Run It Like You’ll Sell It (Even If You Won’t

Most Amazon sellers wait too long to think about selling. By the time they’re ready, the business isn’t.

Let’s fix that. Starting today.

📖 Real Story: My Buddy Dan Almost Missed His Payday

I’ve got a buddy—let’s call him Dan.

Dan started his Amazon business flipping garlic presses from Alibaba (yeah, we’ve all been there 😅). Fast-forward three years: he’d scaled to 6 figures and was tired. Burnt out. Ready to cash in and coast for a bit.

Problem?

His books were a mess. His branding was scattered. His supplier still had his logo spelled wrong on half the packaging (true story: Galric Pro Master).

So when he finally got an offer from a broker, it was a lot lower than he expected.

Why? Because buyers don’t buy potential. They buy clean systems, solid profits, and hands-off operations.

Dan could’ve sold for double… if he’d prepped 12 months earlier.

🔢 Here’s How You Get “Exit Ready”—Even If You’re Not Selling Yet

Think of your Amazon biz like a house.

You wouldn’t sell a house with holes in the walls, missing receipts, and a raccoon living in the attic. Same goes for your business.

Here’s what to fix NOW so you're ready LATER 👇

1. 🔍 Clean Financials

This is non-negotiable. No more “Amazon's got all the numbers.”
You need:

• A clean P&L (Profit & Loss) by product

• 12–24 months of bookkeeping

• Clear addbacks (like one-time ad promos or photoshoots)

👉 Tip: Use a bookkeeper who understands ecommerce. Not your cousin who “likes spreadsheets.”

2. 🧱 Brand Assets That Matter

Your Amazon listing is just the tip. Buyers want:

• Trademark (go file that thing if you haven’t yet)

• Brand Registry

• Logo, lifestyle photos, and ideally—your own DTC site

👉 Bonus points if you’ve got an email list or engaged socials. That’s gold to a buyer.

3. 🚚 Reliable Suppliers and SOPs

Buyers want plug-and-play, not figure-it-out.

You need:

• Supplier contracts (with pricing locked for 6–12 months)

• A second supplier if you can swing it

• SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for inventory, shipping, customer service

👉 Put yourself out of a job—and you become WAY more valuable.

4. 💰 Diverse Traffic and Sales Channels

Relying on just Amazon? Risky.

To bump valuation:

• Have at least one other channel (Shopify, Walmart, even Etsy counts)

• Run basic email flows if you have customer emails

• Build a little influencer or affiliate love

👉 You don’t need to be everywhere. Just show a buyer you could be.

5. 📆 Plan Your Exit 12–18 Months Out

Most sellers wait until they’re exhausted. Bad move.

Instead, plan your sale:

• At least one year before burnout

• When sales are steady or trending up

• When you’re emotionally ready to walk away

👉 You want to sell on the way UP, not down.

🎯 The Big Takeaway?

Even if you’re not selling tomorrow, start operating like you ARE.

Because when that email lands from a buyer—or you hit the “I’m done” wall—you’ll be grateful you laid the groundwork.

💬 “Run it like you’ll sell it, even if you never do.”

(I say this to every coaching client, and they roll their eyes… until they see the check.)

🙋‍♂️ So let me ask you…

Are you building a business you could sell tomorrow? Or just a job you can’t quit?

Start small:

• Get your books clean

• Organize your brand files

• And write ONE SOP this week

Future-you will want to high-five present-you. 👊

Until next time—keep stacking that value.

Andy Splichal
Founder & Managing Partner of True Online Presence & Author of the Make Each Click Count Book Series

P.S. You’ve got products to sell and a business to scale. If PPC feels like a second job (or a black hole for your budget), let me handle it. I’ve scaled dozens of FBA brands profitably. 💬 Book a quick discovery call — I’ll show you what’s possible.