Valuation and fees
Mobile app broker: what they do, what they charge, and whether you need one
Short answer
A mobile app broker sells your app for you: it vets the app, prepares the listing, markets it to its buyers and runs negotiation and closing, for a commission of up to about 15%. Empire Flippers charges 15% with a $10,000 minimum. A broker tends to pay off for large, complex businesses that want a managed auction; for a profitable app, from $10K to $1M+, a direct buyer charges no commission at all.
Disclosure: I’m a direct buyer, not a broker, so selling to me is one of the alternatives covered here. Fees are from each firm’s own pages, checked September 2026.
Thinking of selling? Send me the store link and rough numbers; I usually reply within a few hours, with no fees for you. Send me your app
What does a mobile app broker do?
A mobile app broker runs the sale of your app on your behalf, from valuation to closing. The work usually includes:
- Vetting: checking your revenue, traffic and App Store history before they’ll list you.
- Valuation and listing: setting an asking price and writing the listing or sales memo.
- Marketing: putting the app in front of their buyer list, usually with details behind an NDA.
- Negotiation and closing: handling offers, due diligence questions, escrow and the handover.
The difference from a marketplace like Flippa is who does the work: on a marketplace you list and negotiate yourself; with a broker, they do it for a larger fee. For the full picture of routes, see where to sell my app.
Which brokers handle mobile app sales?
The best-known names that handle app sales are Empire Flippers, FE International and App Business Brokers.
| Firm | What it is | Published seller fees |
|---|---|---|
| Empire Flippers | Broker / curated marketplace for online businesses, including apps | $10,000 flat up to ~$66,667; 15% to $700K; lower above |
| FE International | M&A advisor for larger online businesses | Not published; its guide says advisors charge “up to 15%” |
| App Business Brokers | M&A advisor focused on mobile app and software businesses | Not published on its site |
Checked September 2026. If a firm doesn’t publish its fees, ask for the full fee schedule in writing before you sign anything.
How much do mobile app brokers charge?
Up to about 15% of the sale price, usually with a minimum fee. Empire Flippers publishes the clearest schedule:
| Sale price | Empire Flippers commission |
|---|---|
| Up to ~$66,667 | $10,000 flat |
| ~$66,667–$700,000 | 15% of the sale price |
| $700,000–$5M | 8% on the amount above $700,000 |
| Above $5M | 2.5% on the amount above $5M |
Source: Empire Flippers commission calculator, checked September 2026. What that means next to a direct sale: Empire Flippers vs selling directly.
For comparison, marketplaces take roughly 6–10%: Acquire.com charges 6–8% plus a monthly fee and Microns 6–10%. Across routes that’s about 6–15% (marketplaces roughly 6–10%, brokers up to 15%). Side-by-side numbers, including Flippa: Flippa fees vs Empire Flippers and Acquire.com.
What are the minimums?
The clearest minimum is a fee floor: Empire Flippers charges at least $10,000 per sale. That’s 25% of a $40,000 sale and 40% of a $25,000 one, which in practice keeps most small apps away from brokers. FE International and App Business Brokers don’t publish minimum deal sizes, so ask before you apply.
If your app is small, a marketplace like Microns, which accepts profitable projects at least 5 months old (Microns), or a direct buyer usually makes more sense. See Flippa alternatives for the options by size.
Do I need a broker to sell my app?
No. You can list the app on a marketplace yourself, or sell your app without a broker to a direct buyer. A broker earns its fee when the deal is complex (several products, a team, web assets alongside the app) or you want someone else to run a competitive auction. For a profitable iOS app, from $10K to $1M+, selling directly means no commission comes out of the price.
I’m one of those direct buyers: deals from $10K to $1M+, no seller fees, and a typical deal closes in about 14 days, everything included. I mainly buy iOS apps, and I’m open to Android apps when the fit is right. I don’t buy games, SaaS, or web-only products. I look for apps that have been live for at least 6 months with steady revenue. Other options are in companies that buy apps.
How do I choose the best mobile app broker?
Pick the one with relevant app deals, a clear written fee schedule, and a process you can live with. Questions worth asking:
- Have you sold apps like mine? Ask for examples in your category and size range, not just “online businesses”.
- What exactly will I pay? Commission, minimum fee, listing or vetting fees, and whether anything is due if the app doesn’t sell.
- Is there an exclusivity period? How long, and can you still accept an offer from a buyer you found yourself?
- How is confidentiality handled? What is public, and what sits behind an NDA?
- How are payment and transfer handled? Expect escrow and Apple’s official app transfer, never a shared developer account login.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a mobile app broker and a marketplace?
A marketplace such as Flippa or Acquire.com lets you list and negotiate yourself for roughly 6–10% plus listing or monthly fees. A broker vets, markets and negotiates for you, for up to about 15% and usually a minimum fee.
How long does a broker take to sell an app?
Longer than a direct sale, because vetting and marketing happen before buyers even see the listing. Brokers don’t publish a standard timeline, so ask for their recent averages for apps of your size.
Is a mobile app broker worth it for a small app?
Rarely. With a fee floor like Empire Flippers’ $10,000, the commission can take a quarter or more of a small sale. A marketplace for small projects or a direct buyer usually leaves you with more.
Can I sell my app without a broker?
Yes. You can list it on a marketplace yourself, or sell it directly to a buyer. I buy iOS apps directly, and Android apps when the fit is right, in deals from $10K to $1M+: no listing fee or commission, NDA on request, escrow for payment, and about 14 days from first message to a closed deal.