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What Pre-Revenue Businesses Are Allowed on Acquire (And Which Ones Aren’t)

Setting Expectations Clearly: 

What Pre-Revenue Businesses Are Allowed on Acquire?

Pre-revenue businesses are allowed on Acquire — but only in specific categories.

If your startup has not generated revenue yet, it must be:

  • A functional SaaS or AI product.

Pre-revenue e-commerce brands, marketplaces, agencies, service businesses, content sites, and idea-stage projects are not accepted.

This guide explains what qualifies — and what does not.

What “Pre-Revenue” Means

On Acquire, “pre-revenue” typically refers to businesses generating between $0–$500 in trailing twelve-month revenue.

Revenue alone does not determine approval.

Instead, we evaluate:

  • Is the product live and functional?

  • Is it a real SaaS or AI application?

  • Is it transferable?

  • Does it solve a defined problem for a defined customer?

  • Would a buyer feel confident taking it over?

If the answer is yes, and it’s SaaS or AI — you may qualify.

If not, it will not be approved.

What Is Allowed

✅ Pre-Revenue SaaS

Pre-revenue SaaS businesses are allowed when they are complete and usable.

That means:

  • The website is live

  • Users can sign up and log in

  • Core features work

  • The product is deployed publicly

  • There are no placeholder pages

  • All assets are transferable

A buyer must be able to log in and clearly understand what they are acquiring.

If your SaaS product feels real and operational — even without revenue — it may qualify.

✅ Pre-Revenue AI Products

AI startups are allowed — but only when they are specific and differentiated.

Strong examples:

  • AI compliance assistant for fintech startups

  • AI onboarding tool built for HR teams

  • AI proposal generator for HVAC contractors

Weak examples:

  • “AI content generator for everyone”

  • Generic GPT wrapper with no niche

  • White-labeled AI tools with only a logo change

The key question is:

Does this solve a specific problem for a specific user?

If it’s broad, vague, or indistinguishable from dozens of similar tools, it likely won’t qualify.

What Is NOT Allowed (Without Revenue)

Only SaaS and AI businesses are eligible at the pre-revenue stage.

The following are not accepted without revenue:

❌ E-commerce Brands

Shopify stores, dropshipping brands, Amazon FBA, print-on-demand, and other product-based businesses must have revenue before listing.

❌ Marketplaces

Two-sided marketplaces require proof of demand and transactions. Pre-revenue marketplace concepts are not accepted.

❌ Agencies & Service Businesses

Consulting firms, marketing agencies, development shops, and freelance businesses must demonstrate revenue before listing.

❌ Content Sites & Media Projects

Blogs, newsletters, directories, and communities must show monetization before qualifying.

❌ “Coming Soon” Pages

If your site only collects emails and has no working product, it will not be approved.

❌ Idea-Stage Projects

Figma designs, wireframes, GitHub repos without live deployment, or concepts seeking funding are not eligible.

Additional Requirements

Even for SaaS and AI, the product must be:

  • Fully functional

  • Publicly accessible

  • Transferable

  • Clearly positioned

  • Realistically priced

Pre-revenue software businesses are early-stage assets. Most successful listings in this category are priced conservatively, often under $25,000.

Unrealistic pricing or incomplete products reduce approval likelihood.

The Bottom Line

Pre-revenue does not mean idea-stage.

It means you’ve built a real, working SaaS or AI product — even if revenue hasn’t started yet.

If your business is:

  • Functional

  • Differentiated

  • Transferable

  • Clearly positioned

If your business is SaaS or AI, you may qualify — but approval is not automatic.

Simply being a SaaS or AI product does not guarantee acceptance. The product must be functional, differentiated, transferable, and thoughtfully built.

Your likelihood of approval increases significantly if you include a product walkthrough or demo video with your listing. Showing the software in action — including the workflow, dashboard, and core features — helps demonstrate legitimacy, completeness, and overall quality.If it’s anything else, you’ll need revenue before listing.

When buyers (and reviewers) can clearly see the product working, confidence increases.