TrustExits vs Empire Flippers (2026): Fees, Fit, and Who Should Use Which
Etienne Hurpin, Founder of TrustExits · · 14 min read
Empire Flippers and TrustExits both vet listings. Both attract serious buyers. The difference is what you pay, what gets verified, and who each platform was built for. A $200k Shopify close nets roughly $170,000 after Empire's public ~15% commission band (verify live) versus $184,000 on TrustExits at 8% all-in with Escrow.com included. Same headline price. $14,000 to the seller before tax in that scenario.
I run TrustExits (Luminadeus LLC) for profit-verified ecommerce exits. Empire Flippers is one of the best curated brokers in the space. This is a buying decision page - not a ranking exercise. Empire wins on human vetting, deal size, and mixed-asset portfolios. TrustExits wins on ecommerce-native profit verification and lower all-in seller fees. Verify competitor tiers live before you sign.
On this page
- Quick verdict: TrustExits vs Empire Flippers
- Where Empire Flippers still wins (honestly)
- Where TrustExits wins for ecommerce sellers
- Public fee snapshot (verify live)
- Fee math at $50k and $200k closes
- Worked example: $180k Amazon-plus-Shopify portfolio
- Verification: curated vetting vs profit verified
- Buyer pool, deal size, and close rates
- Timeline, exclusivity, and process
- When Empire Flippers beats TrustExits on net
- When TrustExits beats Empire Flippers on net
- Verdict by seller type
- FAQ: TrustExits vs Empire Flippers
Quick verdict: TrustExits vs Empire Flippers
Pick Empire Flippers when you want a curated broker with human vetting, your asset fits their mix (Amazon FBA, content, SaaS, larger ecommerce), you can accept exclusivity and a vetting queue, and the public ~15% commission (often with ~$10k minimum - verify live) buys you buyer filtering on a $500k+ deal.
Pick TrustExits when you sell a profitable Shopify or DTC store, want profit verified (Shopify/Stripe plus ads and COGS), prefer 8% seller all-in with Escrow.com included and buyers at $0, and your exit sits in the $50k-$500k band where Empire's minimum commission compresses net.
Where Empire Flippers still wins (honestly)
- Curated vetting and brand trust. Empire built reputation on rejecting bad listings before they hit the market. Serious buyers default-search there for vetted assets.
- Higher deal sizes. Empire's sweet spot includes six- and seven-figure exits where $10k minimum commission is noise, not a tax on small deals.
- Mixed portfolios. Amazon FBA plus content plus SaaS in one conversation - Empire's buyer pool understands that mix.
- Human deal support. Listing managers, migration coordination, and broker-side negotiation on larger deals.
- Escrow often bundled. Public materials commonly cite escrow inside broker commission - verify live on your agreement.
- Content and Amazon depth. If your exit is FBA-heavy or content-first, Empire's verification playbooks are mature relative to ecommerce-only startups.
Empire Flippers is not "expensive Flippa." It is a broker with vetting overhead. That overhead earns its keep on the right deal profile.
Where TrustExits wins for ecommerce sellers
- Ecommerce-native profit verification. Shopify/Stripe revenue reconciled with Meta/Google ad spend and COGS to TTM SDE - not revenue badges alone.
- 8% all-in seller fee. Escrow.com included. Minimum $800 standard ($500 founding). Buyers pay $0.
- Founding 5% for first 50 listings. Locked for listing life - material on sub-$200k closes.
- Channel dependency flags. Meta concentration, GMC health, ad account transfer readiness on full dossiers.
- Free estimate at /estimate. Model range before listing commitment.
TrustExits is operated by Luminadeus LLC. We are not trying to replicate Empire's full-service broker model at 15%. We are optimizing for profitable store exits with transparent margin and lower all-in fees.
Public fee snapshot (verify live)
| Item | TrustExits | Empire Flippers (public tiers - verify live) |
|---|---|---|
| Seller commission | 8% all-in (5% founding, first 50 listings) | Often ~15% under $700k; ~$10k minimum commission cited |
| Listing fee | $0 Standard | $0 to list; exclusivity required |
| Escrow | Included in seller commission | Often bundled in commission (verify agreement) |
| Buyer fee | $0 | $0 platform fee commonly cited |
| Verification | Profit verified (revenue + ads + COGS) | Human vetting: revenue, traffic, partial profit review |
Four-way fee comparison: Empire Flippers vs Flippa vs Acquire.com vs TrustExits: Fees Compared. TrustExits canonical pricing: /fees.
Fee math at $50k and $200k closes
Seller-side costs only. Empire rows use public 2026 tiers commonly cited - verify live before you sign.
$50,000 close
| Platform | Commission | Listing | Escrow (seller) | Net to seller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Flippers | $10,000 (~15% = $7,500, $10k min often applies - verify live) | $0 | $0 (typically bundled) | $40,000 |
| TrustExits (8% standard) | $4,000 all-in | $0 | $0 (included) | $46,000 |
| TrustExits (5% founding) | $2,500 all-in | $0 | $0 (included) | $47,500 |
At $50k, Empire's public minimum commission is the story. TrustExits 8% nets $6,000 more to seller in this table. Founding 5% nets $7,500 more.
$200,000 close
| Platform | Commission | Listing | Escrow (seller) | Net to seller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Flippers | $30,000 (~15% public tier under $700k) | $0 | $0 (typically bundled) | $170,000 |
| TrustExits (8% standard) | $16,000 all-in | $0 | $0 (included) | $184,000 |
| TrustExits (5% founding) | $10,000 all-in | $0 | $0 (included) | $190,000 |
At $200k, spread is $14,000 (8% standard) to $20,000 (5% founding) before tax. Empire's vetting and buyer pool may still justify the delta on assets where TrustExits is not the right fit - but run the math for your SDE band first.
Worked example: $180k Amazon-plus-Shopify portfolio
Seller owns one Shopify supplement brand ($95k SDE) and one Amazon FBA SKU line ($42k SDE). Bundled sale at $180k. Two scenarios:
- Empire Flippers (curated): $180k - $27k commission (~15%) = $153,000 net. Strong buyer pool for mixed Amazon plus DTC. Vetting queue 3 weeks. Close in 78 days. Human listing manager through migration.
- TrustExits (Shopify-only slice at $110k): If buyer only wants the Shopify brand, list Shopify at $110k on TrustExits: $110k - $8,800 (8%) = $101,200 net on the store portion. Amazon line listed separately or held. Profit verified on Shopify with ad and COGS reconciliation.
Empire wins when the buyer wants the bundle and broker coordination saves a failed split sale. TrustExits wins when the Shopify asset stands alone with clean profit verification and you want 8% all-in instead of 15% on that slice.
Verification: curated vetting vs profit verified
Empire Flippers runs human vetting: revenue confirmation, traffic review, partial profit checks on vetted listings. Strong for mixed assets and larger deals where a listing manager catches obvious fraud.
TrustExits runs ecommerce-native profit verification: Shopify/Stripe plus ad accounts and COGS reconciled to TTM SDE, with channel dependency flags on full dossiers. Built for stores where margin truth is the deal killer.
Neither replaces your CPA on tax treatment. Both beat open marketplaces on baseline trust. Deep dive: Revenue vs Profit: Why "Revenue Verified" Is Not Enough and /methodology.
Buyer pool, deal size, and close rates
Empire's buyer pool skews toward larger acquisitions, Amazon operators, and portfolio buyers. TrustExits skews toward ecommerce operators buying profit-verified Shopify and DTC stores in the $50k-$500k band.
Empire's minimum commission makes sub-$75k deals economically painful for sellers even when buyers exist. TrustExits is priced for that band. Empire shines when the deal clears $300k+ and broker negotiation adds value.
Timeline, exclusivity, and process
| Phase | Empire Flippers | TrustExits |
|---|---|---|
| Apply to list | Vetting queue (days to weeks) | Profit verification pass (days to 2 weeks) |
| Exclusivity | Typically required | Confirm listing agreement terms |
| First serious offer | 2-6 weeks post-live | 2-5 weeks post-live |
| Close | 60-90 days typical | 45-75 days typical |
Selling guide: How to Sell Your Shopify Store (Complete 2026 Guide).
When Empire Flippers beats TrustExits on net
- $700k+ exits where 15% buys broker negotiation that moves price more than the fee delta.
- Mixed Amazon FBA plus content plus SaaS portfolios where Empire's buyer pool is the asset.
- Sellers who want a dedicated listing manager and will pay for white-glove migration support.
- Content-first or FBA-first assets where Empire's verification playbooks are deeper than ecommerce-only tools.
When TrustExits beats Empire Flippers on net
- Shopify or DTC store in the $50k-$300k close band where Empire's $10k minimum crushes net.
- You want profit verified with ads and COGS, not partial profit review on a generalist vetting pass.
- 8% all-in with escrow included beats 15% on the same clearing price - see tables above.
- Founding 5% slot available (first 50 listings) and you want that rate locked.
- Channel transfer risk needs upfront disclosure before LOI on Meta-heavy stores.
Verdict by seller type
| Seller profile | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify store, $40k-$150k SDE, clean books | TrustExits | 8% all-in vs 15%/$10k min is material net delta. |
| Amazon FBA primary, $200k+ SDE | Empire Flippers | Buyer pool and vetting depth fit FBA exits. |
| Mixed portfolio, $400k+ total | Empire Flippers | Broker coordinates bundle; buyer pool expects it. |
| Content site, SEO-stable | Empire Flippers | Empire's content verification is mature. |
| Meta-heavy Shopify, $80k-$250k SDE | TrustExits | Profit plus channel verification reduces retrade risk at lower fee. |
| $1M+ ecommerce roll-up candidate | Empire or boutique broker | Fee % matters less than buyer access and negotiation. |
Valuation before venue pick: How Much Is My Ecommerce Business Worth? (2026 Guide).
FAQ: TrustExits vs Empire Flippers
Is TrustExits cheaper than Empire Flippers?
On all-in seller net for typical Shopify exits under $700k, yes - 8% vs public ~15% with minimum commission on small deals. Verify live Empire tiers for your exact band.
Does Empire Flippers verify profit for ecommerce?
Empire runs human vetting including partial profit review on vetted listings. TrustExits reconciles Shopify/Stripe with ads and COGS to TTM SDE as standard. Depth differs by asset type.
Can I list on both?
Empire typically requires exclusivity. Do not dual-list without reading both agreements.
What is TrustExits founding 5%?
First 50 listings lock 5% seller all-in (min $500) for the life of the listing. Standard rate is 8% (min $800). Details on /fees.
When does Empire's higher fee pay for itself?
Larger deals, mixed portfolios, and situations where broker negotiation or buyer access moves price more than the commission gap.
Do buyers pay fees on either platform?
TrustExits buyers pay $0. Empire commonly cites $0 buyer platform fee - verify on your deal docs.
Model your net at /fees and /compare.
Related reading & next steps
- Empire Flippers vs Flippa vs Acquire.com vs TrustExits: Fees Compared
- Flippa Alternatives in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
- How Much Is My Ecommerce Business Worth? (2026 Guide)
- Revenue vs Profit: Why "Revenue Verified" Is Not Enough
- How to Sell Your Shopify Store (Complete 2026 Guide)
TrustExits pages worth opening
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