TrustMRR started as a public leaderboard of startup revenue and grew into a marketplace for buying and selling SaaS, mobile apps and other digital businesses. Its big difference is proof. Revenue isn’t typed in by the founder; it’s read directly from the startup’s payment provider. For buyers tired of fake screenshots, and sellers who want to be believed quickly, that changes the conversation.
At a glance
| What it is | A verified revenue database and startup marketplace |
| How you earn | Selling a startup you built, or buying and growing one |
| Listing for sale | Paid tiers from $29 |
| Platform fee | 3% on acquisitions, plus Escrow.com fees |
| Who it’s for | Indie founders, micro SaaS owners and small acquirers |
| Where it works | Online, worldwide |
How verification works
Founders connect a payment provider, and TrustMRR reads revenue from it, usually with read-only access. Supported providers include Stripe, LemonSqueezy, Polar, Paddle, RevenueCat, the App Store, Shopify, Whop and others. Each startup page shows its verified revenue and which provider it comes from. TrustMRR notes that its figures can differ from a provider’s own dashboard, so treat them as strong evidence, not an audited statement.
Selling on TrustMRR
Adding a startup to the database is free. To list it for sale, you click Sell startup on the marketplace, or switch your startup to On sale in your dashboard, then set an asking price and your 30-day profit margin. You can add a message for buyers and a contact email. Listing tiers decide how visible you are: Starter at $29 for a basic marketplace listing, Growth at $199 with more visibility and newsletter exposure, and Scale at $499 with the most visibility, buyer matching and top placement for 30 days.
Fees and escrow
TrustMRR charges a 3% marketplace fee on acquisitions. Payment runs through Escrow.com once the asset purchase agreement is signed: the buyer funds the transaction, assets are transferred, then funds are released to the seller. Escrow fees are split equally between buyer and seller, and only single lump-sum payments are supported. Check TrustMRR’s fees page for how the 3% is applied before you list.
Buying on TrustMRR
Browsing listings and making offers doesn’t require an account. Buyers who want early notice of new deals can pay for alerts, listed at $199 a year. Each listing shows asking price, revenue multiple, profit margin and buyer activity, and there’s a free iPhone app for browsing on the go. By TrustMRR’s own count, the site has thousands of startups for sale and more than 10,000 buyers.
What verification doesn’t tell you
Verified revenue is a great start, but it isn’t the whole picture. It doesn’t confirm profit, churn, customer concentration, how many hours the founder works or whether growth comes from one fragile channel. Small startups also have volatile revenue, so a strong month can mislead. Buyers still need to check costs, code, hosting, traffic sources and what transfers with the sale.
Pricing your startup
Look at comparable listings: TrustMRR shows multiples openly, which makes benchmarking easier than on most marketplaces. Price on profit and stability, not just revenue. A startup with steady revenue, low churn and little founder involvement can ask a higher multiple than one that depends on launches or on you.
Getting started
Connect your payment provider and let your startup appear in the database, even before you sell, since verified numbers build credibility. When you’re ready, choose a listing tier based on how fast you want buyer attention. If you’re buying, set your budget and criteria, and use the open data to compare deals before making offers.
Owen’s take
TrustMRR fixes the biggest problem in small acquisitions: you can’t trust the numbers. A 3% fee is low compared with most marketplaces, and paid tiers are cheap. I’d list any small SaaS with real revenue here first. Just remember that verified revenue is a floor for due diligence, not the end of it.
Who it suits
It suits founders of small SaaS and apps with revenue through a supported payment provider, and buyers who want verified numbers. It suits less well pre-revenue projects or businesses paid outside those providers.
Similar options
- Acquire.com is a managed marketplace for SaaS and startups.
- Microns focuses on micro startups and side projects.
- Flippa is the largest open marketplace for online assets.
- SideProjectors is a free board for selling small projects.
More options are in Business Marketplaces.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Revenue verified through payment providers
- Low 3% platform fee
- Open data on asking prices and multiples
Cons
- Needs revenue through a supported provider
- Verification doesn’t cover profit or churn
- Paid tiers needed to list for sale
FAQ
How does TrustMRR verify revenue?
It reads revenue directly from connected payment providers such as Stripe, LemonSqueezy, Paddle, RevenueCat and the App Store.
How much does it cost to sell on TrustMRR?
Listing tiers start at $29, and TrustMRR charges a 3% marketplace fee on acquisitions, plus half of the Escrow.com fees.
Is TrustMRR free for buyers?
Browsing and making offers is free. Deal alerts cost $199 a year.
Can I list a startup without selling it?
Yes. Adding a startup to the verified revenue database is free.
Does verified revenue mean the business is profitable?
No. It confirms revenue, not costs, churn or workload, so buyers still need full due diligence.
