Deal Playbooks 6 min readUpdated May 18, 2026
Escrow for Online Business Sales
Everything buyers and sellers need to know about escrow when transacting on a live deal terminal — traditional escrow, smart-contract vaults, and hybrid models.
TL;DR
Escrow protects both sides during the transition period. For sub-$100k, use built-in terminal escrow. For larger deals, use a licensed escrow service. Smart-contract vaults are viable for asset-only deals.
How it works
Buyer funds escrow, seller transfers assets, buyer verifies against a checklist, escrow releases.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for escrow?
Typically 50/50, though buyer-pays is common for smaller deals to close faster.
Related guides
Acquisitions
How to Buy an AI Startup in 2026: Full Acquisition Playbook
Step-by-step playbook to source, value, negotiate and close on a profitable AI startup — from first-touch to signed APA.
Acquisitions
AI Acquisition Due Diligence Checklist (2026)
The 47-item due diligence checklist every AI startup buyer needs — financial, legal, model, data and operational risk.
All AiMeta guides
How to Buy an AI Startup in 2026: Full Acquisition PlaybookAI Startup Valuation Multiples in 2026 (By Stage & Category)How to Sell Your AI SaaS: The Founder's Exit PlaybookAI Acquisition Due Diligence Checklist (2026)Asset Purchase Agreement Template for AI StartupsHow to Value a SaaS Business: The 2026 MethodSDE vs EBITDA: Which to Use When Buying a SaaSRevenue-Based Financing (RBF) Explained for Indie FoundersRBF vs Equity vs Loan: Which Should Indie Devs Choose?How to Raise RBF: Step-by-Step for AI FoundersRBF Terms Explained: Cap Multiple, Share %, VaultBest AI Small-Cap Stocks to Watch in 2026How to Invest in AI Stocks in 2026 (Without Buying Nvidia)AI vs Quantum Stocks: Where's the Real Upside?AI Stock Catalysts to Watch This QuarterHow to Become an AI Indie Hacker in 2026Best AI Micro-SaaS Ideas for 2026How to Launch on Product Hunt in 2026 (AI Edition)The 2026 Build-in-Public PlaybookHow to Find a Technical Cofounder in 2026Cofounder Equity Split: What's Actually Fair?Cofounder Agreement Checklist (2026)How to Price Your AI SaaS in 2026AI Startup Metrics That Actually Matter in 2026How to Buy a Prompt Library or AI Asset in 2026How to Sell an AI Training Dataset in 2026AI Agent Business Models That Actually Work in 2026How to Verify MRR on a Deal (Buyer's Checklist)Escrow for Online Business Sales: How It Works in 2026How to Track AI Buzz Across X, PH and IH in 2026