Listing teardown · Ecommerce
Teardown: $398.7K Per Month Amazon FBM Business in the Food & Beverages Niche (Empire Flippers #88534)
Short answer: a first-pass read of a live public listing, asking $354,763: 3 red, 5 yellow and 3 green flags from the checker's rules. Every figure comes from the public listing page; nothing here has been verified with the seller.
How to read this. Flags are questions to answer, not findings. A red flag means the listing's own figures or text need an explanation before you spend money on diligence; it does not mean anything is wrong. Sellers often have good answers. Listing details can change after the date above.
Snapshot (as listed)
| Asking price | $354,763 |
|---|---|
| Stated multiple | 1.8× annual SDE |
| Average monthly revenue / profit | $398,667 / $16,424 |
| Latest month revenue / profit | $225,194 / -$14,150 |
| Payback (ask ÷ monthly profit) | 21.6 months on the average |
| Reported margin | 4% |
| Age | about 65 months |
| Monetization | Amazon FBM, Amazon FBA, Other |
| Owner hours (seller-stated) | 40 a week |
| Top traffic channels | n/a |
Red flags
- Recent profit below the period average (-164%). Last-3-month average profit $-10,574 vs 12-month average $16,424. If the lower level persists, payback at the asking price is longer than the 12-month average suggests.
- To verify: the latest month shows a loss while 12-month profit is positive. TTM profit $197,090.
- Marketplace-reported revenue trend -32%. Profit trend -54%.
Yellow flags
- Volatile monthly profit (CV 1.28). Monthly profit ranged $-14,936–$45,983.
- Platforms the listing relies on or mentions: Amazon. Ask how much revenue and traffic depends on each, and whether there has been any past policy or algorithm impact.
- Seller reports 40 hrs/week. Above the checker's default limit of 10 hours a week.
- Customer/revenue concentration not disclosed.
- Generic reason for sale. The Sellers wish to explore other opportunities.
Green flags
- The listing shows connected data providers: Amazon Seller Central. These reduce, but do not remove, the need to reconcile figures to bank deposits.
- About 65 months of operating history (first revenue 2021-05, per the listing).
- Post-sale support is offered: Sellers are open to continuing to work at the business post-sale to ensure a smooth transition.
Context
- Asking multiple 1.80× is below the typical range. EF for-sale asking multiples (2026-10-06) for Amazon FBA: p25 2.21×, median 2.6×.
Questions to ask the seller
- What drove the last 3 months below the 12-month average, and what do month-to-date numbers show?
- Why was last month break-even or loss-making?
- What is causing the year-over-year decline and what has been tried?
- Explain the low months (refunds, annual-plan timing, one-off costs?).
- What would happen to revenue if Amazon changed its policy/API tomorrow? Any past incidents?
- What share of revenue comes from the top 1 and top 3 customers (or traffic/affiliate partners)?
- Why sell now, and what would you do with the business if it doesn't sell?
- Provide a month-by-month P&L for the last 24 months with every cost line.
- What exactly transfers (domains, code, accounts, trademarks, email lists, contractor relationships)?
What to verify
- Store and payment-processor reports (Shopify/WooCommerce, Stripe, PayPal, marketplaces) reconciled to bank deposits
- Landed cost per SKU, ad spend and refunds month by month, so the margin can be rebuilt
- Inventory on hand, its valuation and whether it is included in the price
- Supplier, 3PL and contractor agreements and whether they are assignable
- Ad-account history (CPA, ROAS) and analytics by channel for the listing's 12 months
- Trademark, domain and marketplace-account transfer requirements
Payback at the asking price: 21.6 months on the stated average profit, 27.0 months if profit is 20% lower, 36.0 months if 40% lower. This is arithmetic on the listing's figures, not a valuation or a bid suggestion.
Seller statements to check against evidence
Quoted from the listing. Each is a reasonable thing for a seller to say and worth confirming with documents.
- “However, one of the company deirectors is assisting with financial preparation and has expressed strong interest in remaining involved with the business post-acquisition, providing potential continuity and transition support for a buyer.”
Sources
- Empire Flippers listing #88534, public listing data read 13 October 2026.
- FirstPass red-flag rules, the 33 published rules used for the flags above.
Related
FirstPass Memo is independent and buyer-paid. Not affiliated with, paid by or endorsed by Empire Flippers or the seller. Informational screening only, not investment, legal, tax or valuation advice, and not an audit. Figures are the seller's and marketplace's, as listed on the date above. If you are the seller or broker and something here is out of date, email hello@firstpassmemo.com and we will correct it.