Buy or Sell a 3PL Business With Industry Experts

Buying or selling a 3PL business takes planning, whether it’s figuring out the right price, handling contracts, or negotiating terms. The best approach depends on what trade-offs you’re willing to make, along with your experience, resources, and how involved you want to be.

• Do-It-Yourself (DIY): Handling the sale or purchase yourself means managing everything, including valuations, contracts, and negotiations without outside help. This works best for those familiar with business transactions, since you’ll need to go through financial records, customer agreements, and risks on your own.
• Business Brokers: Brokers help match buyers and sellers, structure deals, and manage negotiations. But most are NOT experts in third party logistics, which can lead to weaker terms. Sellers should have clear financial records and contracts ready, while buyers need to assess revenue consistency, and any risks tied to the business’s operations.
• Business Sale Marketplaces: Platforms like BizBuySell.com, WebsiteClosers.com, and FE International put buyers and sellers in front of more options. While these sites expand your reach, both sides still need to vet deals, confirm financial details, and lock in agreements.
• Industry-Specific Networks: Sites like WarehousingAndFulfillment.com connect sellers with buyers who actually understand 3PL logistics. These networks can speed up deals and lead to better pricing, but both parties still need to check that everything adds up before signing off.

Why Choose WarehousingAndFulfillment.com?

WarehousingAndFulfillment.com helps people buy and sell 3PL businesses without wasting time on the wrong buyers or sellers. Here’s what makes us different:

• Serious buyers and sellers. Our network includes over 500+ 3PL, fulfillment, and warehousing companies actively looking for deals.
• Better deals. Serious buyers understand 3PL operations, making them more likely to offer competitive prices. Sellers get matched with buyers who see the business’s value beyond just the balance sheet.
• Faster sales. On average, deals close in 2.5 months, much quicker than traditional brokers.
• Real experience. We’ve helped sell 12 warehouses and are currently handling deals in Washington, New Jersey, and Tampa.

How It Works

We connect buyers and sellers while keeping the process simple:

1. Business details. We gather key information about the business.
2. Buyer-seller matchmaking. We send the opportunity to our network and start generating interest.
3. NDAs and initial interest. Within an hour, we typically receive 30 to 40 NDAs from serious buyers.
4. Meetings and site visits. Sellers review potential buyers, while buyers evaluate listings and arrange meetings.
5. Negotiation and offers. Both sides structure a fair deal and finalize terms.
6. Closing. Buyers confirm everything checks out, and the paperwork gets wrapped up.

Trust and Transparency in Our Payment Structure

For those working with a business broker or choosing to buy or sell independently, we charge a negotiated fee to present your deal to our network and secure NDAs from interested parties. If you need assistance in selecting a business broker, we partner with experienced affiliates who have successfully completed 3PL transactions. Contact us to learn more.

How 3PL Businesses Are Valued

3PL businesses are typically valued based on EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) plus any owner-related expenses added back in. Here’s a rough estimate:

What Matters Most in a 3PL Business Deal

• Revenue stability. Buyers look for consistent earnings, not unpredictable cash flow. Strong financial records and long-term contracts make a business more appealing.
• Asset ownership vs. leasing. Whether a business owns its warehouses, trucks, or equipment—or leases them—affects valuation and deal structure.
• Operational independence. A business that runs smoothly without heavy owner involvement is more attractive to buyers. Well-documented processes and reliable staff make transitions easier.
• Scalability and growth potential. Buyers often consider how easily they can expand or integrate the business into their existing operations.
• Proprietary Tech. Any custom-built technology (e.g. warehouse mangement software, etc.) can increase the value of the business.
• Reason for sale. Buyers want to know why the business is being sold—whether it’s a planned exit, financial struggles, or an opportunity for expansion.

If you’re selling:

• Have your financials ready and accurate. Buyers will want clear records of revenue, expenses, and profitability.
• Secure long-term contracts with customers if possible. Agreements that extend beyond the sale give buyers confidence in stable revenue.
• Document how the business runs so it’s easier for the buyer to step in. A business with clear processes is more attractive and easier to transition.
• If the business relies too much on you, start shifting responsibilities to your team. Buyers prefer businesses that don’t fall apart when the owner steps away.
• Be selective—buyers who know the industry will usually offer better terms. They recognize the value of established operations and are less likely to lowball.

If you’re buying:

• Dig into the numbers and look for anything that doesn’t add up. Sudden revenue spikes, unverified expenses, or inconsistent margins can be red flags.
• Check if customer relationships are solid or if they could disappear post-sale. Long-term contracts and high retention rates indicate stability.
• Assess daily operations and figure out what needs fixing. Some inefficiencies are easy to improve, while others might require costly changes.
• Consider how easily you can combine the business with your existing setup. A smooth integration means faster profitability.
• Focus on actual revenue and costs, not just future projections. A business should be worth what it earns today, not what the seller hopes it will make later.

Ready to Buy or Sell?

Buying or selling a 3PL business doesn’t have to be complicated. The right buyer or seller is out there—you just need the right connections to make the deal happen. Contact WarehousingAndFulfillment.com to get started.

We focus on two core industries:

• 3PL Companies: Includes warehousing, logistics, fulfillment centers, and freight services.
• E-Commerce Businesses: Spanning direct-to-consumer brands, Amazon FBA businesses, dropshipping companies, and niche online retailers.

Last Step

Since 2005 We’ve Been Helping Companies Just Like Yours

Your contact information is held in the strictest of confidence. We will contact you before we connect you with vendors so that we can learn about your situation, obtain any of your contact preferences, and answer any of your questions.

YOU have control over your contact details:

• No unwanted contacts – you control how vendors respond to you
• Remain confidential if you wish
• No commitment to choose any of our vendors
• Ask our Fulfillment experts any questions you have!