How TodoMovies Sold for $30,000: Fast-Paced App Exit Success

TodoMovies: $30,000 Exit with No Ad Spend — All the Growth Came Organically

Selling a mobile app is usually not a quick or easy process, especially in crowded markets where buyers want proof of continued growth, strong user engagement, and reliable revenue. Yet TodoMovies, a 6-year-old movie tracking app, defied the odds and pulled off a $30,000 sale in less than a month, all without user acquisition costs or ongoing expenses. In this detailed case study, you’ll see how key product qualities, organic traction, and some strategic patience produced this win.

The Product: Simple Value, Solid Ratings

TodoMovies started life back in 2014 and steadily built a reputation among movie lovers as a go-to tool to track what they wanted to watch and what they’d already seen. With easy list management, big edge-to-edge posters, movie-related news, and unique discovery features, it stood out from typical checklist-style apps. One big reason for that? No bloat — it just worked for people who cared about films. The product’s simplicity led to a 4.5 star average rating over the years, providing trust and social proof. Users didn’t have to come from paid marketing — they stumbled onto the app in Apple features, major digital magazines, and word of mouth.

Listing on Flippa: The First Attempt—and a Swerve

In March 2020, TodoMovies was put on the Flippa marketplace with a $25,000 reserve. Immediately, the marketplace response was strong: 1,129 views, 23 watchers, and a high bid of $29,000 within a week. The seller accepted the offer, kicking off a due diligence phase. This part is always tricky: a potential buyer checks accounts, code, user stats, and ad revenue. It’s not just paperwork — there are always details that buyers care about. In this case, the buyer eventually backed out after finding the business was a bit different than he expected. Important here: no deal is certain until the cash is received. But not all was lost, because the seller re-listed fast and didn’t give up.

A Quick Relist Leads to More Action

The relisting took place just weeks later, April 1st. This time the listing got crushed it: 3,720 views, 108 watchers, and three bids over $25,000. Learning from round one, the seller decided to run an abbreviated due diligence process with each serious bidder instead of just one, making sure he kept momentum. On April 22nd, a $30,000 deal was sealed — $1,000 more than the first big offer. So in about a month, even with a setback, the app found a buyer willing to pay over the expected price.

Product Numbers Buyers Want: Organic Growth and Clean Revenue

Marketplaces like Flippa are packed with apps that promise massive downloads, but TodoMovies didn’t rely on paid marketing or complicated acquisition funnels. Instead, it pulled in an average of 13,000 downloads per month — all fully organic, without ad spend. Users came in via regular App Store search, Apple’s features, and organic mention in online publications. A steady $899/month profit, driven by Admob and subscriptions, with absolutely no recurring company expenses, stood out as an exceptionally rare metric for buyers. Nearly all revenue derived from either ad impressions or easy, optional subscriptions for power users.

What Set TodoMovies Apart?

• No recurring expenses; all downloads organic.
• Zero dependency on a marketing budget meant maximum risk reduction for a buyer.
• High user reviews demonstrated credibility and product-market fit.
• Featured by major platforms (Apple, Empire Magazine, MacStories) reinforced discoverability and trust.
• Simple, clear monetization – in-app ads and subscriptions only.

Lessons from the Sale: Why Did TodoMovies Get a Premium?

• Relisting after a failed buyer can help attract even higher offers, as the buyer pool widens and momentum isn’t wasted.
• Running a light, parallel due diligence with multiple bidders creates a sense of progress and friendly competition — you never want to be left with one buyer who drags out talks or vanishes.
• Clear listing materials, honest financials, and transparent download history inspired confidence.
• The magic of 0 monthly costs gave almost instant payback to new owners; the risk was minimal, and ramp time not needed.

Marketing Without a Budget: Why Organic Growth Wins

TodoMovies is a textbook example of how to let your product work for you. Many app founders pour money into ads or influencer marketing. In contrast, TodoMovies stayed laser-focused on demand from true movie fans, which led to genuine testimonials and buzz on App Store and digital magazines. Instead of optimizing for vanity metrics, it delivered exactly what its core users wanted, and word-of-mouth spread. Not to mention, Apple featuring the app did a lot of heavy lifting. The founder’s decision to ignore paid acquisition saved thousands and showed the business could thrive with only organic traffic.

After the Sale: What Buyers Need to Know

After getting sold for $30,000, TodoMovies showed that buyers are happy to pay a premium if they see a business with no hidden risks, clean user acquisition, and steady passive profits. The new owner could step in, maintain the app, and potentially grow revenue by experimenting with marketing, or expanding the feature set — starting from a solid, proven base.

Key Numbers

• Sale price: $30,000 (20% over reserve)
• Monthly organic downloads: 13,000+
• Monthly profit: $899 USD
• Listing views: 3,720 on second round
• No paid ad spend. 0 monthly costs
• Duration from first listing to sale: ~5 weeks

Conclusion: Focus on Core Users, Prove Results

The biggest takeaway from TodoMovies isn’t about flashy marketing or huge teams. It’s the power of nurturing a product that solves a real user problem, growing slowly and steadily, and preparing for a sale with open numbers. For anyone hoping to sell a mobile app — polish your product, make it discoverable, and be ready to show a simple, honest story to buyers. Keep your overhead low, follow up quick after setbacks, and remember: organic growth makes buyers trust your numbers. That’s what got TodoMovies a premium exit with no drama.