of it. Tools like Google Analytics or SEMrush will show measurable changes, which help justify your asking price.
Step 5: Sell for a Profit
By now, your revamped website should be ready to sell. Platforms like Flippa are full of buyers looking for established websites. Write a detailed listing, showing off everything you’ve improved.
Pro tip? Use clear, catchy titles like “Affiliate Blog with Monthly Revenue” or “E-commerce Store in Top Niche.” Buyers are way more likely to click on listings that immediately show value.
Websites usually sell for 20–40x their monthly revenue. A site making £500 per month could go for £10k–£20k, so price it wisely.
The website not having revenue is not a deal breaker! This is all about how you market the website – think about putting something on eBay for sale – want to make that old sofa seem like it’s made out of gold right? Well you do the same for these websites. Good pictures and just as importantly, pictures that give the potential of the site and what a new owner could be doing with it.
Step 6: Close the Deal
Once you’ve got offers rolling in, close the sale carefully. Be upfront about the site’s strengths and weaknesses. Use Flippa’s escrow service to make sure the payment is secure for both parties.
How Much Can You Really Make?
Honestly, it depends on the site and how much work you put in. Say you buy a site for £2,000 and work on it for a couple of months, improving traffic and revenue. You could easily sell it for £10,000 or more. That’s an £8,000 profit for part-time work.
Do I need thousands as startup? NO! You can even buy website for as little as £100. Same principle at play: buy low, improve, sell high.
Now imagine doing that a few times a year. Not bad, right?
Wrapping It Up
Website flipping isn’t just for tech experts or coders—you don’t need to be a genius with computers to make it work. You just need to learn what to look for, make the right improvements, and take advantage of platforms like Flippa.
Start simple. Buy undervalued websites, boost their SEO, fix up the design, and add better ways to make money. Before you know it, you’ll be flipping websites for profit and enjoying a real income stream.
Why wait? Head to Flippa and check out your first opportunity. You might just find the perfect site to start flipping today.
