$19M for a Custom Art Biz – Smart Move or Overpay?

In this episode the hosts dissect a $19 million “painting‑on‑demand” e‑commerce business making ~$15 million in sales and ~$3.67 million in earnings, and debate whether the price tag is justified given a crowded market and uncertain moat. Business Listing – https://mailchi.mp/websiteclosers/new-deal-alert-online-art-gallery-ecommerce-brand-handmade-paintings-collection-strong-repeat-order-rate-3600-48-star-reviews2?e=42dc999128 Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them. Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter Connect with us on Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/acquanon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acquanon 👋 Follow the Hosts Michael Girdley – Entrepreneur & investor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/girdley Bill D’Alessandro – CEO of Elements Brands. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillDA Heather Endresen – SBA lending expert & advisor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EndresenHeather Mills Snell – Small business investor & advisor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegeneralmills 💰 Sponsored by: Capital Pad – A platform connecting accredited investors with vetted small business acquisition deals. Discover exclusive opportunities at https://capitalpad.com Tonnesen Accounting Services - Tonnesen provides full quality of earnings reports trusted by buyers, lenders, and brokers on over $500 million in deals each year. Fast, detailed, and affordable. Visit tonnesenaccountingservices.com or connect with Josh Tonnesen on LinkedIn for a free consult. The business under review is a niche e‑commerce company in the custom hand‑painted art space: a made‑to‑order model with no inventory, ~$15 million in revenue (~$14.963 million) and ~$3.67 million earnings, asking price ~$19 million. The owners claim high average order value (~$1,500), ~20% repeat customer rate, ~30% net margins, and growth since 2020. Key Highlights: - Asking Price: ~$19 million for revenue ~$14.96 million and earnings ~$3.67 million. - Business Model: custom hand‑painted art on demand, average order value ~$1,500, ~20% repeat customers, claimed ~30% net margin. - Operational Setup: no inventory, contractor‑based production, D2C Shopify site, paid media + email automation driving growth. - Risks: Extremely crowded market (many “print on demand” or custom art providers), potential rising customer acquisition cost, young business with limited track record. - Strategic Questions: Does it have a compelling moat (exclusive artist network, unique IP, proprietary customer funnel)? Could a larger buyer replicate or disrupt the model? What happens if ad costs or competitor entry escalate?