Sale of NZMustang.com Website

After much deliberation I have decided to offer the NZMustang.com website for sale.

Why is it for Sale?

Basically I no longer have the free time available to keep the site up to the standard that it needs and the Mustang enthusiasts of NZ deserve. I founded the site in 2000 and have built it up over the last 7 years from nothing to a large site (600MB of data), getting regular visitors from all over the world. See below for basic site statistics from the end of August 2007.

                   
Overview      Top countries,     Top cities,          Daily visitors,           Visitors per hour

However while I had lots of free evenings 7 years ago, my consulting engineering business has grown considerably and I am now a director of two companies. In a nutshell my free evenings have all but dried up, and the website has suffered recently as a result.

So rather than just allow the site to wither, I would like to pass it over to someone who does have the time, enthusiasm and skills to keep the site up-to-date, and hopefully to further develop and enhance it for the benefit of the NZ Mustang community.

Who can apply?

I will not just be passing the site over to the highest offer. It will pass only to an approved purchaser.  I want to see the site continue to prosper for the good of all NZ Mustang enthusiasts and so there will be a few conditions placed on the sale. These are that the purchaser must

1.  be resident in NZ.

2.  be an active and enthusiastic member of one of the 7 Mustang clubs.

3.  not use the site for promotion of any objectionable advertising material such as sexual services or links to porn or gambling sites etc.

4.  commit to retain (at least) the existing services including club coverage of events etc, and the national convention each year.

5.  have reasonable basic computer and literacy skills so the site can be maintained to an acceptable standard.

    Why would you want it?

The site is for sale as a going concern, as a profitable small business. It currently covers all its costs and makes a modest profit. It also continues to show strong growth. Because of the high and growing  traffic volume through the site, there is definite potential to considerably enhance revenue by promoting greater advertising and providing new services which are of use and interest to the wider Mustang community. I just have not had the time to pursue these new growth opportunities, even though they are literally knocking at my door.

How much time is involved?

I spend on average 15 mins a day on site updates. Many days nothing is required to be done, but maybe once a week it needs an hour. Of course if a new owner wanted to spend more time and develop the site to provide greater services, then more time would be needed for a while.

What computer skills do I need?

Not many. You need good basic computer skills, you need to learn how to use a webpage editor, and how to edit photos and images. Its definitely not rocket science.

When I started with websites I knew almost nothing about them, but have progressively developed the basic skills. The existing site is currently maintained using Microsoft FrontPage software, which is very easy to use and very much like MS Word in the way it presents each web page for editing. With such powerful (What you see is what you get) web editors as are available today, you do not need to even understand the HTLM internet language, because the web editors do all the code for you. Anyone familiar with the basic MS office software suite will pick it up in no time.

What would I get?

The purchaser will obtain the following with the sale:

1. Ownership of the NZMustang.com domain name.

2. Ownership of the NZMustang.co.nz domain name.

3. Ownership, access, and copywrite to the existing website, and all associated files.

4. Some assistance with training for a transition period to enable a new owner to become familiar with the site.

5. Potentially retain the existing funding provided by the seven existing clubs (subject to negotiation with the clubs of course)

What would it cost?

Its hard to say. While its worth what a buyer is prepared to pay, a price in excess of $5,000 is envisaged.  The existing revenue potential would easily see that investment not only repaid within 2 years, but the capital value of the site and the two domain names would also be enhanced and grown as well. Therefore the site is a good investment to the purchaser, irrespective of its value to the NZ Mustang community.

However, at the end of the day the site is worth only what purchasers are prepared to pay for it, and so I will just discuss the price with any potential buyers and a final sale price will be arrived at by negotiation.

Are you Interested?

Talk to me, Wal Marshall.