Chris Guthrie has a decade of experience in building, buying, and selling online businesses across numerous industries. Chris has experience with building and buying content websites monetized via advertising and affiliate marketing, partnering with developers to create a SaaS business as well as creating WordPress plugins and themes, selling physical products on Amazon and more.

Q&A with Chris

What is the #1 mistake people make when selling their website?

Sellers should ideally plan for a sale ahead of when they want to sell their business. Although businesses can be sold when the trends are up, flat or down, the best case is to set realistic expectations and move forward with selling your business when you’re still devoting the energy required keep the business on the track all the way to the close of the sale.

What drew you to make your career online?

A decade ago I worked at a large publicly-traded company in a sales role where I wasn’t passionate about the work that I was doing because I felt like the work I was doing had little impact. Fortunately, I was always working on a side hustle and when my content websites eventually surpassed my day job income back in 2009, I decided to make the leap into full-time internet entrepreneurship. Ever since then, I’ve felt much more connected to the work that I was doing and the impact that work was having whether it was visitors to my content websites, customers of my software products or helping a fellow entrepreneur sell their business.

Did you always know that you were going to be an entrepreneur?

Yes. In the late ’90s at the height of their popularity, I was buying Pokemon card packs in bulk and selling them on eBay while I was in Junior High School. I’ve still never played a game of Pokemon, but I did recognize an opportunity to capitalize on the game’s popularity to sell thousands of card packs. Ever since then I’ve always looked for opportunities and have been fortunate enough to do well with many of the opportunities that I’ve concentrated on over the years.

What is the greatest benefit of helping people sell their online businesses?

Selling a business is a culminating event after devoting years of time and effort. The sale of an online business represents a significant portion of the total money that you’ll ever earn from your business and the money can often meaningfully change your life, so it’s important that you exit with an outcome that allows you to walk away happy. From my own entrepreneurial experience, I’ve had some fantastic exits that have opened up new levels of freedom to me and being able to help sellers feel the same is why I love helping entrepreneurs sell their businesses.

If you could have just one superpower, what would it be?

Time travel. It would be easier to make decisions and has the added benefit of satisfying my curiosity about the future.

What is the best bit of advice you ever received?

Life is not about the destination but about the journey. It’s far too easy to get caught up in the big picture with plans and goals you’d like to achieve years down the line and to forget to have fun along the way. I have at times ignored this advice, but I try my best not to.

If you could have dinner with just one person (they don’t have to be living still), who would it be?

Elon Musk.

I had spoken with several individuals at other brokerages before I had a call with Chris. After our first call, my decision to move forward with Chris on the project of selling my business was an easy one. He understood my business and spoke the language, and provided value before we even entered into an agreement.

The whole process was well guided with clear direction. Once the business was officially listed for sale, Chris had calls set up with interested buyers on the first day. I had a specific request on what I was looking for in a buyer, and he was able to find a great match. Overall, the entire experience was great. I will definitely come back to QuietLight and work with Chris on any other buying or selling ventures.

– Kat Bochenek

I’ve gone through multiple 6 figure+ sales, and without a doubt, Chris Guthrie is the best broker I’ve worked with. He’s responsive, a good listener, and extremely savvy when it comes to digital asset sales. Without a doubt, I would not have been able to get as much for my asset without Chris’s help. I highly recommend working with Chris if you get the chance, he’s a true professional.

– Shane Dutka