Price band
Startups between $5k and $25k
More mature listings, often with paying users and clear monthly economics. The middle of the market.
2 listings · Updated continuously
About this collection
Startups between $5k and $25k land in a specific band of the market. The founder usually built fast, hit a wall they did not have time to push through, and would rather hand the project to someone with momentum than watch it rot in a private repo.
At this price you are inheriting a working codebase. Most listings include a live deploy, the domain, and any database that runs the app. Some include early users. The exact bundle is described on each listing.
You email the founder directly. They confirm what is included. You agree on terms. Most deals close in two or three threads. We never touch the transaction itself.
Current listings
Browse all projects →
Before you buy
What to look for
The five checks that separate a great listing from a regret. Run through them before any wire transfer goes out.
- 01
Confirm what is in the bundle
Repo, domain, hosting accounts, customer data, mailing list. The exact set varies. Get it in writing before paying.
- 02
Verify the deploy URL works
A live, functioning deploy is the strongest signal that the asking price is fair. If it is broken, the founder should explain why.
- 03
Check the monthly running costs
Vercel, Supabase, AI API spend. Listings disclose monthly burn but always cross check. A $400 project that costs $80 a month to run is a different deal.
- 04
Ask about real user activity
User count, last 30 day active users, paying customers if any. Founders are usually candid. Vague answers are a flag.
- 05
Read the why-I-stopped section
The founder note often tells you more than the rest of the listing. "I lost interest" is fine. "I had a falling out with my cofounder" is a story you should hear in full.
After you buy
How to take it over
The hardest middle is already done. Four steps to turn a dormant repo into something live again.
- Step 01
Lock the deal in writing
Asset purchase agreement covers what is in scope. Free templates from Stripe Atlas and Clerky work for sub-$10k deals.
- Step 02
Transfer assets in one session
Repo, domain, hosting, customer accounts, mailing list, API keys. Block off ninety minutes with the founder, run through the checklist, and confirm each transfer in real time.
- Step 03
Run it locally before going live
Once the repo is yours, get it running on your machine and confirm nothing depended on the founder's secrets that did not transfer.
- Step 04
Pick a launch target inside two weeks
Most stalled projects launch from this point in well under a month. Treat the purchase as the start of the sprint, not the end of one.
FAQ
Common questions
- What can I actually get in this price range?
- Working code, a deploy URL, and a domain in almost every case. Sometimes early users, occasionally paying customers, often a mailing list. The exact bundle is on each listing. startups between $5k and $25k cluster around founders who built fast, hit a wall, and would rather sell than let the project rot.
- Why are these so cheap compared to the cost to build?
- Two reasons. First, the founder has decided the project is not worth their time, so any sale beats no sale. Second, AI made building fast, so replacement cost is much lower than it used to be. The price reflects time saved for the buyer, not effort spent by the seller.
- Does the price include the domain and the hosting?
- Usually yes. Most founders bundle the repo, domain, and hosting account into the sale. Confirm in writing before paying. Listings that exclude the domain typically say so in the founder note.
- Are there hidden ongoing costs after I buy?
- Almost always some. Hosting, domain renewal, third-party APIs, AI usage. Listings disclose monthly burn but cross check yourself. A $1,000 project that costs $200 a month to run is a different decision than one that costs $20.
- Can I negotiate the price?
- Yes. Every deal is between you and the founder, with no broker in the middle. Most founders will move on price if you can close fast or take additional risk off their plate. Some will not. Asking respectfully costs nothing.
- How do I pay safely for a small startup?
- For deals under a thousand dollars, most use Stripe or Wise directly. For larger deals, Escrow.com is the common choice. Failedups does not handle the transaction. We recommend a written agreement covering what is being transferred for any deal over $5,000.
Selling a small startup?
If your project would land in this price band, list it free. Most close between $300 and $5,000 in two or three email threads.
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